FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE By Jose Villalpando 10/06/2024
US Performance Center Welcomes ACA National Championships to Charlotte
The 2024 ACA Slalom & Kayak Cross National Championships at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, hosted by the American Canoe Association in partnership with the US Performance Center. (Photo By Jose Villalpando/US Performance Center)
Charlotte, NC – October 6, 2024 – The American Canoe Association (ACA), one of the nation’s premier organizations for paddlesports, brought its 2024 ACA Slalom & Kayak Cross National Championships to the Whitewater Center in Charlotte this weekend (October 5th – 6th). This highly anticipated event welcomed athletes from across the country to compete in various disciplines, including canoe, kayak, and kayak cross.
The event held particular significance for the US Performance Center (USPC), as part of our ongoing partnership with the ACA. As part of this collaboration, athletes will also undergo testing at USPC’s cutting-edge facility, utilizing state-of-the-art technology and expert guidance to optimize their performance.
“Bringing the ACA to Charlotte for this championship is a testament to the strength of our partnership, and we’re excited to support these athletes as they strive for excellence,” said Ike Belk, Co-Owner of USPC. “Hosting such events and providing world-class performance testing further solidifies Charlotte’s standing in the sports tourism sector.”
Olympians in Action
The championship drew some of the top talent in the sport, including Evy Leibfarth, a Bryson City native and bronze medalist in the women’s canoe event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Joining her were Casey Eichfeld, a four-time Olympian and Huntersville resident who trains year-round at the US Performance Center.
Throughout the weekend, six major events took place, open to the public for viewing. On October 5th, spectators witnessed the Canoe Slalom event from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by the Kayak Cross Time Trials from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The excitement continued on October 6th with the Kayak Cross Head-to-Head races from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Athletes from across the U.S. compete in the 2024 ACA Slalom & Kayak Cross National Championships at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, hosted by the American Canoe Association in partnership with the US Performance Center. (Photo By Jose Villalpando/US Performance Center)
2024 Olympian Casey Eichfeld at the 2024 ACA Slalom & Kayak Cross National Championships at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, hosted by the American Canoe Association in partnership with the US Performance Center. (Photo By Jose Villalpando/US Performance Center)
About the American Canoe Association
Founded in 1880, the American Canoe Association (ACA) is a national nonprofit organization serving the paddling community with educational programs, stewardship initiatives, and competition opportunities for athletes of all abilities. With over 15,000 members and 300 affiliated paddling clubs, the ACA provides vital insurance to hundreds of events annually and impacts over 800,000 people through its educational programs. Since 2017, ACA has served as the National Governing Body for paddlesports (Sprint, Slalom, and Paracanoe) in the United States and represents the U.S. in the International Canoe Federation.
About US Performance Center
The US Performance Center (USPC), located on the UNC Charlotte campus, is a premier facility dedicated to fostering athletic excellence. Through cutting-edge sports science, performance testing, and a strong network of partnerships with National Governing Bodies (NGBs), USPC has become a hub for top athletes seeking to elevate their performance. USPC is committed to expanding its impact on sports tourism and athlete development both locally and nationally.
For more information, contact:
Jose Villalpando
Marketing and PR Director
US Performance Center
Jose@usperformancecenter.com