Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.10, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site.

# International Rafting Federation

Official world rafting governing body

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://internationalrafting.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [News](https://internationalrafting.com/news/)
- [Convocation of the Constitutive and First Elective Congress of United Rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/2026/04/convocation-of-the-constitutive-and-first-elective-congress-of-united-rafting/) - The International Rafting Federation and the World Rafting Federation officially announce the convocation of the Constitutive and First Elective Congress of United Rafting, to be held on 21 April 2026 in Pau, France in accordance with the Statutes and the Transitional Provisions adopted following the unification process.This historic Congress marks a significant milestone in the governance and institutional development of United Rafting, formally
- [International Whitewater Hall of Fame and IRF honour RAFA](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/08/international-whitewater-hall-of-fame-and-irf-honour-rafa/) - Rafael Gallo's communities ask friends to support the projects he loved - International Whitewater Hall of Fame and IRF honour RAFA (Rivers And Forests Alliance). The World River Centre and International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHOF), the International Rafting Federation and Rivers and Forests Alliance (RAFA) have announced a campaign to further the work and passion
- [Thank you! Rafael Gallo’s legacy campaign exceeds goal](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/10/rafael-gallos-legacy/) - Rafael Gallo's legacy whitewater partnership will support river sustainability projects and a whitewater digital archive The Rivers and Forests Alliance (RAFA) is thrilled with the success of the fundraising campaign conducted with the World River Centre, International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHoF) and the IRF to further the conservation work of Rafael “Rafa” Gallo, RAFA
- [Get to know your BOD - Goran Lolic](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/04/goran/) - Goran Lolic was voted as Chair of the Judges Committee and therefore was appointed to the BOD for the first time at the last Congress in 2021. He has been involved in a number of IRF committees for many years before this, namely the Judges Committee, the Sport & Competition Committee, and the Euro Race
- [What to wear white water rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/06/wwraftingwhattowear/) - By James Eastwood from Venchas (Adventures)Deciding on what to wear white water rafting is essential as it provides that safety barrier against injuries as you white-knuckle down the rapids. The right gear can also offer a comfort level so you can stay out on the water for longer doing what you love to do. This
- [100 day countdown to the World Rafting Championship!](https://internationalrafting.com/2025/08/100-day-countdown-to-the-world-rafting-championship/) - The countdown is on – just 100 days remain until the International Rafting Federation (IRF) World Rafting Championships take over the stunning Kampar River in Gopeng, Perak, Malaysia!From December 1–7, 2025, nearly 100 teams from 30 nations will come together to battle for world titles in the exhilarating disciplines of Sprint, Slalom, Head-to-Head, and Downriver.
- [A Story of Training, a Community, and a Clan](https://internationalrafting.com/2025/08/training_community_and_clan/) - Transformation Begins with a River in the Black Sea: A Story of Training, a Community, and a Clan Sometimes, a river is not just a place where water flows - it becomes a space where people connect, are tested, and transform. Our story takes place in the mysterious valley of the Black Sea, at Yeniköy Stream
- [Consequences of doping](https://internationalrafting.com/2025/08/consequences-of-doping/) - (1) HealthThe use of Performance-enhancing Drugs (PEDs) may have long- and short-term impact on the Athlete’s physical and mental health.Depending on the substance, the dosage and the duration of use, some PEDs have been proven to have severe side effects and can cause irreversible damage to an Athlete’s body. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has
- [Principles and values associated with clean sport](https://internationalrafting.com/2025/08/principles-and-values-associated-with-clean-sport/) - The use of doping substances or doping methods to enhance performance is fundamentally wrong and is detrimental to the overall spirit of sport. Drug misuse can be harmful to an Athlete’s health and to other Athletes competing in the sport. It severely damages the integrity, image and value of sport, whether or not the motivation
- [Rights and responsibilities of athletes, athlete support personnel, and other groups under the Code](https://internationalrafting.com/2025/08/rights-and-responsibilities-of-athletes-athlete-support-personnel-and-other-groups-under-the-code/) - Athletes, Athlete Support Personnel and other groups who are subject to anti-doping rules all have rights and responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code. Part Three of the Code outlines all the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder in the anti-doping system.It is especially important that Athletes and Athlete Support Personnel know and understand Code Art.
- [A warm welcome to the 2025 ERC from the Bulgarian Rafting Federation](https://internationalrafting.com/2025/06/a-warm-welcome-to-the-2025-erc-from-the-bulgarian-rafting-federation/) - The Bulgarian Rafting Federation and organising team has issued a welcome letter to teams, judges, volunteers and friends that are participating in the 2025 European Rafting Championship. Please read their warm words below: Dear teams, judges, volunteers and friends,On behalf of the Bulgarian Rafting Federation and the entire organizing team, we would like to extend
- [IRF European Rafting Championship is just around the corner!](https://internationalrafting.com/2025/06/irf-european-rafting-championship-is-just-around-the-corner/) - Bansko, Bulgaria is set to make rafting history in just a few days as it hosts the inaugural IRF European Rafting Championship. From June 23–29, 2025, elite teams from European nations—including Bosnia & Herzegovina, the UK, Romania, Latvia and home teams from Bulgaria —will battle it out on the Struma River in the dramatic Kresna Gorge. Key Highlights•
- [Sustainable Raft Racing in Indonesia: A Model](https://internationalrafting.com/2024/02/sustainable-raft-racing-in-indonesia-a-model/) - During the 2015 World Rafting Championships on the Citarik River in Indonesia, Rafael Gallo, one of the founders of the IRF and former IRF President, included time during the event for competitors and volunteers to plant trees.This action also planted a seed in Amalia Yunita (Yuni), Acting Chairperson of the Indonesian Rafting Federation. This seed
- [Registration Extended for the Kampar River IRF World Cup in Malaysia](https://internationalrafting.com/2024/03/registration-extended-for-the-kampar-river-irf-world-cup-in-malaysia/) - The organizers of the Kampar River Festival, the first 2024 IRF World Cup race on the IRF schedule, May 24-26, 2024, have announced that registration will be extended to April 30th, 2024. This exotic location is a relatively new venue for world class raft racing and features all the ingredients for a high quality international event.
- [IRF Signs on to the Sports for Nature Framework](https://internationalrafting.com/2024/03/irf-signs-on-to-the-sports-for-nature-framework/) - The International Rafting Federation is delighted to announce that we have recently joined 54 other signatory sports organizations to support the Sport for Nature Framework. The Framework was developed as a collaborative effort between the following organizations:International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),the International Olympic Committee (IOC),the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),the Secretariat of the
- [New Hire for a New Position - IRF Administrative Secretary](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/11/new-hire-for-a-new-position-irf-administrative-secretary/) - We are pleased to announce the recent hire for an Administrative Secretary position at the International Rafting Federation. In this role, Adam Bass (age 37) from Boise, Idaho, USA, is excited to “aid and support IRF programs and participants”.Adam has a diverse range of work experience and is currently pursuing two careers. A Civil Engineering
- [IRF WRC 2024 officially opened in Banja Luka](https://internationalrafting.com/2024/05/irf-wrc-2024-opening-ceremony/) - The International Rafting Federation’s World Rafting Championship 2024 has now officially begun. The world descends on Banja Luka for the third time for this momentous rafting event. More than 400 competitors from 20 nations poured into the stadium in the town of Krupa na Vrbas, right by the banks of the river Vrbas, for the
- [IRF and WRF sign Declaration to Unite the Global Rafting Community](https://internationalrafting.com/2024/08/irf-and-wrf-sign-declaration-to-unite-the-global-rafting-community/) - Lausanne, Switzerland – In an historic move towards the unification of the global rafting community, Joseph Willis Jones, President of the International Rafting Federation (IRF), and Danilo Barmaz, President of the World Rafting Federation (WRF), have signed a joint declaration on 24th May 2024 in Lausanne.The agreement includes the following points:to work together as one family
- [Become a GTE Raft Guide Instructor this summer](https://internationalrafting.com/2025/03/become-a-gte-raft-guide-instructor-this-summer/) - Do you have what it takes to inspire the next generation of river guides? This is your chance to make an impact, and certify the guides of the future!
- [Historic Milestone for Rafting: IRF and WRF Signed a Letter of Intent to Merge](https://internationalrafting.com/2025/06/irf-wrf-merge-agreement/) - A significant milestone in the history of international rafting was reached on June 5th, 2025, in Istanbul, where IRF President Joseph Willis Jones and WRF President Danilo Barmaz signed a Letter of Intent to SportAccord, to apply for membership in the Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sport (AIMS). AIMS, an IOC-recognised umbrella organisation, plays
- [2025 R4 World Rafting Championship confirmed in Malaysia](https://internationalrafting.com/2025/01/2025-r4-world-rafting-championship-confirmed-in-malaysia/) - Are you ready to race in Malaysia’s tropical paradise? Preparations are already underway so be sure to mark December on your calendar for the biggest raft racing event of the year! More info about the 2025 R4 World Rafting Championship is coming soon!
- [IRF Secretary General Sue Liell-Cock retires](https://internationalrafting.com/2024/04/irf-secretary-general-retires/) - We are sad to announce that Sue Liell-Cock, IRF Secretary General and a friend of rafting enthusiasts world-wide, has retired after a long and storied career here at the International Rafting Federation.Sue is one of the founders of the IRF when it was established in 1997, and has been a member of the IRF Board
- [IRF 2024 Congress dates announced](https://internationalrafting.com/2024/02/irf-2024-congress-dates-announced/) - In coordination with the WRC Organising Committee, the IRF Executive Committee has scheduled the IRF 2024 Congress Assembly for 28 May, to be held in Banja Luka, BIH. To assure maximum attendance of IRF Member Organisations, the IRF Board of Directors had previous voted that the Congress will coincide with the 2024 World Rafting Championships
- [Gállegos river this May for GTE Instructor Update / Renewal](https://internationalrafting.com/2024/03/gte-instructor-update-spain-2024/) - IRF Guide Training & Education Instructor Update / Renewal on the Gállegos river in Spain. Hosted by UR Pirineos, and delivered by IRF Vice President (Guide Training & Education) Gáspár Göncz, this workshop is for all current Instructors looking to refresh their skills or certificate. Details: 17 - 19 May 2024 (all dates inclusive) Río Gállego
- [First Scheduled 2024 European Rafting Cup (R4) - The spectacular Kresna Gorge in Bulgaria](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/12/first-sheduled-2024-european-rafting-cup-r4-the-spectacular-kresna-gorge-in-bulgaria/) - The first IRF Rafting European Cup (and Balkan Cup) race on the calendar for 2024 will be held within the Kresna Gorge on the Struma River in Bulgaria on April 19-21, 2024. This event will feature both R4 rafting events in Sprint/H2H/Slalom/Downriver and also extreme kayaking events. The Class II through IV Struma
- [WADA Prohibited Substances list recently updated, effective January 1, 2024.](https://internationalrafting.com/2024/01/wada-prohibited-substances-list-recently-updated-effective-january-1-2024/) - The IRF is a proud signatory of WADA (the world anti-doping agency), one of the most important steps to maintaining our international recognition as the legitimate world governing body for rafting. As a signatory of WADA we support the Natural Training Movement, #NaturallsEnough. “Building fitness and strength is a journey, and it’s essential to be
- [IRF participation at the 2023 SportAccord International Federation Forum](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/12/irf-participation-at-the-2023-sportaccord-international-federation-forum/) - By invitation from the SportAccord, Eric Beaudreau, First Vice-President and Chair of Sport and Competition, represented the International Rafting Federation at a three-day Forum for International Sports Federations held on November 13-15, at the Olympic Capital of Lusanne, Switzerland. SportAccord is a global sports event organisation governed by stakeholders representing Olympic and non-Olympic International Sports
- [Samana Fest 2024!](https://internationalrafting.com/2024/01/samana-fest-2024/) - Hi friends and fellow paddlers! The Samana Fest is back! Once again, we have taken the event to the next level and it’s a pleasure for us to invite you to take part in the 2024 Samana Fest! The dates are 11 to 17 th of March, and we have organized a week of paddling,
- [2024 R4 World Rafting Championship is confirmed in Bosnia and Herzegovina](https://internationalrafting.com/2024/01/2024-wrc-is-confirmed-in-bosnia-and-herzegovina/) - We are pleased to announce that Bosnia-Herzegovina will be hosting the 2024 WRC. The IRF was in communications with China as a potential host for 2024, but the China organizers decided to postpone hosting to a future year because of financial limitations due to a national economic downturn. After searching for a replacement host, the
- [GTE workshop and assessment in France during March 2024](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/11/irf-assessment-course-in-france-march-2024/) - We are happy to announce an IRF GTE workshop and assessment scheduled to be held on the Dranses River in France from March 18 to 22, 2024. This is a great opportunity for river guides in France and the surrounding regions to obtain an IRF Guide, Trip Leader, Safety Kayak, or Instructor Certification. The workshop
- [GTE instructor update 2024 to be held in April in Ecuador](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/11/gte-instructor-update-2024/) - The IRF's GTE Instructor update 2024 will be held in April 2024 for all existing IRF instructors who can travel to Ecuador to attend the update. The goal of the update is for IRF instructors to share the current global best practices within the rafting industry. The update will also give instructors the opportunity to
- [GTE workshop and assessment in Mexico](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/10/gte-workshop-and-assessments-in-mexico/) - We are pleased to announce another GTE workshop and assessment in Mexico, this time in Jalcomulco, Veracruz. The IRF GTE certification is recognised worldwide by leading rafting companies and operators as a first step in obtaining employment as a rafting guide or trip leader. If you are interested in attending this assessment, please contact the
- [GTE Guide and Trip Leader Assessment scheduled in Mexico](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/10/assessment-for-rafting-guides/) - For all persons interested in obtaining a GTE Guide or Trip Leader certification, there is an assessment scheduled from 13th till 15th of November in Tampaón River, Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosí, México, for Rafting guides level 2 – 3 and trip leaders level 3. The IRF GTE certification is recognised worldwide by leading rafting
- [Nepal earthquake forces postponement of 'The Great Karnali Quest 2023'](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/11/postponement-of-the-great-karnali-quest-2023/) - The recent devastating earthquake in Nepal that occurred on 3 November has unfortunately forced the postponement of the Great Karnali Quest 2023. The IRF family is extremely saddened by the news of this horrible tragedy, and our heartfelt condolences are extended to the Nepalese people who have lost their homes and loved ones. Please see
- [International Rafting Cup - Argentina 2023](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/10/international-rafting-cup-argentina-2023/) - The Argentine Rafting Association (AARaft) is pleased to call all rafters to participate in the “International Rafting Cup” that will be held on November 24, 25 and 26 of this year on the Manso River, Town of Bariloche, Province of Rio Negro.Making an economic effort at the organizational level, and to guarantee the greatest participation
- [](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/10/77905/) - Dear Rafting friends! Greetings again from The Great Karnali Quest!! In celebration of World Tourism Month, we're thrilled to reveal an extraordinary deal - a massive discount on our registration fee to 450 $ but act fast, it won't last long! Secure the team's spot now for a chance to be part of history in the
- [IRF R4 ’’VRBAS CUP 2023’’](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/09/irf-r4-vrbas-cup-2023/) - The Republic of Srpska Rafting Federation and Rafting club "KANJON" invites all Rafting Teams for the IRF R4 Rafting National Race "Vrbas Cup 2023" Bosnia and Herzegovina. Races will be held on river Vrbas - city of Banja Luka in R4 Open men and R4 Open women category, in discipline Downriver according to IRF Race
- [Cornisa Rafting Euro Cup 2023](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/09/cornisa-rafting-euro-cup-2023/) - #Cornisa EC has reached third edition as a fun and entertaining event! Live music, live TV media full time coverage, fully catered event for the teams and a loud end race party complemented the 4 usual disciplines of Sprint, Head2Head, Slalom and Downriver. Special mention for the ~Take a Banana~ Race in which freshly combined
- [](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/09/77850/) - Dear Rafting Family, This Saturday, September 16th, there will be the Cornisa Rafting Euro Cup on the only artificial course in Romania. If you wish to join the organizers are very happy to welcome you with a nice racing package: Free transfers from Suceava Airport SCV Free breakfast, coffee & sweets corner and lunch for
- [European Rafting Championship 2023 Czechia - It's a wrap!](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/08/european-rafting-championship-2023-czechia-its-a-wrap/) - From August 21st to August 28th 2023, the heart of Europe, Czechia, played host to one of the most thrilling and competitive events in the world of water sports – the European Rafting Competition. This week-long extravaganza brought together teams from all corners of Europe to test their mettle in various categories and disciplines of
- [Another call - Help save the Karnali while racing on it for 5 days!](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/08/another-call-help-save-the-karnali-while-racing-on-it-for-5-days/) - To all our dear Rafting friends – in case you didn’t saw yet, we got the invitation for this amazing event! We’re inviting you all again to help save the Karnali while racing on it for 5 days! The Mission “The Great Karnali Quest – sacred river corridor raft race is on, in order to
