Shattered Olympic Dreams
(From the IceMan blog)
Oh, come on, don’t say you’ve never dreamed of having 50 million people watch you hold flowers and cry while standing on a cheap wooden box.
Actually, Ice, no, I haven’t dreamed that.
But what I DID want (why is this guy talking to himself?) was to riverboard in the super-cool whitewater park built specifically for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and I did not get what I wanted. Whaa. Now I’m going to pout.
This is a really boring, unexciting, entirely wasteful blog of valuable pixel space, but I thought I’d share my thoughts anyway:
The Penrith Whitewater Park does not allow riverboards, sledges, or inflatable dinosaur wings.
Luckily we called ahead, and the lady was friendly enough about it, so I’m not going to be negative or write about how meteor showers are forecast over Penrith (like they certainly are over Kaituna Cascades). I’m sure it’s a great park. Basically their rule is that if they don’t rent it or have it already in their facility, then you can’t use it there. Bottom line.
I don’t like rules, but I do understand the logic. I mean, if they didn’t have that rule then what’s to stop me from trying to go down their little river in a big red beer cooler? (They’re very tipsy anyway, I’ve heard.)
So they just need to get some riverboards in that place and all will be well. I’ll be working on that, mate.
But as an aside, let this be a shot over the bow for the Charlotte Whitewater Park which is set to open in June – they better not even THINK about trying to keep riverboarders out of there.
I’ve got 6 months to get a healthy campaign started based on something, so when I email them today I better get a very happy, hearty welcome. Actually, heck, they better invite me to be at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Because every ceremony needs a guy dressed in a thick rubber leotard.
Otherwise, I think maybe PETA will have to be informed about the “moleculcuss ridikuuliss” which is LOSING ITS ONLY NATURAL HABITAT IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE to the park!
Ok, I made that up. But I’m serious, by golly! We BETTER be able to enjoy it with the rest of the city slickers. Especially since they ARE going to allow people in there whose most intense experience with "whitewater" was when they choked on some toothpaste.
If their money is good, so’s mine. And I won’t take no for an answer.
=)
I'm smiling on the outside.
*** *** ***
UPDATE MARCH 15, 2006
I have spoken with the directors at the park and they are not ruling out the possibility of allowing riverboarders in. However, at this time they are saying "wait".
Understandably, their focus is on getting the park up and running and working with the major money making aspects of the business; they did say that it's a possibility in the future though.
So...I guess that probably means not this summer - but if they're year round, perhaps with enough respectful lobbying we'll be able to get an audience with them after their summer season winds down and get in then. I'll keep posting updates on the message board when I have more info.
