Riversport readies international canoe events and introduces new executive director

The Riversport Foundation told the City Council on March 25 it will host a three-day international canoe slalom and kayak cross event this weekend that draws athletes from 10 countries and serves as a prelude to a world championship scheduled for next year.

Mike Knopp, founder of Riversport, said the competition — Friday through Sunday — includes both Whitewater Slalom and Kayak Cross events and that elite athletes are training on the city’s rapids. “We have 10 countries participating and they're in Oklahoma City now with the athletes training on our Riversport rapids,” Knopp said.

Knopp said the event is a prelude to a world championship next year that is expected to bring about 60 countries to Oklahoma City, and that the city hopes the sequence of events will position the facility for potential inclusion in LA 2028 programming if approved by the Los Angeles organizing authorities. “This event is a prelude to the world championship that will happen next year, which will bring 60 countries to Oklahoma City,” Knopp said.

Knopp also introduced Chris Sorensen as Riversport’s new executive director. Sorensen, who described two decades in the ski industry and said he grew up in Oklahoma City, said he will focus on operations while Knopp pursues the foundation’s international and legacy priorities.

Why this matters: the events draw international athletes and visitors and are part of Riversport’s multi‑year plan to host major whitewater competitions and related legacy activities. The leadership change signals a shift in Knopp’s role toward long-range event strategy and international outreach while placing day‑to‑day operations under Sorensen.

Ending: Knopp and Sorensen invited council members and the public to attend the weekend competitions and noted the events contribute to tourism and the city’s profile as a host of international sports.