- [Val di Femme Outdoor becomes IRF Rafting Operator Accredited](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/08/val-di-femme-outdoor-irf-roa/) - Recently Val di Femme Outdoor, which is in Cavalese, Italy, received the IRF's Rafting Operator Accreditation (ROA). They are a small company which usually have about four guides per season, and on bigger trips they sometimes use freelance guides from around the town where they are based. Their base is small, but functional and tidy. All
- [ERC 2023 Czechia - Final Touch!](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/08/erc-2023-czechia-final-touch/) - With the European Rafting Championship 2023 just around the corner, it's a perfect time to direct you to some useful links! 👇 👇 👇 Live streaming of the event! You can find the livestream on Playo.cz platform: playo.tv/live-broadcasting.aspx. We will share the direct link much closer to the time. There will also be a livestream on Czech
- [European Championship Team Spotlight: R6 Open Men - Czech Republic (Team TR ZUBR)](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/08/teams-that-will-participate-in-the-european-championship-in-the-czech-republic-r6-team-open-men-tr-zubr-czech-republic/) - We are rapidly approaching the 2023 European Championship!Today we cast our spotlight on a R6 Open Men's team, one of the many teams participating in the championship.This R6 Team Open Men team is from the Czech Republic. Team TR ZUBR (Zubr is the name of brewery that sponsors them).IRF: Please tell us a little about
- [European Championship Team Spotlight: Masters Men - Great Britain (Team Phoenix)](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/08/77722/) - We are rapidly approaching the European Championship in the Czech Republic! Today we cast our spotlight on one of the Masters Men teams that will participate in the championship. Great Britain Masters Men team (Team Phoenix), will compete in both the R4 and R6 races. The team is based at the National Watersports Centre, Nottingham,
- [ERC 2023 in Czech is getting closer!](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/08/erc-2023-in-czech-is-getting-closer/) - We are getting closer to the European Championship in the Czech Republic, and our excitement is growing...The best teams from all over Europe are training hard, fine tuning their skills in preparation for competing on the world stage in this top level event.Over 50 teams from 14 countries are registered to participate in all disciplines
- [Are you ready for the European Championship 2023 in the Czech Republic?](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/07/are-you-ready-for-the-european-championship-2023-in-the-czech-republic/) - Prepare for an exhilarating ride as the picturesque country of Czechia gears up to host the highly anticipated Rafting European Championship in August this year. With previous editions of the championship leaving participants and spectators in awe, this year's event promises to be nothing short of extraordinary. Adventure enthusiasts from all over Europe are eagerly
- [Help save the Karnali while racing on it for 5 days!](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/07/help-save-the-karnali-while-racing-on-it-for-5-days/) - Dear Rafting Friends, we got the invitation for this amazing event! Would like to use this opportunity to invite you all to help save the Karnali while racing on it for 5 days! Below you can find all the info! The Mission “The Great Karnali Quest – sacred river corridor raft race is on, in
- [KOKSU WATER FEST 2023](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/02/irf-r4-open-asian-rafting-championship-2023/) - Where: The River Koksu, Republic of KazakhstanWhen: 14 – 19 June 2023The Kazakhstan Rafting Federation invites all Rafting Teams to the KOKSU WATER FEST 2023 in the Republic of Kazakhstan.Races will be held on river Koksu – Taldykorgan region in R4 Open men and R4 Openwomen category, in all discipline (Sprint, H2H, Slalom and Downriver) according
- [KOKSU WATER FEST 2023](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/06/koksu-water-fest-2023/) - For the first time in Kazakhstan, the KOKSU WATER FEST 2023 was held from 13-19 June 2023 on the Koksu River in Kerbulak district, Zhetysu region. The main organizers of the competition were the Tourist Information Center "VISIT ZHETYSU" and the Rafting Federation of Kazakhstan. Special attention should be given to the sports part of
- [Calling All The Rafters: European Rafting Championship in Czechia!](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/06/calling-all-the-rafters-european-rafting-championship-in-czechia/) - Get ready for an adrenaline-fueled event of a lifetime! The European Rafting Championship is set to take place in the captivating landscapes of Czechia from the 21st to the 27th of August 2023. Rafters from all over Europe are invited to compete in this thrilling event, showcasing their skills on challenging rapids while experiencing the
- [II Basque Country Rafting Championship 2023](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/06/ii-basque-country-rafting-championship-2023/) - On 27th of may, the Basque Association of Beach Tennis and Minority Sports, the Basque Rafting section, organized in Bidarray, in France, French Basque Country the II Basque Country Championship of Rafting (Downriver). There we went 10 young (7 men and 3 women) from to do a rafting race, the II. Basque Championship of Rafting,
- [World Cup Series 2023 - Banja Luka, Bosnia](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/06/world-cup-2023-banja-luka-bosnia/) - The World Cup Rafting series recently visited Banja Luka, Bosnia from June 2nd until June 4th. 19 national teams participated in this exciting event, making it an amazing showcase of rafting talent. The organization of the event was top-notch and everything went smoothly, making it a great success. With all aspects of the competition being
- [Tara Cup 2023 - Downriver](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/06/tara-cup-2023-downriver/) - The Tara Cup is always exciting and challenging rafting competition, and the 2023 edition of the tournament was no exception. This year's competition featured teams from two countries - Bosnia and Russia - all vying for the coveted title of Tara Cup champions. The discipline for this year's competition was downriver, which is widely regarded
- [Euro Cup Bulgaria 2023 - Struma River](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/05/euro-cup-bulgaria-2023-struma-river/) - Well, we can say absolutely UAU for the rafting event EXTREME EURO/BALKAN RAFTING/KAYAK CUP R4 held on 21-23.04.2023 in KRESNA GORGE, STRUMA RIVER, BULGARIA for 7th time. And very very big thanks and applause for the awesome rafting teams and kayakers that took part in it. And all the guest, organisation, friends, volunteers.. Huge thanks
- [We have taken a big step into the 2023 rafting season](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/05/we-have-taken-a-big-step-into-the-2023-rafting-season/) - We have taken a big step into the 2023 rafting season and there is no end to our happiness. We summarize the impressions of the past competitions and look forward to the next ones. To see the results of the competitions that have taken place so far, click here To get acquainted with the competitions
- [Dear Rafting Family - We offer you a job!](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/05/dear-rafting-family-we-offer-you-a-job/) - Dear Rafting Family! We invite you to became part of our working family! In order to make the IRF an even better organization, even more there for our rafters all around the world, we need your help! The International Rafting Federation is looking for someone to take on various administrative tasks within the organization. YES,
- [16 teams have started the EC season in Romania on April 1st](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/04/16-teams-have-started-the-ec-season-in-romania-on-april-1st/) - And there is no April Fool`s Day prank in the above sentence ☺ Beginning of April marked the beginning of raft races on Europe`s natural rivers with the now at its sixth edition Dracula Race. 3 ladies teams and 13 men`s teams from Bosnia, UK and Romania raced over 2 days on the 40 cms
- [IRF R4 ’’TARA CUP 2023’’](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/05/irf-r4-tara-cup-2023/) - The Republic of Srpska Rafting Federation and Rafting center "TARA-RAFT" invites all Rafting Teams for the IRF R4 Rafting National Race "Tara Cup 2023" Bosnia and Herzegovina. Races will be held on river Tara - city of Foča in R4 Open men and R4 Open womencategory, in discipline Downriver according to IRF Race rules. Category
- [Rafting in Latvia - April 2023](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/04/rafting-in-latvia-april-2023/) - We have competitions in water tourism that take place in Latvia. A race where anyone can compete with their own boat, no matter what it is. We put the most popular boats in one class, the others next to the others. The competition usually takes place over two days, but now more and more often
- [European Rafting Cup Cunovo 2023](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/03/european-rafting-cup-cunovo-2023/) - We are so happy to go back to an amazing rafting course Cunovo, Slovakia! European Rafting Cup Cunovo 2023 will be held in May and here's more info! 👇👇👇 Date and location: 13.-14. May 2023 Cunovo - artificial course, Divoka voda area Bratislava 13.5.2023 - Slovak Rafting Championship (2.round) + Czech Rafting Cup (3.round) 14.5.2023
- [Presented Work of the Sustainability Committee of the  International Rafting Federation](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/03/presented-work-of-the-sustainability-committee-of-the-international-rafting-federation/) - An expert forum entitled „Recreational programs in the function of health“ organized by the Association „Sport for All“, Belgrade, under the auspices of the „City Secretariat for Sports“, was successfully held on Friday, March 10, according to the presented program. Several interesting lectures from a wide range of sports, recreation and physical education were held
- [Water Tourism Competition “Amata 59” April 7-9, 2023](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/03/water-tourism-competition-amata-59-april-7-9-2023/) - The Rafting and Water Tourism Federation of Latvia, the "Vienkārši" club invites you to the Water Tourism Competition "Amata 59"! Competitions in the Amata river actually take place from 1963, but officially - from 1964. Since 2001, the Amata competition has been held every year, and since 2003 it has been an annual event and
- [IRF’s Rafting Operator Accreditation growing](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/03/rafting-operator-accreditation-growing/) - The Rafting Operator Accreditation (ROA) is a credential issued by the International Rafting Federation (IRF) to operators that offer rafting guided or instructional services. The purpose of the system is to provide a means of recognizing operators that meet or exceed internationally accepted safety, environmental and quality standards. The process consists of a period of
- [IRF Euro Cup Romania - April 1st – 2nd, 2023](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/03/irf-euro-cup-romania-april-1st-2nd-2023/) - White Water Romania and IRF jointly organized the Euro Cup. Rafting on Buzau River, adventure is assured. All information you need are here. Location: Nehoiu, Buzau County, Romania, https://goo.gl/maps/tXPTaG6pr6y Race Headquarters: Arca Rafting Camp https://goo.gl/maps/xAVrfh6mspnBo3Jt5 River: Buzau, class 2-3. Flow: 30 - 40 cms Flow Air / Water temperature: 16-25 Celsius / 16 Celsius Air
- [The IRF Rafting Eurocup and the official Austrian Championships 2023](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/02/the-irf-rafting-eurocup-and-the-official-austrian-championships-2023/) - "After a break of 3 years, we are happy to host the Rafting Championships Wildalpen again this year. In addition to the Austrian National Championships, IRF European Cup races will also take place in Wildalpen. We would be very happy to welcome as many of our friends as possible in Wildalpen again. We are also
- [RAFTING EURO CUP BULGARIA 2023/RAFTING  BALKAN CUP 2023/WHITE WATER KAYAK EURO&BALKAN CUP 2023](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/02/rafting-euro-cup-bulgaria-2023-rafting-balkan-cup-2023-white-water-kayak-eurobalkan-cup-2023/) - Another exciting event awaits us! Pack your rafting equipment and head to Bulgaria! 👇👇👇 Date: 21-23.04.2023 Organiser: Rafting club Adventure net Categories: R4 open men&women River: Struma, Kresna gorge, class 3 (120 km South from Sofia on E79 road) http://maps.google.bg/maps?q=41.834594,23.15307&num=1&t=h&sll=42.725232,25.481544&sspn=2.978736,6.251286&ie=UTF8&ll=41.833882,23.153735&spn=0.002742,0.005681&z=14&source=embed Race director: Emilia Peneva Registration: office@adventurenetbg.com, +359 888889371, www.adventurenetbg.com. Deadline: 19.04.2023 Rules: according to IRF
- [EUROPEAN RAFTING CHAMPIONSHIP – VLTAVA RIVER, THE CZECH REPUBLIC](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/02/european-rafting-championship-vltava-river-the-czech-republic/) - We are very happy to confirm that the European Rafting Championship will take place in Czech Republic, on beautiful river Vltava, from August 21st till August 28th, in categories: R4 + R6 / U19M, U19W, U23M, U23W, OM, OW, MM, MW. Each country shall inform the organizer of the number of starting teams in each
- [GTE Instructor Conference 2023 registration open](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/02/conference-2023-registration/) - Conference 2023 registration is now open!Registration is open to all current and recently lapsed or expired Instructors, Provisional Instructors and Assessors. The status of all Instructors and Assessors can be found on our frequently updated certified guides and instructors page.This year's conference will be based on the Tara river, near Foča, Bosnia & Herzegovina.GTE Instructor
- [We are entering a new Rafting season – are you ready?](https://internationalrafting.com/2023/01/we-are-entering-a-new-rafting-season-are-you-ready/) - After a fantastic previous season, we have to continue at the same pace in this 2023. Every day we receive new applications for the organization of all kinds of competitions – Euro Cups, World Cups, Nationals.. This year, we will have competitions in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria... We expect many more
- [Certified and trainee raft guides in southern Norway for 2023. Any candidate?](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/12/certified-and-trainee-raft-guides-in-southern-norway-for-2023-any-candidate/) - TrollAktiv is looking for certified and trainee raft guides to join team here in southern Norway for 2023. Come and join for a jam-packed season full of good times with some epic people from around the globe. European passport preferred. IRF, RQ3 and WFA courses are available. 7 month season available(European guides) wide range of
- [GTE Conference 2023 - confirmed April, Bosnia & Herzegovina](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/12/gte-conference-2023/) - The IRF's GTE Conference 2023 will be held in April, near Foča, Republika Srpska, Bosnia & Herzegovina. This will be the first face-to-face GTE Instructor Conference since the start of the pandemic. We encourage all Instructors, Provisional Instructors and Assessors to attend. The GTE Conference 2023 will consist of three full days of theory, land
- [Euro Cup 2022 Series retrospective and overall results](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/12/euro-cup-2022-series-retrospective-and-overall-results/) - We summarized the previous season 2022 for you...👇👇👇 On Saturday, September 17, the “Aleksa Kojadinović” Memorial Rafting Competition and Euro Cup was held in Priboj on the Lim River, in the R4 category in all four disciplines (slalom, sprint, parallel sprint, downhill). Four teams took part: SRK Bosna Zenica from the town of the
- [Raft-guides needed in Norway at Uteguiden](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/12/raft-guides-needed-in-norway-at-uteguiden/) - Uteguiden is looking for whitewater enthusiasts to join their team for the 2023 summer season. If you don't have the whole summer available, no worries, we have different options for you to consider. Valldal is Located at the beautiful west coast of Norway near the gorgeous fjord of Geiranger and Trollstigen valley. Send your CV to
- [Sustainability in Rafting webinars - RECAP](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/11/sustainability-in-rafting-webinars-recap/) - If we want to live in a healthier and cleaner world, we have to unite and work hard together. Our great rafting friend helped us with that! He organized 2 webinars for us that absolutely everyone could attend.. In these 2 webinars, the IRF together with Jean-Claude Razel suggests we pause for a moment to think
- [Welcome to the family](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/11/welcome-to-the-family/) - The amount of GTE workshops is making a significant come back post covid which is comforting news. I was shocked to receive a call asking to assist on a GTE workshop in Norway in early November. Instantly I said yes & then I found my self mentally visualizing where I had packed my cold weather
- [Do you want to become an International Rafting Guide? Here's your chance!](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/11/do-you-want-to-become-an-international-rafting-guide-heres-your-chance/) - Do you want to become an international rafting guide? We invite you to the qualification course that opens career prospects in adventure tourism. You can work either with the rafting operators in the country, or almost anywhere, on five continents! The course will be in English and is supported by the main instructor of the
- [Amazing Season 2022 Recap!](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/10/amazing-season-2022-recap/) - Wow! What a season is behind us… We still don't stop, let's understand each other. But when we stop for a second and look back... We have something to see! So, let's remember together everything that we have managed to achieve so far in 2022.. During the year, we tried to bring each member of
- [IRF invites you to Sustainability in Rafting webinars](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/10/sustainability-in-rafting-2/) - Sustainability in rafting is a high priority for the IRF. In 2019 we joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Sports for Climate Action initiative as a signatory to the Sports for Climate Action Framework. We know that it is a priority for many of you as well. To increase your knowledge
- [California Poppies give us their WRC roundup](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/10/california-poppies-give-us-their-wrc-roundup/) - by Chloe Tippett “THE FORMATION OF THE CALIFORNIA POPPIES" I GREW UP on the river. My parents met 30 years ago as guides and raised me and my brother as whitewater kids. Today, our family owns a rafting company, Coloma Lotus Whitewater. Growing up I had a vague awareness that raft racing was a thing.
- [We have some new army of Rafting Guides!](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/10/we-have-some-new-army-of-rafting-guides/) - The training and certification for white waters guides, organized by the Kanjon Rafting Club and with the financial support of UNDP, was successfully completed. Nine participants out of a total 29 received licenses, which will enable them to perform the work of rafting guides according to the rules of the IRF. They remind that the
- [Euro Cup in Priboj, Serbia](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/09/euro-cup-in-priboj-serbia/) - On Saturday, September 17, the "Aleksa Kojadinović" Memorial Rafting Competition and Euro Cup was held in Priboj on the Lim River, in the R4 category in all four disciplines (slalom, sprint, parallel sprint, downhill). Four teams took part: SRK Bosna Zenica from the town of the same name, Lim Lučice from Prijepolje, SU Soko Lim
- [IRF 4 “I. BASQUE COUNTRY RAFTING CHAMPIONSHIP 2022”](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/09/irf-4-i-basque-country-rafting-championship-2022/) - The organiser had somethings to say about the event: "Last sunday, 11th of september, the Basque Association of Beach Tennis and Minority Sports, the Basque Rafting section, organized in Itxassou, in France, French Basque Country the I.Basque Country Championship of Rafting (Downriver). There we went 8 young from to do a rafting race, the I.
