Every water activity available at Montgomery Whitewater on day one

Remember those "you may get wet" signs from amusement park water rides? Those are cute.

When you step into the roaring world of Montgomery Whitewater, you're not just going to get wet.

“You will get totally soaked rafting,” said Dave Hepp, CEO of Montgomery Whitewater.

Hepp compared this whitewater experience to what rafters and kayakers would find on the Ocoee River, minus the actual river water. Montgomery Whitewater has 12 million gallons of city water running through its fully enclosed system.

“It’s like a massive pool, but it’s not a pool,” Hepp said.

It's not a lazy river either, with five pumps at the base of the lower pond and two channels that are gravity fed:

• Adventure Channel: For beginner and intermediate users, Adventure is the way to go. Paddle through this 2,200-foot-long channel maneuvering around rocks and waves. It’s a Class II whitewater experience.

• Competition Channel: This Class IV one’s really for folks who have already honed whitewater skills and want a rough and tumble playground, or people with some experience who are ready for a bigger challenge. At 1,600 feet, it’s shorter than Adventure, but it’s packed with bigger rapids.

Both channels lead to a lower pond, where rafts and kayaks can be taken out, or go back up for another run.

“It’s a really controlled setting,” Hepp said. Along with real rocks, Hepp said they have movable fake rocks throughout the channels. “We can essentially tweak the channels quite a bit.”

The 1100 Maxwell Blvd. location is next to Maxwell Air Force Base. Hepp said Montgomery Whitewater’s grand opening is set for July 7-9. Look for schedule updates at montgomerywhitewater.com.

Here's a deeper dive into the soggy adventures for rafters and various kinds of kayakers this summer.

Whitewater rafting

“A rafting experience is 90 minutes long, start to finish,” Hepp said. “That typically means four or five laps on the whitewater channel.”

If the ride is rough enough, you could get immersed. That's why it's highly recommended — but not required — that folks know how to swim. Guides emphasize safety. Helmets and life vests are provided and required.

"We don’t really have any flat water — it’s kind of back to back to back whitewater," Hepp said. "Most people are kind of worn out after three or four laps,” Hepp said.

Guests need to consider their own levels before booking a rafting trip:

• Easy: Beginner rafting that’s for ages 8 and up. This is on the Adventure Channel, and your guide will offer a more laid-back, family-friendly time. Up to 6 guests per raft.

• Moderate: This action-packed ride is the best of both Adventure and Competition channels. Up to 6 guests per raft, ages 10 and up.

• Advanced: They call this one Rodeo Rafting, and with good reason. You and your guide will hit every wave and hole in the Competition Channel. This one's only for ages 16 and up, and your group is limited to 4 per raft.

Guests can book rafts trips online. Otherwise, they'll check in at Base Camp to buy one. From there, they go to the Raft Barn about 10 minutes before their scheduled trip, where they'll meet a guide and get a quick safety talk. Along with helmets and life vests, guests are provided with paddles.

While there’s no weight limit for guests on the rafts, the required life vests have a 55” chest size limit. You’ve also got to wear acceptable footwear — Crocs and flip flops are not allowed because they could easily fly off. Don't take anything on the raft that you aren't prepared to lose or get wet.

It's suggested to wear bathing suits when going out, and you’re going to want a change of clothes afterwards. Changing rooms and lockers are available.

Whitewater Kayaking

Though it's not for beginners and participants must know how to swim, Montgomery Whitewater offers kayaking and slalom kayaking (navigating through a course) for those who get a kayak day pass.

“If you own your own gear and have the skills to paddle class II to III whitewater, this place is really perfect for you,” Hepp said.

Guests can use their own regular or shredder kayaks, as long as they're whitewater specific.

If you don't have your personal kayak on hand, Hepp said they have demo models available that are for sale. These are basically used for a regular kayaking "test drive" by people with experience.

“At this point, that’s a pretty niche group of people,” Hepp said.

Slalom kayakers must have their own boats.

There's a reason they don't "rent" kayaks to novices. Unlike rafters, kayakers are on their own without a guide. Inexperienced kayakers shouldn't try to wing it on whitewater.

“That’s actually pretty dangerous if you don’t know how to do it,” Hepp said. “The best avenue is to take a lesson.”

Montgomery Whitewater offers different levels of kayak training for extra cost. Hepp said they’re training instructors, since Montgomery isn’t exactly for whitewater kayaking — yet.

“We’re building the culture,” Hepp said.

Inflatable kayaking

Those who buy a ducky pass will see how fun these inflatable kayaks can be. Like regular kayaks, with duckies there's no guide at Montgomery Whitewater. They're for intermediate level users on the Adventure Channel. The duckies come in single and tandem versions on site, and you can bring a personal one that's whitewater specific. You've got to be an adult to take a single out, but tandems are for 13 and up — one of the two people must be an adult.

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Every water activity available at Montgomery Whitewater on day one