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Ex-FARC Guerrillas in Colombia train to be Raft Guides

By Shannon Farley Nine ex-FARC guerrillas in Colombia have a new future ahead of them in adventure tourism, thanks to river rafting guide training provided by the International Rafting Federation (IRF) and Rios Tropicales adventure company in Costa Rica. The new raft guides, who are former combatants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (known

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IRF History - Augsburg meeting
Development

What did it take to start the International Rafting Federation?

As we ready ourselves for our 17th IRF World Rafting Championship, we take a look back at what it took to create this global phenomenon which started 21 years ago and boasts membership from over 50 nations across six continents, runs inclusive worldwide raft race competitions several times each year and can lay claim to

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Development

We are river family – meet Steve Nomchong

No stranger to racing, guiding or safety training, this week we meet Steve Nomchong. Steve grew up in southern reaches of Australia, experienced rafting at a relatively young age and got hooked. Steve was too young to vote in 1983 when a proposed dam that would have flooded the Franklin River in Tasmania became a

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Development

River of Reconciliation in Colombia

Former FARC-EP Combatants in Colombia Trade Guns for Paddles By Shannon Farley Former combatants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP in Spanish) might seem unlikely whitewater rafting guides. However, a project supported by the United Nations at the Miravalle Territorial Area for Training and Reincorporation (TATR) in the Municipality of

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Development

Judges course at WRC 2018

A Judges course will be run during the 2018 World Rafting Championship in Argentina. Anyone keen to do the course should email IRF Admin. The details are: Dates: 5 – 10 Nov (during WRC) Place: Event Headquarters, Argentina Cost: $US30 to be paid to Instructor on the first day of the course. This is a once off payment.

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Development

Sponsorship, how do we get it?

By Fieke Reijntjes  Putting the equipment sponsorship to the side, the question most people would like to know the answer to is:  How do we raise money? There isn’t a straight forward answer and that’s probably because raising money isn’t easy and it will cost time and effort. Finding financial support can contribute massively to

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Development

Rafael Gallo Named Honorary President of International Rafting Federation

By Shannon Farley Commending his decades of involvement, achievements, and integral role in the formation and development of the International Rafting Federation (IRF), Rafael Gallo has been nominated as the first Honorary President of the IRF. The new position was proposed by the current IRF President Joe Willis Jones, and approved by the IRF Board

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Development

Pakistan joins the IRF

The International Rafting Federation would like to extend a warm welcome to the Rafting Sports Association of Pakistan (RSA) as a new member. Pakistan has many amazing rivers and there is plenty of potential to promote rafting in Pakistan especially on the Sindh, Jehlum, Neelum and Kunhar Rivers. Right now only one river is being

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Rafting and the Olympics: The Road Ahead

IRF Executive CommitteeJune 2018   An Open Letter to IRF Members and Followers:       Most of you are aware that the newly created World Rafting Federation (WRF) and certain people in the International Canoe Federation (ICF) signed a cooperative agreement shortly after we (the IRF) filed our application for membership in the Global

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