Rio Vista Olympic trials set

By Anita Miller

San Marcos — Ben Kvanli is giddy as a bridegroom marking time until the big event. And Michelle, his wife of many years, doesn't seem to mind.

Kvanli, of San Marcos' Power Olympic Center and a titled canoer and kayaker in his own right, was among those who spoke to the San Marcos City Council on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, he was comparing the council's vote to OK an agreement between the city and the Red River Racing Team to host a number of whitewater events at Rio Vista Falls next year, the first and biggest of which will be 2008 Olympic Team Trials qualifiers in four Olympic events — men's kayak, women's kayak, men's canoe and double canoe.

The event will be held all day long on Sunday, Feb. 17. The top placing finishers in each category will go on to compete in the Olympic Team Trials in April in North Carolina.

"We're really excited about bringing the Olympic Team qualifier here," he said. "It's our first big thing, and in the year of the Olympics."

San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz such events were in the minds of city council members when they first voted to spend the money to rebuild the old Rio Vista Dam into the whitewater park that is Rio Vista Falls.

“We saw an opportunity to build something that would set us apart,” she said. “Having the Olympics here, even for training, is a unique thing.”

Kvanli says the event should bring some of the best racers in the country and could even lure competitors from farther away — though time is short. "Basically we have a very short time frame between now and the event. It's just like any party — it's like planning a wedding. Now we've got the location and now we can start sending out the invitations and all that."

Given the short time frame, Kvanli says it's hard to anticipate just how many competitors will show up, but the word is spreading about the popularity of the venue.

"We've had folks from as far away as the Czech Republic and Canada talking about coming here. If folks like that come they won't stay just for the event, they plan to stay for the entire month of February. But now we can tell them hey, it's happening, it's here."

“I think it will bring back all the honor that goes with the Olympics — to bring people from all over the world to compete in friendly games in a sportsman arena,” Narvaiz said. “It will be huge for San Marcos and I’m thrilled to have been a part of something so special.”

During the week prior to the qualifers, there will be a training camp and Kvanli said efforts are being made to try to bring Rebecca Giddens, who won the Silver Medal in women's kayak in Athens, to be the guest coach.

Other auxiliary events will include novice and junior classes.

"We really want to engage the community and make this theirs," Kvanli said. "It's something I think everybody's going to be excited about. Hopefully everybody will get to touch the (Olympic) ring, so to speak."

The effort will also need a number of volunteers to work as gate judges, announcers and other jobs. Local sponsors are also being sought.

For more information call the Kvanlis at 512.203.0093 or visit www.redriverracing.org or www.kayakinstruction.org.

amiller@sanmarcosrecord.com