Metropolitan's Solar Cup Enters Second Day as 700 Students from 36 Southland High Schools Race Solar-Powered Boats
LOS ANGELES--Metropolitan Water District of Southern California:
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WHAT: |
 | Eighth annual Solar Cup goes into second day of competition with 700 students from 36 Southland high school teams racing the solar-powered boats they have built and equipped over the past seven months in a program sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and local water agencies. |
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| Today, boats attached with solar collection panels compete in 90-minute endurance heats around a 1.7-kilometer course. Sunday, boats sprint at top speeds down a 200-meter course, and conclude with an awards ceremony with each participant receiving Olympic-style medal. | ||
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WHEN: |
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Sunday (May 15-16) |
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WHERE: |
Lake Skinner, Temecula Valley. Take Interstate 15 to Rancho California Road at Temecula, go 10 miles northeast to main gate, following signs to site. (Riverside County Thomas Guide page 930, 4-D) | |
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VISUALS: |
Boats are colorfully painted or varnished for “Hottest-Looking Boat�?? trophy; students often wear outfits complementing the team boat. Students are available for interviews on importance, fun of program. Competition includes student-produced, 30-second water-conservation videos. | |
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| Reporters, photographers, camera crews may be taken out onto lake for close-up footage. Reporters also may pilot one of the solar-powered boats by prearrangement. | ||
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B-roll video footage of today’s events will be available about noon for download at ftp://blizzard.mwdh2o.com/merickson. (Depending on user’s software, may need to log in as GUEST or ANONYMOUS. If a service uses a FTP connection, the address is ftp.blizzard.mwdh2o.com; may have to log in as GUEST or ANONYMOUS.) |
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PARTICIPANTS: |
Teams from high schools in Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Orange and San Bernardino counties. |
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 19Â million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.