News 14 Carolina's David Kernodle has more on the upcoming Olympic trials.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY -- It was announced earlier this week that the U.S. Whitewater Center will host the U.S. Olympic trials in April.
"This is a world class white water park,” said kayaker Pablo McCandless, “compared to all the other whitewater parks this is by far my favorite and by far the best."
A native of Chili, McCandless works out daily at the center. He isn’t alone. More than a handful of the world’s best whitewater kayakers left their home countries for the center. They are living nearby, working at the center, and training and competing there.
The center is one of the largest on the East Coast.
The center is one of the largest on the East Coast. This weekend is a warm-up event for the Olympic trials. The center has caught on with athletes, but has run dry of spectators.
"I know a lot of people know about it but not a lot of people have come out to experience it yet,” said kayaker Nathan Davis.
April’s trials is the center’s best chance to gain more public notoriety. Officials at the center are expecting more than 25,000 people to attend the trials.