Official world rafting governing body
Notes from a IRF GTE workshop in Russia One thing I have observed over the years is that all great white water stories normally start with the sentence “This crazy Russian paddler … ” or “Crazy Russian inner-tube rafts.” I sat back and giggled to myself as my short flight from Helsinki touched down at
May and June have seen a record number of IRF Guide workshops being run around the world. These workshops provide rafting guides with an excellent opportunity to improve their river skills and obtain an internationally recognized certification from the IRF. Here is what is happening in June onwards: 2 – 8 June: IRF and Rescue
IRF Instructor workshop – Bosnia 2018 I had been following the weather in Bosnia for a week prior to the start of the workshop. The forecast did not look good unless you were going skiing, lots of snow was forecast. So I pre-warned the course students to prepare for cold weather. This was going to
Nestled in the southern alps of France lies the incredible Ubaye Valley and one of France’s premiere rafting destinations. This watershed is famous throughout Europe for its powerful rapids and committing gorges. With its headwaters at the Col du Longet over 8700 feet above sea level, on the Italian border, the Ubaye River is one
By Mark Hirst I am commonly advised from reliable sources that British kayaker Peter Knowles introduced throwbags to the market on a wide scale with his green slime throwbags back in the 1980s. Before this time people made their own throwbags ranging from rope stored in an empty plastic bottle to a tennis ball with
There are so many IRF Guide Training & Education workshops and/or assessments spread around the world that you should be able to find one near you or find one that sounds worthwhile travelling to! From Wales to Bolivia, Chile to Bosnia, Canada to Bulgaria, Scotland to Romania, Morocco to Austria, Slovenia to Nepal and France.
During the fall season of 2018 Lapin Koskikoulu and Paddle Nepal have teamed up to run their first Himalayan River Guide Training Academy. The course will run over 2 months and is open to anybody wishing to travel & explore the rivers of Nepal and learn to become a professional river guide at the same
The racing calendar is filling up quickly with some great events on the horizon: In 10 days time (9 – 11 March) it is the inaugural International Women’s Day Raft Race which is open to women’s teams only. Read more – What’s the point in promoting women in paddlesports? Dracula will be making his first IRF EC
Iceland 2010 Godafoss waterfall – “Mark fu@k!n go get him!” … Me: “I would if I could bloody see him!” We were a group of kayakers (all raft guides too ) taking a day off and paddling the famous Godafoss Waterfall in Iceland. For those who don’t know Godafoss, it is a horse shoe shaped
International Rafting Federation
Official world governing body for rafting since 1997