- [USAID BiH supports raft guides for safety at WRC 2022](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/05/usaid-bih-partnership/) - Today, 24 candidates started their training for the IRF Guide Training & Education (GTE) raft guide qualification as part of the support that USAID BiH Sustainable Tourism Development Project has provided to the hosts of the 2022 World Rafting Championships (WRC). Following the course, all candidates will get the unique opportunity to support the official
- [A Challenging Weekend at EC Lipno](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/08/a-challenging-weekend-at-ec-lipno/) - The traditional Czech Cup and European Cup in downriver race took place in the Czech Republic last weekend. Under the Lipno dam, rafters from 4 different countries (CZE, ITA, GER, JAP) have met, including several medalists from this year's World Rafting Championship in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The course under Lipno dam is one of the
- [White Water Weekend in Romania](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/09/white-water-weekend-in-romania/) - Last weekend Botosani city in northern Romania hosted it`s first Euro Cup together with a kayaking race on the only artificial course in this part of Europe. The fully catered event (competitors were offered free accommodation, meals and airport transfers) enjoyed the presence of four nations represented by 12 rafting teams and 19 kayakers racing
- [Third Time’s Lucky](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/09/third-times-lucky/) - The „lucky rule“ has applied to another race that took place in Czech Republic - this time in the southern Bohemia close to town of České Budějovice. The local racing area provides good white water terrain for both beginners and advanced paddlers and it is surrounded by beautiful nature. It is always great experience to
- [Second Czech Weekend](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/09/second-czech-weekend/) - Last weekend of school holiday belonged to rafting in Czech Republic. And it was a busy one! Rafters from four different countries arrived to Troja White Water Center in Prague to find out which team is the best in slalom and sprint race. Especially Saturday 27th was really full on - the spectators could see
- [RAFTING SINCE 1997!](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/08/rafting-since-1997/) - The very first love for competitive rafting was shown back in 1989, when Russians and Americans joined forces and organized the first rafting competitions - up to 50 teams competed in Siberia (1989), USA (1990), Costa Rica (1991) and Turkey (1993). The only logical step after that was the establishment of an International Rafting Federation.
- [We need more RIVER GUARDIANS](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/08/we-need-more-river-guardians/) - In order to save the planet, and leave a clean one behind, we need more river guardians. One person is not enough for one river, everyone needs to know that they are the owner of the title of “guardian”. The river from the source to the mouth has freedom and its own nature, where it
- [UTS WORLD YOUTH FESTIVAL 2022](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/08/uts-world-youth-festival-2022/) - The IRF is proud to announce that we have been invited again to participate in the United Through Sport (UTS) 3rd World Youth Festival 2022! The WYF is a unique celebration of youth, sports, regional history and culture. It is to encourage an inclusive and educational approach to keep connected, active and united. UTS World Youth
- [48th Una Regatta](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/08/48th-una-regatta/) - After a two-year break, everyone was looking forward to the Una regatta that lasted from 27 to 30 July.. This is the 48th Una Regatta, happens once a year and people in Bihać love this tradition, so they show up in a large number to meet and greet the Una Regata participants. We started in
- [WRC2022 Retrospective](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/07/wrc2022-retrospective/) - As we are all used to, when Rafting Club Kanjon is the organizer of any rafting competition, it will be nothing less than amazing. That was the case this time as well – WRC2022 in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be remembered for its great organization, unreal nature, incredible hosts and wonderful emotions. From 22 countries,
- [Announcing ERC 2023 is back at Lipno!](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/07/announcing-erc-2023/) - We are very excited to announce we are returning to Lipno for our ERC 2023! Dates for event: August 28th - September 3rd 2023 Location: Czech Republic River: Vltava River Nearest town/ city: Lipno nad Vltavou Hosts: Union of boaters of the Czech Republic (SVoČR) SVoČR are one of the most experienced event organisers and
- [Get to know your BOD - Pieter Bekkers](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/07/pieter/) - Pieter Bekkers first joined the IRF Board of Directors in 2011 where he oversaw the Media & Marketing section of the IRF for a few years, then became Chair of Sport & Competition, and later he became Treasurer. In 2021 he was approved as an Honourary BOD Member. He was and still is very involved
- [IRF to support the organization of the 48th International Touristic Una Regatta in Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/07/una-regatta-2022/) - Through IRF's endorsement, the Una Regatta will become a globally recognized whitewater rafting event The International Rafting Federation (IRF), the official umbrella International Sports Federation for national rafting organizations worldwide and world governing body for rafting, is cooperating with USAID's Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina to support the 48th International Touristic Una
- [Upcoming Race Judges workshops](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/03/judges-workshops/) - There are two options to become an IRF Race Judge coming up. The first option is an online Judges Workshop for new Judges. This is particularly handy for those who wish to become Judges for their local/regional events but never get the chance to attend the face-to-face IRF Judge Workshops usually offered. The second option
- [Get to know our Athletes' Commission members](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/07/our-athletes-commission/) - We at IRF want to believe that we are one big family and act accordingly. We take care of all our 'children' and work every day to improve ways to keep each of you with a smile on your face. In order to be successful in this, we must be well organized, with a good
- [Get to know your BOD - Emilia Peneva](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/07/emilia/) - Emilia Peneva has been a member of the IRF Board of Directors since 2013 when she became Co-chair of Recreational Rafting and Conservation together with the late Rafael Gallo. She has been Chair of Recreational Rafting since 2017. Her rafting experience started in 2002. The year before that they had established a club for adventure
- [The IRF mournes the loss of one of our family - Jordanka Bogdanova (1988-2022)](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/06/jordanka-bogdanova/) - Jordanka Bogdanova, known to many of us as Dani, passed away on 16 June in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. She was involved in a very serious vehicle accident on the 5 June while traveling near Capljina. She was in a coma, in a hospital in Mostar for 15 days. But as strong and determined as she
- [Fun in the sun at EC Trnavka 2022](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/06/ec-trnavka-2022/) - On the weekend of 18 - 19 June the well known EC Trnavka 2022 was held in the Czech Republic on the artificial slalom course in Želiv. This course is not intended for beginners as it is Class 4, so a good challenging course for the top teams. The event had a few titles -
- [Thank you to the Vrbas and Tara](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/06/thank-you-vrbas-tara/) - The IRF's 19th World Rafting Championship (WRC) recently drew to a close. And there are so many to thank for the incredible event. The BiH WRC 2022 Organising Committee must be thanked profusely for stepping in to organise the event with only six months preparation time when the previous hosts had to cancel. The ever
- [Six continents in Ziyuan](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/07/six-continents-in-ziyuan/) - Six continents in Ziyuan were represented at this prestigious IRF World Cup. Brazil, Czech Republic, New Zealand and Norway dominated the podium at the 2018 IRF Ziyuan Rafting Festival. A broad spectrum of IRF member nation’s teams attended the event with thrills, two spills and no definitely no chills. Representative teams from six continents attended
- [Gratitude and fond farewell to Raewyn](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/12/farewell-to-raewyn/) - As we draw a close to 2020, we also say a fond farewell to Raewyn Larcombe. Raewyn has been the IRF's Guide Training & Education (GTE) Administrator since 2009. At the time, the IRF had about 400 certified guides around the globe. Over the next decade this number has grown more than 500%. Chair of
- [Euro Cup Čunovo first race of the 2022 series](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/06/first_race_of_the_2022_series/) - On May 21 and 22, Euro Cup Čunovo was the first race of the 2022 series. The event took place on the artificial canal in Čunovo near Bratislava. The race was part of the Slovakia National Championships, the Czech National Cup and the Euro Cup Series, so rafting teams from Slovakia, Czech Republic and Germany
- [Support pouring in to IRF](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/01/support-pouring-in-to-irf/) - A recent breakaway rafting group has caused quite a stir amongst the rafting community. Many in the rafting world are horrified that efforts have been made to splinter the strong camaraderie the IRF has built over the past 20+ years. A HUGE outpouring of support towards the IRF has been received through letters, emails and social
- [65 teams registered for World Rafting Champs 2022](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/03/65-teams-registered-wrc2022/) - With registration recently closing we can now confirm that 65 teams have registered for the 2022 World Rafting Championships being held in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) from the 25 May to the 1 June. These 65 teams will represent 22 countries from around the world in men's and women's divisions and in Under 19, Under
- [USA U19 Women heading to World Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/04/usa-u19-women-wrc2022/) - The upcoming World Rafting Championships (WRC) which start on the 25 May, will see the California Poppies as the USA U19 Women's team. Teams from all over the world come to compete at the WRC, and while they may not understand each others' languages, they all understand one common language - that of the river.
- [IRF position on the Russian government actions in Ukraine](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/03/actions-in-ukraine/) - As the globally recognised leader of the rafting community, the International Rafting Federation (IRF) is shocked and dismayed by the acts of aggression by the Russian government’s actions in its decision to order the invasion of Ukraine and the military assault on the Ukraine people. We have watched in horror as Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure
- [Support for Ukraine](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/03/support-for-ukraine/) - There is an overwhelming keenness amongst our followers to assist with support for Ukraine. We've been contacted by some offering help, and others asking how they can help. Rafters offering support for Ukraine In Romania we have Mihai Mares, an IRF GTE Instructor, offering to assist with shelter, jobs in the summer and possibly food
- [Rafting Champions of the World](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/06/rafting-champions-of-the-world/) - The 2022 Rafting Champions of the World were recently declared on the Tara River, in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The final deciding discipline of Downriver was contested on the beautiful blue waters of the canyon section of the Tara River. Czechia are the new Under 19 Men Rafting Champions of the World.
- [Challenging slalom under the lights](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/05/challenging-slalom/) - A challenging slalom course was set on the Vrbas River for the WRC 2022 rafting athletes of the world. One has to admit, Slalom under the lights is pretty special and the BiH WRC Organisers turned it on and night racing was a go! The course was challenging to all teams at all levels but
- [Tactics and tussles on the Vrbas](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/05/tactics-tussles-on-vrbas/) - The Head-to-Head (H2H) is all about tactics, with a pinch of luck! The day was filled with many tussles as the teams tried all they could to outsmart their opponents in the race to get around the two buoys they'd chosen and to get across that finish line first. The first step was to get
- [Where to follow World Rafting Championships 2022](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/05/follow-wrc-2022/) - Follow the live blog The best place to follow World Rafting Champs 2022 is on the live blog worldraftingchamps.com/live That is where you will find announcements like start lists, results, etc, as well as where to find livestreaming if it is available for that day, plus snippets of the action through pictures, short videos and
- [First day of racing concludes at WRC 2022](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/05/first-day-racing-conclude/) - When the racing concluded today at World Rafting Championships 2022 the local Master's Men's team from Bosnia and Herzegovina were proudly displaying the gold medals they won in Sprint, and the bronze in Head-to-Head (H2H). The victorious crew consisted of: Igor Kuzmanović, Dragan Bjelić, Nebojša Tadić, Andrej Zamolo and Goran Pašić as a reserve. In
- [Multi-talented Hungary Open Women ready to race](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/05/hungary-open-women/) - The last time the Hungary Open Women's team were in Banja Luka they won a Silver medal in Sprint in Euro Rafting Champs 2019. So they are happily looking forward to returning to this great location for World Rafting Champs 2022. Multi-talented In the team competing at this World Championship they have rafting guides and
- [What else to do in Vrbas and Tara regions](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/05/vrbas-and-tara/) - Soon rafters from around the world will be racing together again on the Vrbas and Tara Rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina! First they will be gathering in Banja Luka and then Foča in the Republic of Srpska. After a three year break from World Rafting Championships everyone is itching to get there and enjoy what is
- [WADA Anti-Doping course mandatory for WRC 2022 athletes](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/05/anti-doping-courses/) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) officially accepted the IRF as a signatory of the WADA Code in October last year. This historic step is in alignment with the IRF's strategy of making rafting a more officially recognised sport in the international sporting world. The IRF is unequivocally opposed, on ethical and medical grounds, to the
- [Local Dajak Klub teams ready to welcome rafters from around the world](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/05/dajak-klub/) - Dajak Klub are keepers of the Banja Luka traditional Dajak boats, and this year they have two local teams at this, their local World Rafting Championships. They are competing with an Open Men's team and a Masters Men's team. In the Open Men's team it is Dragan Babić, Igor Studen, Dejan Markovic and Djorđe Trninić.
- [Snapping at a chance for more gold, AUS Crocs head to Bosnia](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/05/aus-crocs/) - The Junior Men's team for the event in Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of 4 of the original 6-man team from WRC 2019, Liam, Justin, Cooper & Jacob – the AUS CROCS! The team originally came together in September of 2017 after they heard that Australia would be the host of the World Rafting Championship 2019
- [Mandala Team hailing from Argentina](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/05/mandala_team/) - The Mandala Team are five friends hailing from the Mendoza region of Argentina and ready to represent their country as the Open Women's team. The team is made up of Agua Leiva, Pascua Pithod, Antonella Urbina, Daniela Maldonado and Denise Martinez. They all got into rafting in their adolescence. At the moment they are all
- [Continuing the legacy: Team RAFA headed to WRC 2022](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/05/team-rafa-to-wrc-2022/) - Team RAFA is made up of young athletes from the town of Turrialba - Marcelo Omodeo, Sergio Jiménez, Enrique Segura, and Jose Contreras are the ones to be racing at WRC 2022. Marlon Bustos started the team in 2016 and after his first race was noticed by Rafa Gallo for the great work he was
- [Croatia U19 Men hail from Slunj](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/05/croatia-u19-men/) - The Croatia U19 Men's team is part of the Kayak Canoe Club "Rastocki Mlinari". They are situated in the small city of Slunj which is located on three rivers: Mreznica, Korana, and Slunjcica, and all of them are great for water activities such as kayaking and rafting. Most of their training though is held on
- [Get to know your BOD - Sue Liell-Cock](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/05/sue/) - Sue Liell-Cock was a part of the IRF founding group who met in Augsburg, Germany in May 1997. She became Secretary General in 1998 and has been holding that position since then, working with three Presidents - first Peter Micheler, then Rafael Gallo and now Joe Willis Jones. We spoke to Sue to find out
- [Quebec Juniors heading to WRC 2022](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/05/quebec_juniors/) - Quebec Juniors team are heading to World Rafting Champs 2022. So who is this new under 23 womens' team from Canada? The team is composed of five girls from Quebec City aged 19-22. It was formed in the summer of 2019 by a former national team athlete during her pregnancy. Béatrice Provencher is studying to become
- [WRC 2022 - don't forget your ...](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/04/wrc-2022-dont-forget-your/) - At last WRC 2022 is nearly here! Are you ready to raft the Vrbas and Tara? The long wait to travel and go rafting, to meet up with friends, new and old, to compete and have a good time, is soon to be over! It is hard to believe it has been three years since
- [Rafting Operator Accreditation launched](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/04/rafting-operator-accreditation-launched/) - The IRF's Rafting Operator Accreditation (ROA) was recently launched with the issuing of its first accreditation to Cardiff International White Water (CIWW). CIWW is home to the UK’s very first on-demand Olympic standard White Water Rafting and Indoor Wave facility. Their 250m white water course is designed for rafts, canoes and kayaks. Besides offering white
- [Guide workshops on the Soca, Slovenia](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/10/guide-workshops-on-the-soca/) - With the IRF GTE starting to come to life again after all the various Covid-19 related issues, we ran guide workshops on the Soca, Slovenia. And workshops have been happening in Canada, Chile, Spain, Switzerland, Slovenia, UK and USA during September and October 2020. Having spent a few months guiding in Iceland I noticed that
- [Get to know your IRF BOD - Aleš Danek](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/04/ales/) - Aleš Danek has been Chair of the Athletes’ Commission for a lot longer than expected! Usually elections for the Athlete's Commission are held annually at each World Rafting Championship (WRC). However, with the pandemic preventing our WRC from happening over the past two years Aleš has had an extended time as Chair. We spoke to Aleš
- [IRF commits to the IOC's Mountain Sports Sustainability Pledge](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/12/mountain-sports-sustainability/) - Today marks International Mountain Day and with it, the IRF has commited to the International Olympic Committee's Mountain Sports Sustainability Pledge. The IRF is one of twelve organisations to be part of the IOC Mountain Summit Group. Over the past two years, the group has agreed a set of ten principles for all users of sports
- [Euro Cup 2022 series launching in Slovakia](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/04/euro-cup-2022-series-launch/) - The IRF's first Euro Cup 2022 series event will be held from 21 to 22 May, on the Cunovo artificial course, Divoka voda area Bratislava, Slovakia. It will be R4, and the disciplines will be Sprint and Slalom. The difficulty level of whitewater is 3/4. This event is also the first round in the Slovak
- [Accessible Tourism - a great way to boost your numbers](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/05/accessible-tourism/) - What is accessible tourism? Accessible tourism is also known as Inclusive tourism, but what ever you call it, or however you define it, the meaning and aim is the same. "Accessible tourism is the ongoing endeavor to ensure tourist destinations, products, and services are accessible to all people, regardless of their physical or intellectual limitations,
- [Luuka Jones; advice from a slalom Olympian on how to become a team member](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/01/luuka-jones-advice-slalom-olympian-team-member/) - Nick Harding | Sportscene - Only recently, SPORTSCENE talked over the challenges of being an individual extreme athlete and a competitive rafter with Sam Sutton. Slalom Olympian and fellow New Zealander Luuka Jones further expands on this issue many multi-event athletes face. In the same Okere Falls location as Sam but on an alternative coffee occasion, Director Rob
- [Day 1 at Pre-Worlds, NZ](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/10/day-1-pre-worlds-nz/) - After an exciting day's action on the Kaituna with Sprint in the morning and H2H in the afternoon it's a tight leader-board in Masters, Team Japan have got the jump in Mens with Kiwi crew, Ghost Chips making a big move this afternoon - and locals, Okere Ladies are looking in great form in Womens'. Head 2
- [Interview with Race Director Tim Marshall - Pre Worlds Rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/10/interview-race-director-tim-marshall-pre-worlds-rafting/) - [youtube vnVeGxLb5Io] Lou Lockhart | New Zealand - On the eve of the rafting Pre-World Championships, Race Director Tim Marshall is ticking off a list of prerequisites to make sure all is right for the beginning of competition tomorrow. His work began some time ago. Initially scoping out the rivers to find the right courses, the
- [Get to know your IRF BOD - Jasmina Marčok](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/02/jasmina/) - Jasmina Marčok was elected as Treasurer at the IRF's last Congress which was held virtually in November 2021. With her twenty-eight years of accounting experience, and many years experience as finance manager, her experience and knowledge is a boost for the IRF's financial accumen.We spoke to Jasmina to find out more.Can you give us a
- [Awesome auction with Rivers and Forests Alliance (RAFA)](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/03/rivers-and-forests-alliance/) - The Rivers and Forests Alliance (RAFA) have an awesome auction coming up where you can bid on some incredible adventure trips in all sorts of places around the world. An Alaskan multi-day rafting trip Two different California rafting trips A historic Colombia rafting and cultural adventure A multi-day, multi-sport adventure in Huasteca Potosina, Mexico Costa Rica
- [Get to know your IRF BOD - Kianoosh Mehrabi](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/03/kianoosh/) - Kianoosh Mehrabi was first elected to the IRF BOD in 2015 when he became Co-head of the Recreation and Conservation Committee. In 2017, with the growth of importance of conservation this committee was split to form two committees and Kianoosh became Chair of the Conservation Committee, which became the Sustainability Committee in 2021. We spoke
- [Euro Cup 2021 Rafting Series winners announced](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/10/euro-cup-2021-winners/) - Ibar Euro Cup, which was held in Ušće on the Ibar River in Serbia, was the final Euro Cup 2021 event in the series. Pre-pandemic times we'd have seen anywhere between 9 and 12 Euro Cup events happening through the year. Despite the restrictions the Euro Cup 2021 saw eight events being held, four events
- [Team information updates for WRC 2022](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/03/team-information-updates/) - Here are the team information updates for the IRF World Rafting Championship 2022 on the Vrbas and Tara Rivers in May. This extra information will help teams with their planning for the trip to the WRC in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH. Registration In this second Team Information letter teams will find information to assist them
- [Registration now open for WRC 2022 Bosnia](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/01/wrc-2022-bosnia/) - National Member federations are now invited to register their teams for WRC 2022 Bosnia The International Rafting Federation welcomes all national members to submit entry forms for their teams who have met national selection criteria for the IRF World Rafting Championshops 2022. Event details: Dates: 25 May - 01 June 2022 Host: Rafting Klub Kanjon
- [WRC 2022 team entry deadline fast approaching](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/02/wrc-2022-team-entry/) - The official World Rafting Championships WRC 2022 team entry closing date coming up fast. All teams should register sooner rather than later. With no official World Rafting Championships for the last two years, excitement is running high and a record number of teams is expected to attend the IRF 2022 World Rafting Championships! Team numbers
- [Get to know your IRF BOD - Eric Boudreau](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/02/eric/) - Eric Boudreau has been Chair of the Sport & Competition Committee / First Vice-President since the IRF's Congress in Japan in 2017. Before that Eric chaired the Judges Committee for many years, setting up the Judges Handbook and getting the Judging processes and documents into better order. Eric has also been appointed as the Head
- [Calling for candidates for the 2022 Athletes' Commission](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/02/2022-athletes-commission/) - The 2022 Athletes' Commission nominations are now open. The Athletes' Commission is usually elected each year during the World Rafting Championships (WRC), to represent the views of the Athletes within the IRF. With no WRC since 2019 no elections have been held and so the same Commission has been in place since then. Now that
- [Rafting Rhapsody: A 2021 Grand Canyon Coming of Age](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/02/2021-grand-canyon/) - IRF media contributor Annalee Decker took the plunge at the end of last year and shares with us her 2021 Grand Canyon Coming of Age story - a Rafting Rhapsody. Rafting Rhapsody: A 2021 Grand Canyon Coming of Age The angle was wrong. I knew it and he knew it. Hunched down in the front
- [Welcome to Honorary IRF BOD members](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/02/honorary-irf-bod-members/) - The IRF warmly welcomes two recently appointed Honorary IRF BOD members - neither of whom are strangers to the IRF Board of Directors, or indeed to many of you. Peter Micheler As a past IRF President, Peter was bestowed the title of Honorary President at the 2021 Congress. Honorary Presidents primarily serve as an IRF
- [Royal Gorge River Initiative Organization cleaning up](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/02/royal-gorge-river-initiative-organization/) - Royal Gorge River Initiative Organization is teaming up with American Rivers to sponsor 2022's Royal Gorge RIO River Clean-Up. Last year they hosted a 35-mile river clean-up which saw them pulling thousand of pounds of rubbish out of the river. This year the clean-up will be on the 1st May 2022, and volunteers are needed.
