The U.S. National Whitewater Park is opening in phases, but the first time the public can actually see the rapids will be this time next weekend.

6NEWS was at the site Friday as former Olympic kayaker Scott Chipley tested the waters.

Builders have exactly one week to be ready for more than 70 professional kayakers who will be competing in the US national slalom championships next Friday and Saturday, August 25th and 26th. The public is invited to watch, but you will not be able to ride the rapids yet. Marketing director Lance Kinerk says the grand opening for the public to raft down the falls will be Labor Day weekend.

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The park was originally slated to open in June, but road access complaints from neighbors delayed plans. While those disputes have been worked out, the park was still not able to open in time for a national canoe event that had to be moved to the mountains this weekend.  

Kinerk assured there will be action on the rapids by next weekend.

“We're going to have a mile of class 3-4 whitewater. It's going to be this upper pond filled”, Kinerk said.  He adds, “Right now we're round the clock this weekend. We'll all be out here, so you’re looking at 24-7 right now.”

Once the center opens, builders expect half a million visitors a year.