Boats aren’t the only plastics featuring in water sports. The London Olympics whitewater kayaking course was constructed using Lyons, CO-based S2O Design’s proprietary RapidBloc plastic blocks instead of concrete and permanently embedded obstacles. The blocks can channel water to precise specifications, and, because of the lightweight plastic-block construction, the course can easily be reconfigured for [...]

Olympian Scott Shipley Builds on Winning Track Record in Canoe Slalom June 28, 2012 Denver, CO – Olympic canoe slalom veteran and globally renowned whitewater park designer and builder Scott Shipley recently was awarded a patenton his third major whitewater course innovation. Shipley, founder of S2o Design and Engineering, earned a mechanical patent on a [...]

’92, ’96, and ’00 Olympian Scott Shipley designs London Olympic Course for Whitewater Slalom.

For his part, Jackson will serve as an ambassador for S2o and the company’s proprietary RapidBlocs system, developed with European partner EPD. RapidBlocs is the world’s first three-dimensional, moveable obstacle system that enables whitewater course managers to easily shift the configuration of the blocks to change the hydrology of the course, thus keeping it versatile and fresh for years after initial construction. RapidBlocs first deployment is at the site of the London 2012 Olympic Slalom Course.
Jackson said he believes S2o has the ability to help move whitewater paddling forward by designing innovative whitewater courses and river parks that will make learning and training more accessible to more aspiring paddlers.

Rapidblocs are the first truly three dimensional movable obstacle system. The blocks allow for the creation of any shape, at any angle, at any point within the channel system. A feature as simple as a standing wave can be made larger, made glassier, moved up, moved down, moved left or moved right. Eddies can be created above the feature or below the feature or simply removed from the area altogether. This system truly gives the course operator a fully adjustable course that can be tuned, remodeled or updated.

Shipley should know. His company S2o Design and Engineering, one of the world’s leading whitewater park design builders, is on the front lines of the industry with a project roster that is booming.

For starters, the world’s eyes will be focused on Shipley’s handiwork at the Lee Valley Whitewater Park, host to the 2012 Olympic Canoe Slalom competition. S2o completed the design of the Lee Valley Whitewater Park this past summer. Lee Valley was the first of London’s Olympic venues to be completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

The vision to deliver exciting artificial rapids with affordable capital investment and running costs has been achieved with creative forward looking design, by utilising the latest technology in flexible whitewater obstacle systems and by investing in modern concrete construction techniques.

Whitewater park design firm S2O Design and Engineering has increased its staff and launched a new website to better serve burgeoning demand for whitewater parks around the globe. The team is scheduled to begin work soon on an in-stream project in Queenstown, New Zealand’s adventure capital, and was recently selected to design Missoula’s Max Wave Project.

New to the S2O team are Nick Turner, Christine Clark and Michael Williams. Turner brings extensive in-stream experience to the team from his tenure with both the McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group and RiverRestoration. Clark’s experience lies in master planning (MURB), architecture (Barch), landscape architecture (MLa) and recreational design while Williams specializes in building design, space planning, interior design, and project management. “this team vastly expands our capabilities. I am especially excited about the experience and know-how that Nick brings to adjustable features for natural rivers”.