- [Wiley E. Waters hits the Spokane twice a year for river clean up](https://internationalrafting.com/2022/01/wiley-e-waters/) - Wiley E. Waters partners with the Spokane River Keeper at least twice a year to clean up unnecessary waste in the Spokane River. Teams meet up late in the summer when the water lowers, and the shoreline becomes exposed on the River in Spokane, Washington state, USA. Crews bring about three rafts, usually snagging over
- [ARK Inflatables auction winner 2021 announced](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/12/ark-inflatables-auction/) - Our ARK Inflatables auction 2021 drew to a close last month with one lucky winner - Rich Domleo. Rich can be seen in the photo shouting out his excitement for winning the auction. Rich is now the proud owner of 1x ARK Inflatables 2021 Croc (R2) and 1x ARK Inflatables 2021 Solo Adventurer Prawn (R1).
- [IRF President's Year in Review 2021](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/12/year-in-review-2021/) - President's Year in Review 2021 - Joseph Willis Jones, IRF President Dear Friends, Wherever you are in the world and whatever your relationship with our beautiful sport of rafting, I would like to wish you and your loved ones a very happy New Year, and that all your hopes and dreams are realised in 2022.
- [How to work out your WRC 2022 Age Division for WRC Bosnia 2022](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/12/wrc-2022-age-division/) - National selections coming up and not sure which WRC 2022 Age Division you are? Use the handy checklist below to work out your eligible age divisions. Age Divisions are how the IRF separates competitors into groups of similar capabilities by age. The IRF uses four divisions: Junior (U19), Youth (U23), Open, and Masters (40+). WRC
- [Welcome to our new assessor: Fabián Alejandro Bonanno](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/12/fabian-alejandro-bonanno/) - As the year draws to a close, we welcome our latest IRF Guide Training & Education (GTE) Assessor, Fabián Alejandro Bonanno. Fabián joins our existing team of Assessors to bring the total to thirteen (13) across the globe. Fabián's command of four languages makes him an asset to our team and is regularly delivering workshops
- [Successful virtual Congress 2021 welcomes new Directors](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/11/successful-virtual-congress/) - On the 23rd of November the IRF held a very successful virtual Congress. Usually the IRF holds its Congresses during World Rafting Championships, with the last held in Tully, Australia in May 2019. But, as with so many things these days, adaptations needed to be made and the IRF has stepped up to embrace virtual
- [Curtain closes on the UTS World Virtual Youth Festival 2021](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/12/world-virtual-youth-festival-2021/) - The UTS World Virtual Youth Festival 2021 came to an end with a breath-taking Closing Ceremony from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia was the centre for youth of all abilities coming together under the patronage of the IOC, IPC, SOI, SportAccord, GAISF and AIMS. Over 100 organisations joined forces with one mission, to
- [Bid applications for WRC 2023](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/12/bid-applications-for-wrc-2023/) - The IRF is accepting applications from potential hosts for the 2023 World Rafting Championships. This first step would be in the form of an "Intention to Bid" which would need to reach the IRF by the 31st December 2021. Please contact IRF Admin for any further information. The IRF World Rafting Championships includes Youth, Junior,
- [A credible Euro Cup destination for Cornișa Cup 2021](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/11/cornisa-cup-2021/) - By Mihai Mares We are happy to introduce to you Romania as the newest european country with an artificial whitewater channel! And just last week we held the Cornișa Cup 2021 on its waters. After six years of planning and construction and careful safety assessments Cornișa AquaPark and Sports opened its pumps for tourists in
- [IRF joins ambitious new targets for Sports for Climate Action](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/11/new-targets-for-sports-for-climate-action/) - UN Climate Change News, 3 November 2021: ambitious new targets for Sports for Climate Action A number of ambitious emissions reductions targets were announced by the UNFCCC’s Sports for Climate Action Framework (S4CA) today. These include reaching Net Zero by 2040 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 at the latest. This comes
- [IRF virtually attends AIMS General Assembly and IF Forum](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/11/irf-virtually-attends-aims/) - The IRF was recently invited to attend a number of international sporting body assemblies and forums. The first was the Virtual International Federation (IF) Forum which is a 1-day event organised by SportAccord offering targeted thematic sessions designed to be of specific value to the International Sport Federations’ in attendance. Representing the IRF were President Joseph
- [5 beginner tips to know about rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/11/5-beginner-tips/) - While white water rafting is an exciting activity, it has its inherent dangers. It is considered an extreme sport due to the level of fitness required, along with there being a real risk of injury, or even death. This means that this is not a sport that you can simply delve into without the proper
- [Get your travel and COVID compliant advice for WRC 2022 Bosnia here](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/11/travel-and-covid/) - Everyone is excited about the return to World Rafting Championships (WRC). But WRC 2022 will be different to all other WRCs - travel and COVID-19 compliance now go hand-in-hand. Below we set out where the competition will be, how to get there and how to stay compliant with the current Bosnian health and travel restrictions.
- [Win a new ARK Inflatables 2021 Prawn Solo Adventurer and a Croc](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/11/ark-inflatables-2021/) - The IRF has partnered with ARK Inflatables to offer one lucky winner two amazing ARK Inflatables 2021 whitewater crafts!African River Kraft's (ARK Inflatables) rafts are well known to the IRF and many people will recognise some of their famous designs and use in World Rafting Championships over the past decades. Our history with ARK started
- [Join A-DASH roundtable discussion on ending river recreation sexual harassment](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/11/a-dash/) - The A-DASH Collaborative is pleased to announce a focus on ending sexual harassment on and around river recreation at the upcoming River Management Roundtable on Tuesday, 23rd November from 20:30 to 21:30 (CET). “This will be an excellent primer for river managers, company principals and human resource leaders who are looking for an effective approach
- [How to work out what age division you are in for competitions](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/01/what-age-division/) - Having trouble working out what age division you are in for our competitions? Here are a list of ways you can work it out to see which age groups you are eligible for in the 2022 year: You are OLD ENOUGH to compete in the Open division in 2022 if you: are 14 years or
- [World Rafting Championships 2022 confirmed - the vibrant Vrbas](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/10/wrc-2022/) - After two years of obstacles and restrictions, the International Rafting Federation is excited to announce the World Rafting Championships location for 2022 has been confirmed by the Board of Directors. The IRF WRC 2022 will once again return to the vibrant blue waters of the Vrbas river in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia & Herzegovina.
- [IRF GAISF Observer status renewed for two years](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/10/irf-gaisf-observer-status/) - A message from IRF President, Joe Willis Jones: GAISF Council renews the IRF GAISF Observer Status for another two years To our IRF member organisations, rafting clubs, athletes, associates, officials, coaches, and friends: It gives me great pleasure to announce the news that the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) Council has recently voted
- [Risk managing commercial rafting operations with multiple guide systems](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/09/wwwrsummit2019-timm/) - International Rafting Federation Raft Guide Instructor and New Zealand Rivers Association Chair Tim Marshall will lead a discussion at the inaugural IRF World White Water Rafting Summit on the challenges faced by commercial rafting operators when dealing with multiple raft guide certification systems. International Rafting Federation (IRF) Raft Guide Instructor and New Zealand Rivers Association
- [More action to come in the Argentina National Series](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/10/argentina-national-2021/) - The 2nd race in the Argentina National Rafting Championship was successfully held on the Atuel River on the 25 and 26 September. There were 23 teams competing with paddlers coming from Buenos Aires, Bariloche (Río Negro), Alumine and Villa Peuhenia de Neuquén, Potrerillos and Mendoza capital and the hosts of San Rafael. The two divisions
- [IRF accepted as official WADA signatory](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/10/irf-wada-signatory/) - It is with great pleasure that we announce that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has officially accepted the IRF as a signatory of the WADA Code.In his congratulatory letter to IRF President Joe Willis Jones, WADA Director General Olivier Niggli noted: "WADA congratulates you on this important step in the fight against doping in sport.
- [IRF granted GAISF Observer status](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/12/gaisf_update/) - GAISF Council grants the IRF Observer Status To our IRF Member organisations, rafting clubs, athletes, associates, officials, coaches, and friends: I am delighted to announce the momentous and historic news that the International Rafting Federation (IRF) was officially granted Observer Status by the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) Council when it convened 27
- [Rafael Gallo was honoured at the Paddle Sports Show 2021](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/10/rafael-gallo-was-honoured/) - On 30 August 2021, IRF Honorary President, Rafael Gallo was honoured during the industry dinner at the 2021 Paddle Sports Show in Lyon, France. Risa Shimoda of International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHoF) presented the annual inductees for the 2021 year at the show and concluded with a short presentation where Rafael Gallo was honoured.During
- [Ibar 2021 draws the Euro Cup Series to a close in Serbia](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/10/ibar-2021/) - Ibar 2021 was the final R6 Euro Cup of 2021! It was held in Ušće on the Ibar river in Serbia last Sunday. Ibar is fast becoming a raft racing destination as this was the second Euro Cup (last year was the first) but also the third competition held here and organised by Rafting Asocijacija
- [2021 World Virtual Youth Festival](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/09/2021-world-virtual-youth-festival/) - The second World Virtual Youth Festival will be happening in November 2021. Time to get your youth into action! Registration to be done by 30 October latest. This festival is brought to you by United Through Sport (UTS) which is an alliance of many organisations working together through sports to bring unity and peace to
- [#RiverFamily grows in 6th White Water of Siberia forum](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/09/6th-white-water-of-siberia/) - The 6th White Water of Siberia international cultural and sports rafting forum has drawn to a successful close. The #RiverFamily has grown with new members from across Europe and Asia. The forum was attended by 26 participants from nine countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and of course Russia. During the
- [UTS - Virtual Youth Festival announced](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/08/uts-youth-festival/) - The IRF is proud to announce that we have been invited to participate in the United Through Sport (UTS) International Virtual Youth Festival! This historic event is a unique opportunity for IRF youth teams to get involved in a global project. UTS is an initiative launched in 2019 by the Association of Independent Recognised Sports
- [Katun River delights as always](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/09/katun-river-delights/) - Russian Rafting Cup on the Katun River The first event to delight on the Katun River was the Russian Rafting Cup which was held from the 26 to the 31 August. The Katun River lies in the Alta region of Russia and the section of the Katun River that was raced upon was from the
- [Trnávka 2021 brought sunshine, smiles and friends](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/09/trnavka-2021/) - Trnávka 2021 European Cup R4 + R6 @ Trnávka Slalom Course, Želiv 🇨🇿 The second weekend of September closed this year's Czech raft season. One of the most difficult slalom courses in the world hosted the European Cup and the Czech Chamiponship, with the participation of the top Czech rafting teams and several foreign crews.
- [A wave of new support for the Rights of Rivers](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/09/rights-of-rivers/) - Advocates from across the globe gathered at the IUCN World Conservation Congress (both in person and remotely) to highlight the precipitous growth of the movement to recognise the rights of rivers and watersheds. The conference also marked the approximate one year anniversary of the formal launch of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Rivers
- [Weekend for rivers - Balkan rafters remind us of the importance of valuing Europe’s last free-flowing rivers](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/08/weekend-for-rivers-2021/) - Imagine rafting on cool, turquoise waters down a deep canyon on a hot summer day. This is exactly what hundreds of river lovers and rafting enthusiasts will do on August 21st. By navigating the fast waters of the Tara River, rafters from across the Balkans will celebrate rivers in the first ‘Weekend for Rivers’ festival,
- [1st women only guide workshop in Mexico](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/08/1st-women-only-guide-workshop/) - By Ena Buenfil This summer the 1st women only guide workshop was held in the Huasteca Potosina region, Mexico. The area has great potential for rafting activity with beautiful rivers of different classifications in states such as: Veracruz, Morelos, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Chiapas and of course San Luis Potosí in the Huasteca region. Eight women attended
- [Vjosa the Blue Heart of Europe](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/09/blue-heart/) - By Klara Kita, Vjosa Explorer Vjosa River known since the Illyrian times as "The blue heart of Albania" is not just a river for the people who have been living next to it generation after generation. It is an inseparable part of the environment as well as their everyday lives. Along with Vjosa there is
- ["Weekend for rivers" celebrated the Tara river](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/08/tara-river/) - By Jasmina Marčok As announced, on August 21, river and rafting enthusiasts, rafters from all over the Balkans and their guests gathered on the Tara River to mark the "Weekend for Rivers" supported by WWF Adria and the International Rafting Federation. The gathering sought to raise the voice for local rivers and pointing out the
- [Registration open for GTE Conference 2021](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/04/gte-conference-2021-registration/) - The IRF GTE Conference 2021 will be an online event. Registration is now open.The GTE Conference is an opportunity for all Instructors and Assessors to review and update their knowledge and skills of the IRF’s Guide Training & Education (GTE) System. The conference is open to all current and recently expired IRF GTE Instructors and
- [Renew your GTE certification quick and simple](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/02/renew-your-gte-certification/) - Travel restrictions, local lockdowns, and business closures have made it difficult to renew your GTE certification this last year. We understand how frustrating this can be so we're trying to make the renewal process quicker and easier for you. How to renew your GTE certification: Provide evidence of at least 10 trips in the last
- [APTAE joins the IRF as an Associate member](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/08/aptae-joins-irf/) - The Peruvian Association of Adventure Tourism, Ecotourism and Specialised Tourism (APTAE) is the guild of adventure tourism in Peru. They are the Peruvian union that aims to disseminate, encourage and promote adventure tourism, ecotourism and specialised tourism in the country. We welcome them as Associate Members. APTAE History APTAE was born on October 29, 1981
- [Are You Ready for White Water of Siberia 2021?](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/08/white-water-of-siberia-2021/) - This month, Russia will again host the International Cultural and Sports Rafting Forum "White Water of Siberia 2021" - the 6th time for this uniting event. It will take place on the territory of the Tomsk Region and the Altai Republic from August 16 to 25, 2021. More than 86 applications have already been submitted
- [IRF 2021 Congress dates announced](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/07/2021-congress-announced/) - The IRF Board of Directors (BOD) announce that the IRF 2021 Congress will be virtual and on the 23 and 24 November 2021. Without a doubt, the pandemic has created the most difficult times ever faced by the world’s sports organisations, and the IRF is no exception. However, even though faced with these extraordinary circumstances,
- [We welcome our new GTE Committee members](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/08/new-gte-committee/) - Despite the pandemic, the IRF's Guide Training & Education (GTE) System has continued to grow in leaps and bounds across the globe. In order to keep up with the changing GTE environment, we regularly review the make up of the GTE Committee and so it is with great pleasure we welcome our new GTE Committee
- [Buzau river clean up nets 1000 bags of rubbish in just a few hours](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/07/buzau-river-clean-up/) - What can 130 people, a bunch of rafts, kayaks and SUPs achieve in just a few hours? 50 cubic metres of rubbish collected in the Buzau river clean up is what!Words and photos by Mihai Mares.Buzau river is one of the strangest in Romania. And remember, we talk about the country of vampires, Count Dracula
- [Inspiring a new generation](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/07/inspiring-a-new-generation/) - Many teams have been impacted by the pandemic these last 18 months but that hasn’t stopped a new generation of rafters from wanting to race. Anastasia Gubanenkova is used to competitive raft racing having raced for several years with the Russian Open Women’s team. She has since taken up coaching a new generation of Russian
- [Branka Štulić, gone but not forgotten](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/06/brankastulic-10years/) - It is 10 years since the rafting world tragically lost Branka Štulić, the captain of Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Open Women’s team.On the 10th June 2010, Branka Štulić, the eternal captain of Rafting Klub “Kanjon’s” Open Women’s team, left this world for the eternal rivers in the sky. Branka died at the European Rafting Championships in
- [Topping up medals and recognition: Congratulations Graham Maifredi OAM](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/07/graham-maifredi-oam/) - He's no stranger to medals and recognition and just last month, Graham "Fredi" Maifredi added the highest pinnacle to date receiving an Order of Australia Medal (OAM). Congratulations Graham Maifredi OAM! Appointments to the Order of Australia in the Australian honours system confer the highest recognition for outstanding achievement and service. The Medal of the
- [Mission: Change the world (Children of Water)](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/07/children-of-water/) - If we believe in ourselves, we believe in children of water "We are connected by rivers, there are no borders. There are only good people sharing the same thought. Small rivers join and form large and powerful ones, just like many small actions make a big impact. If we believe in ourselves, we believe in
- [Expanding guide qualifications in 2021: delivering the new Whitewater Guide Award](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/07/expanding-guide-qualification/) - Following the successful IRF GTE Instructor Conference in May this year, it was time to deliver on the goals of expanding guide qualifications around the world. The dynamic objective of this goal was to launch the IRF GTE Whitewater Guide Award. This award has been in development for just over a year now following GTE
- [Are you ready to return to Tara Canyon?](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/06/return-to-tara/) - On a mission to win more medals, the Russian Rafting Federation sent teams to make a return to Tara Canyon to compete in the Tara Cup 2021. The stunning Tara Canyon forms 36kms of the border between Montenegro and Republika Srpska in Bosnia & Herzegovina. It was here that the 2009 IRF World Rafting Championship
- [Sport and Sustainability International advancements](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/07/sport-and-sustainability-international/) - Last month we were invited to the Sport and Sustainability International (SandSI) Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). As full sports entity members we took part in the discussion for future projects. We were also invited to speak regarding the linkage with our other partner the United Nations Framework for Climate Change (Sports for Climate Action). The
- [World Cup 2021 brings top national teams to Vrbas](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/06/top-national-teams-to-vrbas/) - The IRF World Cup 2021 Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina brought top national teams to Vrbas river! From 18 – 21 June this year, Republika Srpska once again hosted the Rafting World Cup. Rafting Klub Kanyon were the formidable hosts that all rafters have known for decades as the home of rafting in eastern Europe.This
- [Growing the #RiverFamily: HATEOA joins the IRF membership](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/06/hateoa-joins-irf/) - HATEOA joins the IRF as an Associate member The Hellenic Association of Tourism Enterprises in Outdoor Activities (HATEOA) represents the companies that offer tourist services of outdoor leisure activities and are active both in the countryside and in the urban environments of Greece. Founded in 2012, it is a member of SETE and the European
- [Reaching equality: ARF elects Commitee of more than 50% women](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/07/reaching-equality/) - The Australian Rafting Federation (ARF) held their Annual General Meeting on 17th June, at which they elected a new Committee for the 2021/22 year. In a resounding effort for reaching equality, more than 50% of the committee are women! The new committee comprises of familiar faces to many on the racing circuit including recent Order
- [Sunshine, smiles and reward at Rohozec Cup 2021](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/06/rohozec-cup-2021/) - Last weekend's Rohozec Cup 2021 in České Vrbné, Czechia, tested the most experienced rafting competitors. During these times of coronavirus, quality raft races are limited. In České Budějovice, everything turned around for the positive. A large number of Czech crews took part in Rohozec Cup 2021. After all, this event wasn't just a Czech Cup,
- [Inter-Rally-Belaya-2021 brings the #riverfamily together for the 46th time!](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/06/inter-rally-belaya-2021/) - Earlier this month the Russian Rafting Championship "Inter-Rally-Belaya-2021" was held on the Toporiki and Moskovskaya Bochka rapids of the Belaya River, Khamyshki, Republic of Adygea. The excellent and warm weather along with traditional North Cacasus hospitality greeted a massive number of 41 crews participating in R4 and R6, men's and women's divisions. Teams came from
- [Czech racing season in full swing](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/06/czech-racing-full-swing/) - Czech racing season in full swing Written by Libor Peška on June 16, 2021 After a series of many canceled spring races, sport rafting has finally arrived. The 2021 season began at the beginning of June with the R6 Championship of the Czech Republic in Roudnice nad Labem. This event was also the first of the
- [Ducky Madness - An Adventure Down Pine Creek](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/06/ducky-madness-down-pine-creek/) - Ducky Madness - An Adventure Down Pine Creek by Monica Nigon in Rafting Magazine A ducky is perhaps the most absurd of whitewater crafts. Elitists might call it an inflatable kayak, but I find it more akin to a high-buoyancy bathtub. It combines the best qualities of a raft and the best qualities of a
- [Rafting the Casbah](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/05/rafting-the-casbah/) - I was in Morocco to run my first IRF workshop of the season for Berber Rafting Adventures in the Atlas Mountains. Stepping out at Marrakesh airport I was hit by the warm air. A pleasant change to the blast, chilled air of my Arctic winter residence. After a short taxi transfer to our hotel the
- [IRF joins global family of International Sports Federations](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/11/irf-joins-global-family-of-international-sports-federations/) - The IRF is excited to announce that we recently joined with other leading international sports federations to participate in a number of virtual meetings, forums and assemblies focused on the future of international sports. These virtual sessions occurred from 6-11 November and were hosted by SportAccord, Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), Alliance of
- [Booking a Rafting Trip](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/booking-a-rafting-trip/) - Booking a rafting trip with the right company could make or break a great experience. In this day and age we are always trying to make our money last a little longer. There are some areas where saving a few extra dollars could cost you lots in the long run. Mark Hirst runs through a
- [EARTH University plants trees at WRC 2011 location](https://internationalrafting.com/2010/06/earth-university-plants-trees-wrc-2011-location/) - EARTH University working with Rafael Gallo (IRF President) have planted thousands of trees on the property that will be used in the 2011 WRC. Their were 100 third year students from EARTH , about 75 locals including the local school children, friends of Rafael, employees of Rios Tropicales and their families, travel agents , members
- [добродошли! Priboj welcomed the 4th memorial race](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/05/4th-memorial-race/) - Last weekend, Rafting Asocijacija Srbije (Rafting Association Serbia - RAS) held the 4th memorial race for Aleksa Kojadinović on the river Lim, Priboj, Serbia. It was also the 2nd event in the IRF's 2021 Euro Cup Series, the Dracula Race having been the first. Despite a smaller number of teams competing due to the pandemic,
- [Live bait river rescue, an advanced form of rescue](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/10/live-bait-river-rescue/) - "Live bait rescue is an advanced form of rescue basically using yourself as the throwbag, meanings its high risk by nature, but if we practise it regularly and have a high level of expertise we can reduce the risk giving it maximum efficiency." says Jim Coffey of R3 – Rescue for Riverrunners. In Episode 7 Jim shows
- [Rafting dictionary - know your boof from your bootie](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/09/rafting-dictionary/) - Communication is key to ensure a rafting trip is safe, fun and memorable for all the right reasons. We’ve pulled together this short Rafting Dictionary with some of the more common terms you’ll hear on a rafting trip. This article is not written to replace a Safety Talk or indeed raft guide training but can
- [World Oceans Day 2021: what, why and how to get involved](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/06/world-oceans-day-2021/) - For World Oceans Day 2021 we take a look at what we can do in our rivers to help protect our oceans. Rivers come in all shapes and sizes. One thing they have in common is they start somewhere higher than they finish. Rivers finish their journey in bodies of water. For many, this is
- [IRF Attends SportAccord's IF Forum](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/05/irf-attends-if-forum/) - IRF Attends SportAccord’s IF ForumIRF President Joseph Jones, Secretary General Sue Liell-Cock and International Relations Chair Peter Micheler recently had the extreme honor and pleasure of joining with 383 other participants to attend the 15th edition of the International Federation (IF) Forum hosted by SportAccord. This exclusive ‘by invitation only’ event is held every year
- [Sustainability in Rafting webinar available to book now](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/05/sustainability-in-rafting-webinar-20210524/) - Following great success with our Persian language Sustainability in Rafting webinar, we once again bring you the highly regarded webinar, this time in English.Sustainability has a broad appeal not just to rafters. This was evidenced by the prestigious attendees at the Persian version of the Sustainability in Rafting Webinar. The first webinar was in Persian,
- [IRF GTE Instructor Conference 2021 welcomed over 80 participants](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/05/gte-instructor-conference-2021/) - IRF GTE Instructor Conference 2021 welcomed over 80 participants The IRF's 2020 Instructor Conference was scheduled to be held in France in May last year but due to the pandemic, was postponed to May this year. As the time approached it became obvious that the pandemic still had its grip on the world. And so
- [4 steps to success - from novice to elite rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/09/4steps2success/) - Rafting, whether for fun as part of a new adventure or for competition purposes, is something that everyone who enjoys an adrenaline rush can enjoy. To be the best, you need determination, perseverance and to remember these four tips to raise your rafting game from novice to elite. Wear the right kit A simple but
- [Chuya Rally 2021](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/05/chuya-rally-2021/) - Chuya Rally 2021 From the 07 to 10 May the world-famous Chuya River, in the Altai Republic of the Russian Federation, saw the traditional rafting competitions of the All-Russian Rafting Competition, the Altai Republic Championships, but most importantly of all, the infamous Chuya Rally. Let us remind you that the first World Rafting Championship was
- [4 Types of Guides You Will Meet Rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/04/4typesofguide/) - OK so you booked a whitewater rafting trip with your friends on an awesome river. You’re super stoked to be going on an amazing whitewater adventure. You show up at the outfitter's camp, they give you a safety orientation, and introduce you to your guide. Now you really want to make the trip special, but
- [Don’t Panic: Take an IRF GTE Workshop](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/05/dont-panic/) - Don’t Panic: Take an IRF GTE Workshop Since the release of my first article with the IRF, “5 Steps to Becoming a Rafting Wild Whitewater Woman”, I have been afforded the unique privileges of connecting with a diverse range of people & organisations operating within the outdoor industry; publishing a second article in which I
- [Benvenuto nella River Family](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/05/benvenuto-nella-river-family/) - Benvenuto nella River Family!By Mark Hirst, IRF GTE SecretaryThe 29th of March was a memorable day for me. I was downhearted and depressed about the fact that I could not run any IRF workshops due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But I was healthy, and that’s all that really matters during this current period of time.By
- [Argentina - what to eat, see and do in Neuquen](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/10/neuquen2018/) - Now that flights and accommodation are booked for the WRC it is time to look at Argentina and specifically the Neuquen province in more detail! Villa Pehuenia Most of the teams and officials will be based in the tourist town of Villa Pehuenia and there the favoured activities are rafting and kayaking or boat tours
- [EC Trnávka closes Czech rafting season](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/09/ec-trnavka-2020/) - Last weekend saw 24 teams competing at EC Trnávka. Nothing was going to prevent Czech rafters enjoying the last race on the Svaz vodáků České republiky's (SVoCR) 2020 calendar, not even the damp weather. The event, held on the 26th September, was the Czech Republic Championship as well as an IRF Euro Cup Series event.
- [More rafters = less river rubbish](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/11/river-rubbish/) - Report from Daigo Shibata The Mitake Canyon is a beautiful river gorge located along the Tama River and is my “home river”. The canyon is located 90 minutes from the center of Tokyo and is famous for its many outdoor activities including rafting, hiking, bouldering and trail running. In particular, it’s also well-known for canoe
- [Dracula Race bites into the Euro Cup season](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/04/dracula-race-bites/) - The now annual pilgrimage of race teams to Transylvania has made its mark as the Dracula Race bites into the Euro Cup racing calendar. Race Director and regular face on judging and racing circuits at Euro and World level, Mihai Mares gives us some insight into the race that is now a regular on the
- [Looking for a race to attend in Europe?](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/04/looking-for-race-in-europe/) - Many of you are desperate to get out and race again, to meet up with fellow rafters, and have some fun on and off the river and to enjoy some raft racing. Aren't we all! Well, if you take a look at our racing calendar you will see there are quite a few for you
- [Rafael Gallo leaves us in body but never in spirit or mind](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/03/rafael-gallo/) - The IRF, and indeed the entire rafting world, has been deeply saddened by the passing of Rafael Gallo, Honorary President of the IRF. The outpouring of messages has been huge and an indication of the respect that so many held for Rafa. A true show of the vast number of people from all round the
- [Update on the status of 2021 IRF World Rafting Championship](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/04/2021-irf-world-rafting-championship/) - A message from IRF President, Joe Willis Jones: Dear IRF Athletes, Officials, Coaches, Supporters and Rafting Enthusiasts,As you are aware, in the last weeks many IRF member countries around the world have re-imposed travel restrictions and lockdown measures due to rapidly growing cases of Covid-19. Several effective vaccines have been developed to combat the SARS-CoV-2
- [IRF host's highly regarded Sustainability Webinar](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/04/sustainability-webinar/) - On the 14 March 2021, the International Day of Action for Rivers, a very successful Sustainability Webinar was held by the International Rafting Federation (IRF). Dignitary as participants This, the first of many webinars was run in Persian and saw 61 attendees from a broad spectrum from tourism managers, sport managers, paddling coaches, rafters, and
- [Important Travel Tips](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/09/important-travel-tips/) - Teams and officials are regularly travelling by air to international events. There are some things that should always be done so as to ensure problems along the way don't prevent you competing due to you arriving late or not at all or your luggage being lost! This was recently highlighted when a number of teams
- [Top 10 rafting spots in California](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/04/california-top10/) - If you are a thrill-seeking nature lover, then there are tons of whitewater rafting spots in California that will give you the best experience. California is heaven for those who love the waters. There are tons of watersports you can enjoy in the area, from surfing, windsurfing, jetskiing, to kayaking, among others. If you want
- [Top tips about Prusik knots](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/10/top-tips-about-prusik-knots/) - By Mark Hirst On my travels working and teaching raft guides & safety kayakers around the world I have noticed a reoccurring issue. When under pressure most people struggle to correctly tie a Prusik knot. I have devoted this post to providing some hints on how to tie the Prusik first time every time. I am
- [Rafael Gallo Named Honorary President of International Rafting Federation](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/07/rafael-gallo-named-honourary-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
- [Behind each #WhiteCard there is a story - what is yours?](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/03/what-is-your-whitecard-story/) - On April6 we will once again celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) with the #WhiteCard campaign. Established by the United Nations General Assembly and the International Olympic Committee, April6 recognises the role that sport plays in society and its power to foster dialogue, understanding, social inclusion and peace. This year,
- [Does sustainable raft tourism exist?](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/03/sustainable-raft-tourism/) - Can travel for rafting be considered eco, responsible or sustainable raft tourism? By its very nature, rafting involves travel. In the traditional sense, rafting involves lashing logs together and poling or paddling on water. Human powered transportation of goods or people assisted by water flow from one point to another. Today rafting is more commonly
- [We are river family - meet Kianoosh Mehrabi](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/12/riveryfamily2018-kianoosh/) - Cast your mind back to 1985, now imagine the Persian Gulf, the seaside port of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. Somewhere out there on the water is a young Kianoosh Mehrabi! For many years he'd watched videos of white water rafting and kayaking but didn't know how or where to get into whitewater sports. So
- [Taking people with disabilities out onto the water in Iran](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/05/taking-people-with-disabilities-out-onto-the-water-in-iran/) - For a long time we, the Iran Rafting Association (IRA), have been thinking about how to grow water sports for all. That’s why we formed the “Para Rafting” Committee in our association with the cooperation of Mr. Saeed Zarori, who is a well-known person, with disabilities, in the field of adventure activities. We had already
- [Never stop pushing limits: Jezza Williams' story of determination](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/02/jezza-williams-determination/) - Imagine suddenly finding yourself no longer able to go rafting. One day you're a great adventurer, enjoying the wilds of nature, guiding in stunning locations around the world. And the next, you're a tetraplegic. That freedom has been whipped away from you in an instant. How would you cope with this? This is what happened
- [A New Member Joins the IRF Family - Ukrainian Rafting Federation](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/03/urf_joins_irf/) - Recognising that we are stronger together, the Ukrainian Rafting Federation (URF), founded in 2009, are the most recent member to join the IRF rafting family. The URF joins the All Ukraine Rafting Federation (AURF) as our second provisional member federation from Ukraine. The IRF will be working with the two rafting federations to help unify
- [Internationally recognised Para Rafting Classification and Rules launched](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/03/para-rafting-launch/) - The IRF recognises the need to make raft racing available to as wide a number of people as possible. As such, the IRF is delighted to announce that after many months of intensive work, it has fulfilled its commitment to launch a comprehensive, safe and internationally supported Para Rafting program. A Para Rafting Committee was
- [IRF appoints inaugural Para Rafting Committee members](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/12/para-rafting-committee/) - The IRF is proud to announce the formation of its inaugural Para Rafting Committee. News of the committee's formation has been greeted very positively within the rafting community and the wider para sports communities. The first key steps for the Para Rafting Committee are to finalise the Athletes Classification Code and Classification system. These standardised
- [First Russian Para Rafting Championship](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/12/first-russian-para-rafting-championship/) - ANO TSAFKST "Energy of Life", together with the Russian Rafting Federation's (RRF) Para Rafting committee, held the first Russian Para Rafting Championship from October 24 to 25, 2020, on the Belaya River, Khamyshki village, in the Republic of Adygea. The event was held within the framework of the "Pararafting without Borders" project and the All-Russian
- [67 teams met for the Russian national selections](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/11/russian-national-selections/) - In the hospitable Republic of Adygea on the beautiful and difficult river Belaya, from October 22nd to November 4th a large and significant event in Russian rafting took place - Interralli-Belaya. It included several competitions: the Cup of Russia, and the National Russian Championship U24 and U20, forming part of the Russian national selections. The
- [Calling all youth rafters! What's your daily?](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/03/whats-your-daily/) - After the hugely successful World Virtual Youth Festival, UTS and the IRF are inviting rafting youth to get active, get creative, and use social media pro-actively in the "What's your daily?" challenge. At a time where the corona virus pandemic still affects daily life, youth all around the globe have been affected by this pandemic
- [Share your winter rafting photo to win](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/02/winter-rafting-photo/) - It’s time to get your camera out for our Winter Rafting Photo Competition!It’s been cold (in the northern hemisphere). It’s been bleak. It’s definitely not a winter like any other. So we’ve partnered with Mustang Survival to bring you our Winter Rafting Photo Competition. The winner of our competition will be rafting away with an
- [Raft guide workshops across the globe](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/03/raft-guide-workshops/) - The IRF's calendar for raft guide workshops in 2021 is building up pleasingly fast now, and there are some great locations on offer for potential raft guides, trip leaders and instructors to choose from. See the full, and ever growing list, here, or read a quick summary below to peak your interest. Despite lockdowns in
- [How to follow the "Leave No Trace" principles next time you go rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/03/leave-no-trace/) - Most of us are active recyclers and look for environmentally friendly products in our everyday life. But when it comes to rafting, how can we adopt a Leave No Trace attitude on multi day river trips. Trips that put us out of our regular schedule and into territory that can directly impact the environment. How
- [From adversity to hope: Rios Tropicales passes the baton](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/02/adversity-to-hope/) - A pillar of rafting operators the world over, Rios Tropicales has called time and is passing the baton. From adversity to hope is the message from Rafael Gallo, CEO of Rios Tropicales and IRF Honorary President. By Rafael Gallo. For 35 years, Rios Tropicales has led Costa Rica adventure travel and ecotourism. We pioneered whitewater
- [World Rafting Championships 2021 in an unpredictable year](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/02/world-rafting-championships-2021/) - As we move through February the IRF finds itself answering regular queries about our World Rafting Championships 2021 in China - is it happening or not? This is understandable during this time of continual change of plans and the massive fluctuation of the effect of the pandemic on world sporting events. We would like to
- [GTE Conference 2021 plans](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/02/gte-conference-2021/) - Many events over the past year have had to rethink how they operate. The IRF GTE Conference 2021 is no different. Large numbers of events have not been able to operate face to face and many have opted for online formats. After careful consideration of travel restrictions, pandemic effects, the health and wellbeing of all
- [GTE FAQs? Learn the IRF GTE system in a nutshell](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/03/gte-faqs/) - IRF GTE FAQs What is the IRF and the Guide Training & Education (GTE) system?The International Rafting Federation (IRF) is the globally recognised legitimate body that represents the sport of rafting and river conservation. It also organises the world rafting championships each year. The Guide Training & Education (GTE) program operates from within the IRF.The
- [Sustainable adventures in Scotland](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/02/sustainable-adventures-in-scotland/) - It's been a tough period for most rafting operators. With tight budgets, why would anyone consider limiting their operating model to be more sustainable? We asked Chris Wain (owner operator of Unique Adventure Tours Scotland) how he has made sustainable adventures in Scotland possible. Unique Adventure Tours Scotland is a fledgeling business based in Highland
- [2020 year in review](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/02/2020-year-in-review/) - As we find ourselves already at the end of January 2021, we look back at out 2020 year in review. Always to be a famous year for reasons we would rather all forget, there was still much to be celebrated throughout 2020. It was the strangest of years, none of us could ever have imagined.
- [A practical guide to sustainability for rafters](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/01/practical-guide-to-sustainability/) - There's a lot of talk about climate change and climate action - but what does it mean in practical terms for rafters? We have developed a short series of guides to support rafting operators, instructors, guides and recreational rafters in making informed sustainability decisions. The guides set out simple steps and ideas to get started
- [Our top 10 articles of 2020](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/01/top-10-articles-of-2020/) - It was a year to remember, and a year to forget. So we've pulled our top 10 articles of 2020 (as clicked on by you!). Which was your favourite? 1 - Save the Zambezi – Batoka Gorge threatened by huge dam Back in April we shared updated plans on the devastating project which is seeking
- [Raising clean sport awareness - public webinar available now for all athletes](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/01/raising-clean-sport-awareness/) - By Athletes for Athletes: the ITA continues to champion raising clean sport awareness with a series of public webinars After a successful pilot series of publicly available clean sport webinars tailored to the needs of athletes and support personnel, the International Testing Agency (ITA) continues to cover important anti-doping topics in 2021. Supporting the delivery
- [Minding edges to improve on water performance](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/01/minding-edges/) - Following on from our introduction last year, we catch up with Annalee Decker for her thoughts on what off water endeavours can bring to on water improvement. Minding edges - by Annalee Decker I've often been told the most difficult part of any adventure is the first step. However, through my wanderings in water and
- [Save the Zambezi - Stop the Batoka Gorge Dam](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/01/stop-the-batoka-gorge-dam/) - Urgent effort is required to stop the Batoka Gorge dam on the Zambezi river. This world renowned stretch of river is planned to be dammed for the purported benefits of hydro-electric production. The International Rafting Federation is vehemently opposed to the construction of the Batoka Gorge dam. Our objections to the dam have been lodged
- [IRF gets a great GTE workshop done in Oregon, USA!](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/05/irf-gets-a-great-gte-workshop-done-in-oregon-usa/) - Welcome to the IRF family Zach, Aaron, Dustin, Emily, Ellie, Michael, Brodie, Thomas, Santiago, Dave, Will, Sarah, Heidi!!! I had been in email contact with Zachary from Northwest Rafting Company in Oregon USA for over 2 years trying to find the time for Zach to attend an instructor workshop. His drive and enthusiasm were really
- [Long live the World Championship on the Chuya River!](https://internationalrafting.com/2021/01/world-championship-on-the-chuya/) - Georgy Nikitin, one of the participants of the first historical international rafting event - the World Championship on the Chuya River, shares some memories and highlights with us. At the last Russian Rafting Federation (RRF) conference, Federation President, Aleksei Shirokov, reported that the rafting community restored historical justice in that Russia (more precisely, the USSR)
- [In defence of our rivers - becoming stewards to our local environments](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/09/iwwwrsummit2019-monti/) - IRF President Joseph Jones and International Rivers’ Monti Aguirre sign an historic river protection MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) International Rivers Latin America Program Coordinator, Monti Aguirre, will challenge each of us to stand up and be counted for the future of all our rivers at the inaugural IRF World White Water Rafting Summit. Monti works as
- [World Virtual Youth Festival closes on a high](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/12/world-virtual-youth-festival-closes/) - As the world faced life changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, United Through Sports joined forces with over 100 organisations in 2020 to promote inclusion, equality, non-discrimination and peace for and with the youth of the world through the World Virtual Youth Festival. Awards Gala On the 19 December, the Leaving a Legacy Awards Gala
- [A global call to protect rivers and rights](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/12/global-call-protect-rivers/) - International Rivers, Rivers without Boundaries and other partners are seeking our active support in a global call to protect rivers for a just and green recovery, at www.Rivers4Recovery.org - sign up! Hydropower - the false "green" energy This global action focuses on calling out and confronting efforts to use the post-COVID-19 pandemic economic recovery to
- [Rafter tests positive at WRC 2015](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/05/rafter-tests-positive-at-wrc-2015/) - Paul Roozendaal, who is captain of the New Zealand Open Men’s team, tested positive for substances that are listed on the WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) prohibited list after the Downriver discipline during the 2015 World Rafting Championships in Indonesia. It was found that he had levels of Pseudoephedrine and Cathine in his urine that
- [Rafting Books - good reads](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/12/rafting-books-good-reads/) - At this time of year many of you may be looking for presents to give to loved ones, or finding a good book to snuggle down with in your winter, or read on the beach in your summer - why not some good rafting books! There are plenty of "how to" rafting books, but we're
- [Limited events has helped reimagine training strategies](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/12/reimagine-training-strategies/) - Almost one year since we first heard about the coronavirus and so many teams have had to reimagine training strategies. We might be nearing the end of the calendar year, but down in New Zealand, summer is warming up and race teams are getting ready to get back in with their training plans. We catch up with
- [A fitting memorial for Aleksa Kojadinović in Priboj](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/11/aleksa-kojadinovic-memorial/) - The third memorial raft race for Aleksa Kojadinović was held in Priboj, Serbia on the river Lim. Normally this IRF Euro Cup and Serbian National Cup is held in the spring with a hope of the new year and fresh racing ahead. 2020 as seems normal now, decided that would not be the case. Due
- [Over the border and back to the snow](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/07/over-the-border-and-back-to-the-snow/) - By Mark Hirst Finally, having been on the road delivering courses since late March, I got to spend some time at home in Finland. June 5th -11th had been in my diary for months for a 7 day IRF Guide Training Program combined with a Rescue 3 Europe Whitewater Rescue Technician Professional course based at
- [With help of Emily Evans, Nepal OM team reach the dream of participating in WRC Japan](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/08/with-help-of-emily-evans-nepal-om-team-reach-the-dream-of-participating-in-wrc-japan/) - Story By Emily E. A few years ago I did some volunteer coaching and raft guiding with a lovely company in Nepal, and in doing so made some lifelong friends. Late last year a couple of the boys had contacted me to say that they were putting a rafting team together. I was super excited
- [IRF Congress 2017 to be held during WRC in Japan](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/07/irf-congress-2017-to-be-held-during-wrc-in-japan/) - 2017 is Congress year again - and to ensure as many federations as possible can be represented at the Congress we will, as usual, hold it during the World Rafting Championships. Dates: evening of 4th and 5th October 2017 Location: Meeting Room at the WRC Headquarters near Miyoshi City, Japan. Proposals / motions from IRF
- [Adventures in the High Atlas mountains](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/07/morocco-2017/) - By Mark Hirst The Morocco 2017 workshop took place this year on the Ahansal River in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco. This was to be the 3rd workshop I have run in conjunction with Berber Rafting Adventures. Each year this is one of first workshops I run in early spring to coincide with the paddling season in
- [World Rafting Champs 2017 kicks off in Japan](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/10/world-rafting-champs-2017-kicks-off-in-japan/) - This first day of the IRF's 2017 World Rafting Championship (WRC), on the Yoshino River, Miyoshi City, Japan, got under way today with 12 Youth (U19) teams, 16 Junior (U23) teams, 14 Masters (40+) and 29 in the Open division. Each of these divisions has the male and female category as well. 71 teams from
- [What's happened so far at the World Rafting Championship 2017 Japan ](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/10/world-rafting-championship-2017-japan/) - The International Rafting Federation's 2017 World Rafting Championship (IRF WRC) in Miyoshi, Japan has brought together 71 teams from 22 countries across the globe. The adventure began at registration on Monday, 2nd October, followed by the Opening Ceremony that show cased the world's best rafters to the City of Miyoshi. Thankfully the rain that started
- [A good day for Russia in the Slalom](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/10/a-good-day-for-russia-in-the-slalom/) - The second racing day at the International Rafting Federation's World Rafting Championship 2017 Japan, Yoshino River, Koboke Gorge, was reserved for Slalom for the Youth and Junior teams. 12 Youth teams and 16 Junior teams competed. The course was upstream from the Sprint course of the day before, just a five minute walk. A lovely
- [A challenging but excellent day of slalom](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/10/masters-open-slalom/) - The third day of the IRF's 2017 World Rafting Championship dawned sunny and warm, splashing the countryside with a lovely light as the Open and Masters teams prepared to tackle Slalom. The course had 14 gates, of which gates 2, 4, 7, 10 and 13 were upstream, the rest downstream. In addition to having paddling
- [Brazil Open Men seem unbeatable!](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/10/brazil-open-men-seem-unbeatable/) - Another wonderful sunny day in the Koboke Gorge on the Yoshino River. The last day of the competition was reserved for the king amongst all of the disciplines - Downriver. It has the most points available for the Overall ranking, and so can greatly affect the final championship positions. The Open and Masters paddled a
- [Struma River (Kresna Gorge) needs your support](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/11/save-the-kresna/) - Rafting in Bulgaria is currently at risk of no longer being possible. Plans are in play to create a motorway across the only section of the Kresna Gorge suitable for competitions, amateur rafting and other white water disciplines. Voice your concern by signing the petition! The current plans involve a motorway connecting Germany with Turkey
- [Call For Nominations - 2020 World Fair Play Awards](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/11/2020-world-fair-play-awards/) - The International Fair Play Committee is calling for nominations for the 2020 World Fair Play Awards!The International Fair Play Committee’s mission is to draw the attention of the world to the outstanding examples of fair play attitude and good sportsmanship in sports. The Committee presents awards annually in four categories – Act of Fair Play,
- [Euro Cup 2020 Series overall results](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/11/euro-cup-2020-series-results/) - With the final Euro Cup event recently concluding in Serbia, the overall standings in the Euro Cup 2020 R6 and R4 Series can now be concluded. Events A strange season it certainly was! The first event was eventually held in late August in the Czechia, and the last was held mid November in Serbia, a
- [The IRF prepares for the UTS World Virtual Youth Festival 2020](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/11/the-five-continents-prepare-for-the-united-through-sports-world-virtual-youth-festival-2020/) - The International Rafting Federation has joined forces with more than 80 organisations to unite on a digital platform for the UTS World Virtual Youth Festival 2020, which is under patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Special Olympics (SOI), SportAccord, Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and Alliance of Independent
- [Meet the colourful Czech youth ladies team](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/meet-colourful-czech-youth-ladies-team/) - Decked out in Czech colours from head to toe, this year’s local womens youth team are arguably the most colourful athletes at the 2012 Youth and Masters World Championships, set to commence in Ceske Budejovice tomorrow. The team is comprised of Captain Tereza Krausova (18 – Back Right), Denisa Foltysova (19 – Back Left), Blanka
- [Russian ladies strive for Youth Crown](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/russian-ladies-strive-youth-crown/) - The women’s Russian youth team have their sights set on victory at the Youth and Masters World Championships at the Ceske Budejovice Whitewater course, commencing this Saturday. All four paddlers herald from a canoe slalom background and began rafting together in 2008, going on to win various accolades in their home country including victories at
- [Czechs dominate the Sprint and H2H at the Youth & Masters World Rafting Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/czechs-dominate-day-1-worlds-rafting-sprint-h2h/) - A quiet sense of expectation dawned on the athletes as they rose from their hollows in anticipation for the start of the 2012 Youth & Masters World Championships. That nervousness soon switched to excitement as the sun pierced the skies, fans lined the riverbanks, while the Hungarian men yelled out the team war cry and
- ["Crazy Cup" - Brasil's Youth Women's team](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/08/brasil-youth-womens-team/) - Team "Cia Adventure - Crazy Cup" come from Brazil, and are Ana Clara Forlin (Team Captain), Angela de Moraes, Iasmin Carossi, Fernanda Cardias, Darlene Propodoski and Rayssa Paola Ferreira (with the average age of only 17!). They will be representing their country in the U19 category in New Zealand. The coach of the team -
- [Argentina's inspiring youth team](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/09/argentina-u19/) - Argentina is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with amazing natural areas, beautiful rivers and kind, hospitable people. From that country a young U19 men's team will represent their country at the next "WRC R4" in Brazil. I chatted to them and learned where their love of this sport was born and
- [Youth age groups - U19 only - 2016 onwards](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/07/youth-age-groups-u19-only-2016-onwards/) - From 2016 onwards there will only be one Youth age group - and that is U19. At the IRF Extraordinary Congress in Brazil in 2014 the decision was made to drop the U23 division from 2016 onwards. So the question that still needed to be answered was whether an U21 division was needed to replace
- [Youth World Rafting Champs wrap up with Downriver](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/12/youth-wrc-wrap-up/) - The final day for the Youth teams was the Downriver, a hard, long paddle needing stamina and careful reading of the river to prevent getting slowed down or even stuck on rocks. Home advantage is definitely a plus here and the Indonesian teams proved themselves up to the task. First category home were the U23
- [IRF's 9th Youth & Junior Euro Rafting Champs kicks off](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/07/irfs-9th-youth-junior-euro-rafting-champs-kicks-off/) - The IRF introduced their Junior divisions in 2010 and this year is the 9th year there will be an Euro and a World Championship for them. The Euro Rafting Championship kicked off yesterday in Slovakia on the Cunovo course near Bratislava. The Sprint, a straight race against the clock, saw the RUS1 (Russia) teams taking
- [IRF judges at the 1st ever World Virtual Youth Festival](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/09/1st-virtual-youth-festival/) - “Do something today for a better tomorrow” - Oscar Wilde. The first ever world UTS Virtual Youth Festival encourages youth to showcase their unique talents and creativity, offering them a chance to shine bright during a difficult time. Over 60 organisations and federations have joined to participate and/or contribute towards this unique event which has
- [Registration is open for Virtual Youth Festival](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/10/registration-virtual-youth-festival/) - Its time for the Youth of the World to register for the UTS Virtual Youth Festival! Registration is open for a short period of time, so don't delay! The event, which is under patronage of the IOC, IPC and SOI, has brought together over 80 organisations bringing together the youth of the world. Register for
- [Rafting and the Olympics: The Road Ahead](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/06/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 Association of International Sports Federations
- [Careers in shipping to include lessons in rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/11/shipping-lessons-in-rafting/) - Serbian students developing careers in shipbuilding have joined the #RiverFamily. Earlier this year, students and their teachers took to Lake Sava to completed lessons in rafting for the basic training of raft management and basic rescue procedures on the water. These students of the High School for Shipping, Shipbuilding and Hydrobuilding from Belgrade, were accompanied
- [Colombia's Farc ex-combatants and police paddling together](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/11/colombias-farc-ex-combatants-and-police-paddling-together/) - Colombia's Rafting For Peace raft team made a big impression on all who attended the 2019 World Rafting Champs in Australia earlier this year (see Rifles for paddles). They were touched by their amazing story and admired the strength these paddlers showed in not only taking on learning to raft, but to also step away
- [Winter guide work in a covid climate - what are your options?](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/10/winter-guide-work/) - As the southern hemisphere starts to warm up to a covid-19 impacted season, we take a look at winter guide work in a covid climate. With international quarantines and travel restrictions in play, the usual suspects will be off limits for most people. Strict border control means the usual hop skip and a jump across the
- [Climate change in Arunachal Pradesh](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/10/climate-change-in-arunachal-pradesh/) - In part two, we continue Natalia’s adventures in northern India and discover more about how to take on climate change in Arunachal Pradesh. Read the earlier article here.Taking on climate change in Arunachal PradeshBy Natalia Zenkova… Next morning I crossed a river channel of Brahmaputra river to reach the middle of the river – Majuly
- [Arunachal Pradesh: forgotten land of pure white water](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/10/arunachal-pradesh/) - Taking on climate change in Arunachal Pradesh: how one woman’s short trip to India turned into a two month adventure exploring, learning, and supporting local river communities.Arunachal Pradesh: forgotten land of pure white waterBy Natalia ZenkovaIn 2014, I read a travelling journal on a plane. I saw beautiful pictures from North Eastern India. I tried
- [103 National Wildlife Refuge Water Trails now on the US National Rivers Project](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/10/national-rivers-project/) - Dozens of popular paddling destinations along National Wildlife Refuge Water Trails are now even more accessible online having been recently added to the National Rivers Project (NRP), an interactive map and online database which helps to identify, explore and plan river trips. The NRP now includes 18 National Wildlife Refuges and features 103 water trails
- [Rafting field lessons for Uni of Belgrade students](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/10/rafting-field-lessons/) - Last month, the city of Priboj, Serbia, hosted third-year students of the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, University of Belgrade for a field lesson. Rafting field lessons were realised in the form of a full-day adventure aimed at organising a rafting trip. This excursion is part of the Nature Activities curriculum. The goals of
- [Olympic gold medalist championing for our climate](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/10/championing-for-our-climate/) - London 2012 Olympic canoe slalom gold medalist, Etienne Stott is championing for our climate. No stranger to fame, Etienne has swapped podiums for protests in order to defend our planet. In our exclusive interview, Etienne shares with us the challenges facing paddlesports and how to get involved in championing for the climate.You’re no stranger to
- [5 steps to becoming a rafting Wild Whitewater Woman](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/10/wild-whitewater-woman/) - Annalee Decker shares with us her journey to becoming a rafting Wild Whitewater Woman and the five steps it takes to become one too. It was a hot summer afternoon that I accomplished my near-obsessive mission of becoming a professional raft guide at the US National White Water Center (USNWC) in Charlotte, NC. My final
- [EC Ibar Serbia 2020 wraps up the R6 Euro Cup Series](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/10/ec-ibar-serbia-2020/) - Despite restrictions around the pandemic changing all the time, the Rafting Association of Serbia (RAS) managed to hold the EC Ibar Serbia 2020 event - well done to them! The event was held on the 3rd October, one week after their Serbian Cup in Brodarevo on Lim. The venue was the Grmčić course near Ušće
- [Top 10 best rafting rivers in the world](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/06/top10-rafaelgallo/) - by Shannon Farley When you hang out with river runners, there are always stories to be told and heard. Talk invariably comes around to the favourite rivers rafted and the rivers still left to be challenged. That’s how it was for Rafael Gallo, Honorary President of the International Rafting Federation and International Whitewater Hall of
- [Rafting on the roof of the world. An IRF Instructor workshop at 3500m in the Indian Himalayas](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/10/rafting-on-the-roof-of-the-world-an-irf-instructor-workshop-at-3500m-in-the-indian-himalayas/) - As I walked down the steps on to the Tarmac at Leh airport I had that familiar feeling of being short of breath as the altitude hit me. This weeks 7 day International Rafting Federation workshop was to be based at the base camp of Wet 'n Wild explorations in Nimoo at the altitude of
- [Pre-WRC in Argentina begins on Wednesday](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/10/pre-wrc-in-argentina-begin-on-wednesday/) - The strong crystal-clear waters of the Alumine and Ruca Choroi rivers will test the sporty spirit, discipline, camaraderie, energy and sacrifice of the best athletes of the world and national Rafting. Natural springs coming from the Andes Mountains in Moquehue, flow into Moquehue and Aluminé Lakes in Villa Pehuenia. Pure running water passes by Lonco
- [New H2H format tested out at Pre-Worlds](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/11/new-h2h-format-tested-out-at-pre-worlds/) - The report back from Pre-Worlds as to the running of the new-format H2H is all good! See video ... Joe Willie Jones is there and had this to say: "The spectators loved it... a very good show with lots of contact at the buoys. A few surprises ... good strategies trumped strength on a number
- [Big Thank You Miyoshi, Takuya, Daigo and Japan!](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/11/big-thank-you-miyoshi-takuya-daigo-and-japan/) - "Miyoshi City, Tokushima is the gateway to the Yoshino river... home of Japan's biggest and best white-water rafting. The abundance of crystal clear water combined with amazing scenery and the powerful, challenging rapids of the Oboke and Koboke sections all add up to an ideal setting for race rafting." - and it was. This was
- [Race Rules updates](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/11/race-rules-updates-2/) - The IRF Sport & Competition Committee will shortly be assessing and updating the IRF Race Rules. The process is as follows: Rule proposals may be submitted only as one of the three possible options. 1) Eliminate a rule, 2) change a rule, or 3) add a rule. When suggesting that a rule be eliminated, a
- [See you in Argentina from 4 - 10 November 2018](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/11/see-you-in-argentina-from-3-10-november-2018/) - We have a date for the next WRC R4 competition. From 4 - 10 November 2018 Argentina will host the best rafters from around the world. It's time to reserve tickets and start planning to go to beautiful Argentina. We know that most countries have already selected their representatives to take part in this competition, therefore,
- [Pre-WRC Australia 2018 - Info letter #1](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/12/pre-wrc-australia-2018-info-letter-1/) - So many beautiful competitions are waiting for us in the 2018 season, and one of them is Pre-WRC Australia (9 - 13 May 2018). As Australia are the hosts for the 2019 World Rafting Championship R6, the Pre-Worlds are done one year before as a big test for the organisers and a great opportunity for
- [What's the point in promoting women in paddlesports?](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/12/why-promote-women-rafters/) - Women have been raft racing since Project Raft on the Chuya River, Siberia, in 1989. The Amazonkis Team from the USA were the first to pave the way and show how it's done. Women in rafting have come a long way since our very own IRF Secretary General was told by a well known paddler
- [Is the colour of your helmet important?](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/12/is-the-colour-of-your-helmet-important/) - 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
- [SVOČR responds to the activities of Mr. Barmaz of the Italian Rafting Federation](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/01/svocr-responds-to-the-activities-of-the-italian-rafting-federation/) - Many members have recently been approached by Mr. Danilo Barmaz, President of the Italian Rafting Federation (an IRF member), with an invitation to abandon the IRF and join him in creating another international rafting federation. The invitation included documents containing defamatory and false statements about the IRF, and very misleading statements that suggest that he
- [To All IRF Member Organisations and Interested Parties - from the IRF BOD](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/01/to-all-irf-member-organisations-and-interested-parties-from-the-irf-bod/) - The IRF Board of Directors would like to wish you all a successful 2018! As we move quickly through the first month of the New Year, we want to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to each of you – our federation members – for participating in our success for these last 20 years.
- [WRC Australia and Pre-Worlds launch their website](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/02/wrc-australia-and-pre-worlds-launch-their-website/) - World white water rafting championship hopefuls will converge on Tully in May to vie for a spot in next year’s international event. Here's a taste of the white water that awaits you! http://www.youtube.com/embed/DDMi5xbAPNo More than 100 paddlers will race in the Pre-Worlds and Australian Rafting Championships on the Tully River – and organisers are calling
- [European Rafting Champs 2018 - Team Information letter!](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/02/erc-2018-team-information-letter/) - Here is the Team Information letter for the IRF's 2018 R4 European Rafting Champs (ERC) - this will allow teams to start planning for their trip to Bratislava, Cunovo, Slovakia in July. This location is already well known for many as a very successful R4 Euro Champs was held there in 2014. It is a
- [White Water of Siberia - 2018 Forum - schedule is out!](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/02/white-water-of-siberia-2018-forum-schedule-is-out/) - This year will be the third White Water of Siberia Forum (WWOSF) to be held in Siberia - 2016 and 2017 proved very popular and successful (read more about those two events). This should be a bucket list item for all rafters - to go rafting in the Altai region! The schedule for the 2018
- [Pre-Worlds in Tully, Australia - all the info you need](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/02/pre-worlds-in-tully-australia-all-the-info-you-need/) - The 2019 World Rafting Championships Organising Committee, in conjunction with the Australian Rafting Federation, invites you to the Pre-World Rafting Championships 2018 to be conducted in the World Heritage Listed Tully Gorge located in Tropical North Queensland, Australia. The Grade 4 Tully River with its 30+ year history of white water rafting, is the heart and soul of rafting
- [Two month intensive guide course in Nepal](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/03/two-month-intensive-guide-course-in-nepal/) - 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
- [Judges for ERC 2018](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/03/judges-for-erc-2018/) - If you are an IRF Judge and are keen to work as a Judge at the 2018 Euro Rafting Champs in Slovakia from the 2 to 7 July, in Bratislava - then email IRF Admin to put your name down. The Judges Com will then assess the list of names and select from it who
- [Guide training assessments and workshops coming up - plenty to choose from!](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/03/guide-training-assessments-and-courses-coming-up-plenty-to-choose-from/) - 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.
- [Updated Race Rules now available](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/03/updated-race-rules-now-available/) - Each year the Sport & Competition Committee works through a number of proposals put forward to improve the race rules, and these are usually finalised by March. Here are the key changes made this year, and then links to the new rules: New format for H2H - this is a major change. Improved rules for
- [From Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean - “Regata Ocean to Ocean”  Panama Canal](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/03/from-atlantic-ocean-to-pacific-ocean-regata-ocean-to-ocean-panama-canal/) - Our great love for paddling motivates us to try other sports where we have a paddle in our hands, so you will see our competitors in between competitions joining other paddling sports and adventures. Our dear Judges too, who are not just passive observers of your paddling, but are very active paddlers, now more than
- [Queensland Government boosts World Rafting Championships](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/03/queensland-government-boosts-world-rafting-championships/) - Tully gears up to host world-class event in 2019 The Queensland Government has thrown its support behind the 2019 International Rafting Federation's World Rafting Championships on the Tully River. Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) will be working in partnership with the Australian Rafting Federation on the world-class event which is forecast to bring hundreds of
- [Start positions for H2H in 2018 ERC and WRC](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/04/start-positions-for-h2h-in-2018-erc-and-wrc/) - With the new H2H format being introduced there is an option for organisers to choose what direction the rafts will be facing at the start. This option was included as sometimes the usual method of pointing the rafts downstream is harder to set up exactly evenly. Sometimes, as at WC Yushu in China in 2016,
- [You asked - we're delivering - GAISF/Sport Accord membership](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/05/gaisf-membership-application-submitted/) - Getting recognition for the sport of rafting has been a long journey. It's taken years of forging friendships, alliances and building on successes we've built together as one global rafting community. Your strength, passion and devotion to rafting as a community, a fraternity and way of life are what have gotten us to where we
- [Putting Rescue Skills to Use on the Water](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/03/putting-rescue-skills-to-use-on-the-water/) - Wrapping up this excellent series, swiftwater rescue expert Jim Coffey of R3- Rescue for River Runners, shows how the skills covered in the previous videos can be put to use on a typical day on the river with a mixed group of kayakers. One of the less skilled paddlers has to swim, and both he
- [Foot entrapment - self rescue](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/11/foot-entrapment-self-rescue/) - This first video about foot entrapment from R3 – Rescue for Riverrunners talks to us about ways to avoid foot entrapment in the first place. http://www.youtube.com/embed/NXDWXXH89OQ Next is episode 10 which discusses assessment and the episode 11 - skills.
- [Foot entrapment assessments](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/12/foot-entrapment-assessments/) - Continuing on the theme of foot entrapment, R3 – Rescue for Riverrunners, now looks at assessing foot entrapments and the best way to rescue them. http://www.youtube.com/embed/jTJcfXQuhfw Full list of river safety articles
- [Foot entrapment skills](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/01/foot-entrapment-skills/) - The third video about foot entrapment from R3 – Rescue for Riverrunners, now looks at what methods are best to carry out the rescue. These need to be based on two questions: Can we carry out this rescue? That is - do we have the skills and equipment to do it? And should we do this rescue? Meaning
- [Pulley systems](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/pulley-systems/) - It's not often you need to know how to set up a rope pulley system - but when you do it is normally an emergency and you need to know how to do it fast! Vidra Kele brings us these great illustrations as to how to set up various pulleys with increasing ratio strength when the
- [How to fit a PFD properly](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/how-to-fit-a-pfd-properly/) - Palm - gear for paddlers, has put this great video together showing how to ensure you have put on yours and other's PFDs properly. A three step guide: 1 Undo all straps, zips and buckles. 2 Put on the PFD, and fasten the zips and buckles. 3 Tighten straps, working upwards from the waist. http://www.youtube.com/embed/CWrxg4IY7bs
- [Extracting boats after wraps and pins](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/extracting-boats-after-wraps-and-pins/) - R3 – Rescue for Riverrunners talks us through how to extract rafts or kayaks from a wrap or pin using mechanical advantages. Even the toughest of wraps can be solved when using the right equipment and methods. http://www.youtube.com/embed/eLKOSND4IJI NRS sells a waterproof Z-Drag Rescue Crib Sheet which is a handy item to have.
- [Personal responsibility with river safety](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/04/personal-responsibility-with-river-safety/) - Rafting season 2016 has already started with some national competitions. We have already witnessed flips and paddlers falling out of rafts, which is an integral part of this sport, but more nationals, EC, ERC and WRC are still ahead of us with some new rivers and some new challenges. So, the question is - how
- [How to quickly coil a throw rope - from NRS](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/03/throw-rope-nrs/) - Throw ropes are an essential part of ones safety kit - but sometimes the first throw doesn't work and you need to get that rope in and ready for another throw as quickly as possible without it getting tangled. NRS shows us a way to do this quickly .... http://www.youtube.com/embed/mcHoXpHi5yU
- [Boat wraps and pins - mechanical leverage](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/03/boat-wraps-and-pins/) - Having a boat wrapped or pinned can be a real trip spoiler and sometimes it can be life threatening. So knowing how to unpin or unwrap a boat quickly should be an essential part of your knowledge if you are a regular on rivers. Being correctly equipped to do a mechanical pulley system is also
- [Using the quick-release harness on your lifejacket](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/08/quick-release-harness/) - "The quick-release harness on a rescue PFD is an important advancement in swiftwater safety" says Jim Coffey of R3 – Rescue for Riverrunners. It allows you to tow a canoe or kayak and to perform "live bait" rescues in which the rescuer jumps into the water to pull a paddler to safety. In Episode 6 of Rescue for
- [How to make contact with a person needing rescuing](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/07/7342/) - When someone needs rescuing in white water situations its best to make direct contact with the person. Jim Coffey of R3 – Rescue for Riverrunners covers victim contact techniques for safely paddling, swimming and wading out to the victim in this, the 5th of their video series. He also stresses the importance of setting up several types
- [Using throwbags for rescue](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/04/throwbags-rescue/) - Throwbags can be a life line or a hanging noose. NRS Ambassador Jim Coffey of R3 – Rescue for Riverruners, goes through the best techniques for preparing the throw line, throwing it, anchoring yourself and swinging the rescued person in to shore in Episode 4 of their rescue series. And above all - he mentions that practise
- [Swiftwater Swimming](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/03/swiftwater-swimming/) - Swimming efficiently in whitewater is essential for self-rescue, rescuing others and building your kayaking, rafting and canoeing confidence. NRS Ambassador Jim Coffey of R3 - Rescue for Riverruners, goes over water entry, ferry angles and eddy entry, as well as gear recovery after an unplanned swim. http://www.youtube.com/embed/ADog810rD44
- [IRF Honorary President Rafael Gallo is paddling a G6 solo and we have his back](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/06/rafa-update/) - Last year at the IRF 2019 Congress held in Tully, Australia, the IRF voted to bestow the title of Honorary President on Rafael (Rafa) Gallo to honour his long and unrelenting support of rafting and in particular, the IRF. The IRF would like to give back its unrelenting support to Rafa in this, the hour
- [#SafeTravels advice from the World Travel and Tourism Council](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/09/safetravels-advice/) - As the world slowly starts opening up again, so is travel and tourism, and so #SafeTravels will be high on everyone's minds. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) have been working together with various groups, from governments, to health experts and industry associations, to provide protocols and action plans for the travel and tourism
- [Top 3 Non-Rafting Activities in 2020 (water based)](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/09/top-3-non-rafting-activities/) - Obviously we think rafting is the most fun you can have on water, but with 2020 being as it is, we asked ourselves "what are the top 3 non-rafting activities we could otherwise be doing in 2020". White water rafting involves an inflatable boat, a team of people, and (when not racing) a guide. And
- [IRF's GTE First Aid requirements updated](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/09/gte-first-aid-requirements/) - The IRF looks for ways to improve the standards of rafting around the world. This includes GTE first aid requirements. The international recognition that the IRF's Guide Training System receives is proof of this. IRF certified Guides need to renew every three years to prove they are still actively guiding to the minimum requirements and
- [No adverse anti doping results WRC 2019](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/07/no-adverse-anti-doping-results-wrc-2019/) - The tests, done at the end of the Downriver by the Australian Anti-doping Agency, all went smoothly and quickly. The results have come in and no adverse findings were made! Thanks to all the athletes keeping our sport clean.
- [No adverse anti doping results at WRC 2018](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/no-adverse-anti-doping-results-at-wrc-2018/) - The IRF is pleased to announce that the results from the anti-doping tests done at the IRF’s 2018 World Rafting Champs in Argentina showed no adverse results. Thanks go to all the athlete’s for keeping our sport clean of doping.
- [No adverse anti doping results at WRC2016](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/12/no-adverse-anti-doping-results-at-wrc2016/) - The IRF continued with dope testing at its World Championships in the UAE. No adverse results were reported from these tests.
- [No adverse anti doping results at WRC2017](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/01/no-adverse-anti-doping-results-at-wrc2017/) - The results from the anti-doping tests done at the IRF's 2017 World Rafting Champs in Japan showed no adverse results. The IRF is pleased to see that their athlete's are taking to heart the aim of keeping their sport clean of doping.
- [First positive doping test in IRF history](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/07/first-positive-doping-test-in-irf-history/) - By Michael Lindberg, Head of IRF's Anti-Doping Committee The result of a doping sample carried out on the 17th of May 2015 during the National Rafting Championships in Serbia was an adverse analytical finding showing the presence of a prohibited substance. The doping sample belonged to the 19-year old Serbian athlete, Bogdan Ribaric, who was tested
- [Doping tests at WRC 2014 Brazil](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/doping-tests-at-wrc-2014-brazil/) - Doping tests at WRC 2014 Brazil were carried out by the Brazilian National Anti Doping Agency. 10 doping tests in total. The first 5 tests was carried out after the head-2-head competition and the rest was carried out after the slalom competition. The IRF is still waiting for the results and news about the tests
- [New Anti Doping rules 2015](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/11/new-anti-doping-rules-2015/) - The World Anti Doping Agency ( WADA) has adopted new international anti doping rules and regulations (The WADA Code), which will be initiated on 1 January 2015. The Code sets out the international rules on doping and apply to competitive athletes in all parts of the world. WADAs approach on changing the rules is the
- [Anti Doping report 2014](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/11/anti-doping-report-2014/) - The IRF Anti Doping Committee submitted their report for the IRF Congress on 2nd of November 2014. The report summarize the work that has been done and puts up some new bullits on work that needs to be done. You can read the full report here: IRF Anti Doping Report 2014
- [Friends for life at the 2020 White Water of Siberia Forum](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/09/friends-for-life/) - "Friends for life" is how the group who attended the cultural and sport rafting forum of White Water of Siberia 2020, described the experience. And with that, the fifth year of the forum came to an end. The annual forum takes place in Altay and is organised by Федерация Рафтинга России / Russian Rafting Federation.
- [Save the Zambezi - Batoka Gorge threatened by huge dam](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/04/save-the-zambezi-batoka-gorge/) - By Gary Wockner - Save the Zambezi When we hopped into the safari truck at “Safari Par Excellence” in Livingstone, Zambia, one of our guides handed each of us a “Nyami Nyami” necklace. He had hand-carved the pendent — which is a serpent-like creature — and gave it to us as a good-luck omen for
- [The principle of SMILE](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/04/smile/) - By Mark Hirst of Lapin Koskikoulu The principle of Smile & the big 3 During this brief post I wanted to share the tips I use to reduce the chances of my raft customers panicking during a swim. I am getting on a bit now, I will be 43 this year! I first went kayaking
- [Rafting Operator Accreditation (ROA) - what is it?](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/04/roa/) - The Rafting Operator Accreditation (ROA) Committee has now achieved this stage and is ready for input from stakeholders. The IRF has for many years discussed the merits of developing an accreditation for operators that offer whitewater rafting guided or instructional services. Simply put, this process would provide a means of recognizing operators that meet or
- [Show your WhiteCard](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/04/whitecard/) - April 6 was declared as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) by the UN General Assembly in 2013. This decision represented a significant step in recognising the transformative power of sport and its great potential in advancing positive social change. The International Rafting Federation (IRF) is aligned with the mission and
- [All ready to start - World Rafting Cup / Pre WRC Argentina](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/11/pre-wrc-argentina/) - Pre WRC Argentina: 28 teams, 7 countries, 4 continents, 1 objective: Taming the Aluminé and Ruca Choroi rivers 28 international and local teams from the Czech Republic, Australia, Mexico, Chile, Japan, and Brazil will test their energy against the spirited Aluminé and Ruca Choroi rivers. The opening ceremony of the 2017-Villa Pehuenia was held in
- [Nikki Kelly voted as Chair of the new IRF Athletes' Commission](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/12/irf-athletes-commission/) - The IRF Athletes' Commission is one of the recent changes to the IRF Bylaws, and the Chair of this commission would be a member of the Board of Directors (BOD). This first commission, as per Bylaws, was appointed by the BOD. From next year on this commission will be voted for by the athletes themselves. The
- [We are river family - meet Bhupi Singh](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/09/riverfamily2018-bhupi-singh/) - Fate determined Bhupi Singh's white water career - he was fortunate enough to grow up in the small village ‘Sirasu’ based on the side of India’s holiest river, the mighty Ganges in Northern India. The time was right and since he's rafted across the globe. This week we meet the globe trotter that is Bhupendra
- [We are river family - meet Alejandro Cuéllar](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/08/riverfamily2018-alejandro-cuellar/) - Fliptastic rafting adventures in high water, "flushing" moments on commercial trips and learning from what life throws at you - this week we meet Alejandro Cuéllar (Alex). Alex remembers when his brother in law said to him back in 1994 in México… “Alex, come with me next weekend to the mountains, I’ll show you what I’m
- [Rafting development in Great Britain](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/09/rafting-development-in-great-britain/) - Rafting development in Great Britain has taken some great steps over the past few years. We spoke to Pas Blackwell, a key member of the GBR Men's team heading to the WRC in New Zealand as well as a key player in driving the new growth of rafting in the region. And he also has
- [WRC 2017 GB Open Men aiming for the podium](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/09/wrc-2017-gb-open-men/) - Training hard for this year's WRC 2017 GB Open Men have focused their time and efforts on solidifying their strong Sprint and Head-to-Head previous competitive edge and pushing for cleaner and faster slalom runs. Here we meet the team as they head out to Japan with an aim of getting to the podium again. Meet
- [EC Romania 2018 Dracula Race](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/04/ec-romania-2018-dracula-race/) - Is there anything better than the new EC season starting with a new river and a new country placing herself on the EC Competition map? EC Romania 2018 Dracula race, over the weekend of 14th-15th April, brought together twelve teams from Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania, along with 10 kayakers, in Nehoiu city on the Buzau River.
- [China welcomes raft racers from across the globe](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/04/china-welcomes-raft-racers/) - China welcomes raft racers with two great events on offer this (Northern Hemisphere) Summer! China is hosting two IRF events this Summer - both are subsidised and offer great prize monies. Summary details below - the Ziyuan Rafting Festival is now open for registration! Ziyuan Rafting Festival The Wupai River (home of the 2016
- [We are river family - Frankie Kowaas](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/10/riverfamily2018-frankie-kowaas/) - With great sadness we share with you the passing of Frankie Kowaas, but share with you the unstoppable passion and adventures he has inspired in so many. Frankie was the founder of Manado Adventure & Waraney Rafting. It was down to Frankie's determination and hard work that he established the 1st branch of the Indonesian Rafting
- [Ziyuan Rafting Festival 2018 is proceeding at full steam](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/04/ziyuan-rafting-festival-2018/) - As far as international rafting festivals go, Ziyuan Rafting Festival 2018 is well on it's way to leaving big boots to fill. In a country that boasts over 50 diverse ethnicities before considering any foreign influences, China has a changing environment and growing economy that defies the odds compared to what the rest of the
- [European Rafting Championships with a World twist](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/07/2018_irferc/) - The IRF European Rafting Championships with a world twist in Čunovo, Slovakia proved a showcase of talent from 67 teams from 14 countries across the continent - plus the Open Men's team from Japan! Faces new and old to IRF competitions showed up in Čunovo in the days leading up to the competition. All came
- [Lee Valley Devils selected to represent GBR in 2018](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/05/lee-valley-devils/) - Lee Valley Devils - nine young women, who took up white water rafting at Lee Valley White Water Centre following the London 2012 Olympics, have been selected to represent Great Britain and are now heading for Slovakia in July and Argentina in November to take part in the European and World Rafting Championships. All of
- [Meet GBR Masters Women team for ERC R4 2018 Slovakia](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/06/gbr-masters-women/) - GBR Masters Women team mates Fay Rushby and Nicola Childs have been rafting together as part of Lee Valley Women’s Master’s Team for roughly 2 years. The early team was placed in the British Open in 2016. Julie first paddled with the team as an independent in the British Open 2017 when the team won
- [ERC 2018 Slovakia guests - welcome JPN OM team](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/06/erc-2018-slovakia-guests/) - ERC 2018 Slovakia guests - Japan Open Men. It's been ten years since we first met the Japanese OM team at the World Cup in Bosnia in 2008. This team's setup has changed since then and we had the luck to seen many of the old team members again in Japan, competing in the Masters
- [We are river family - meet Georgina Preston](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/07/riverfamily-georgina-preston/) - Raft guide, raft racer, kayak instructor, environmentalist and river conservationist - there isn't much that stops Georgina Preston ("Georgie"). This is part one of a two part interview as Georgie sets off on a new adventure - we'll catch up with her on her return. In part one, we find out what motivates her and how
- [We are river family - meet Ales Danek](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/07/riverfamily2018-ales-danek/) - We continue our River Family series, by meeting Ales Danek, member of the Czech Open Men's team and Vice Chair of the IRF Athletes' Committee. Throughout this series we interview members of our River Family - you! We're going to find out how people got involved, what keeps them motivated and why they stick with
- [We are river family - meet Ine Skjørten](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/07/riverfamily2018-ine-skjorten/) - In the first of our River Family series, we meet Ine Skjørten, kayaker, raft guide, and raft race competitor with the most number of IRF championships under her belt and an ever smiling face on the raft race circuit. Throughout this series, we interview the people that make rafting around the globe what it is
- [We are river family - meet Yann Coppen](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/07/riverfamily2018-yann-coppen/) - With an international background and upbringing worthy of a UN Ambassador, Yann Coppen shares his passion for rafting with us. African born with French, Indonesian and Dutch blood, Yann began his journey in the northern part of Japan. After years of travelling and guiding abroad, he discovered the High Atlas Mountains and started to run
- [Raft racing on the Tibetan Plateau, has additional challenges for competitors.](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/08/yushu-2018/) - The city of Yushu has just played host to the IRF Yushu 2018 World Rafting Plateau Championship which saw 23 teams from 17 countries from four continents gather together to race with friends old and new in stunning and breathtaking race environments. At 3,600 metres above sea level, the city of Yushu is well above
- [We are river family - meet Tyler Fox](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/08/riverfamily-tyler-fox/) - This week we meet Tyler Fox, one of the original Tribe Rider paddlers, New Zealand raft racer, raft guide, fireman and maple syrup loving Canadian at heart. We started by asking him how he got involved in paddling.... In High School I took an Outdoor Ed class and we learnt whitewater canoeing (in NZ they call
- [Looking for rafting company to add Yushu on the Tibetan plateau, China, as their next travel location](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/04/looking-for-rafting-company-to-add-yushu-on-the-tibetan-plateau-china-as-their-next-travel-location/) - Last year a very successful IRF rafting World Cup event was held in Yushu on the Tibetan plateau (Qinghai-Tibet) It is a great location for rafting with fairly easy logistics and varied options for different levels of rafting. And the region itself has great potential as a tourist destination with plenty of interesting cultural places
- [We are river family - meet Mark Hirst](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/09/riverfamily2018-mark-hirst/) - IRF Raft Guide Assessor, global traveller, raft guide, extreme kayaker and novice skier, we meet Mark Hirst. Mark started kayaking around 1988 when he was in primary school and continued until a trip to Nepal in 1998. He was asked to help a raft guide R2 (two-person raft) a raft down the Great Wall rapid on
- [We are river family - meet Fieke Reijntjes](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/08/riverfamily2018-fieke/) - We continue our River Family series, by meeting Fieke Reijntjes, captain of the Great Britain Open Women's team (current R4 European Champions and defending R4 World Champions) and member of the IRF Athletes' Committee. In this series we meet members of our River Family - you! We find out how people got involved, what keeps them
- [We are river family - meet Las Correntinas](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/08/riverfamily2018-las-correntinas/) - One of the newer formed race teams on the international circuit, Las Correntinas of Chile are a lively, funny group of friends who came together to race and have sparked inspiration in the rafting and paddling communities. This week we meet Las Correntinas, winners of the IRF Rafting Spirit Award in the recent IRF Ziyuan Rafting
- [White Water of Siberia Forum 2020 starts on a high](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/09/white-water-of-siberia-forum-2020/) - By Алексей Широков The White Water of Siberia Forum 2020, has started in the Altay mountains and rivers of central Russia. About 50 rafters from six countries gathered in Altay republic, Russia for great extreme adventures in the Altay mountains and rivers. This is the fifth year of the forum, which takes place in Altay
- [Devil's Stream pulls in the teams](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/08/devils-stream/) - The Devil’s Stream pulled in teams from across Europe to take on it’s challenging rapids this weekend. Hosted by Czech Union of Boaters (Rafting), this very popular annual event saw over 20 teams teams take to the Vlatva River, near Lipno in Czechia.The Devil’s Stream section is immediately below the Lipno dam and provides for
- [Sunny day on the Nisava for the Euro Cup](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/05/sunny-day-on-the-nisava-for-the-euro-cup/) - The Euro Cup 2013 Nis on the Nisava River was spoilt with two amazingly sunny days in what is often a cloudy and rainy Serbia. This is one of the few competitions where there is no entry fee required. This year we saw 4 countries and a total of 21 men's teams and 8 women's
- [Keen to bid for the 2021 World Rafting Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/10/keen-to-bid-for-the-2021-world-rafting-champs/) - If you are planning to bid for the IRF 2021 World Rafting Champs then read on ... Intention to Bid Forms are to be returned to IRF Admin by 31st October 2018. This form does not commit you to bidding but does help by letting us know that you want to bid. In this way we
- [IRF to attend inaugural meeting of UN Sports for Climate Action initiative](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/09/sports-for-climate-action/) - Later this week, representatives from the IRF will attend the first working meeting of the United Nations Sports for Climate Action signatories. This initiative brings together the world's leading sports governing bodies under a global initiative to influence the way that sports can effect positive change to our shared climate. This historic meeting is being
- [Zambezi River - damming of the greatest white water!!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/12/zambezi-river-dam/) - An update for those who are interested in the dam proposed for the Batoka Gorge section of the Zambezi River: We had a meeting recently with a company called Environmental Resources Management (ERM) who are doing the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the Batoka Gorge Dam on the Zambezi. The situation is as follows:
- [Guide workshops offered in some great destinations](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/09/guide-workshops-offered-in-some-great-destinations/) - Wanting to get or upgrade your IRF Guiding certification, or become an IRF GTE Instructor? There are some great locations to choose from ranging from Bosnia, to Mexico, Spain, Slovenia, Argentina, the Zambezi River, Ecuador, Futaleufu River, Scotland, Cardiff and Oregon, USA! The playground of the mighty Zambezi is an incredible location to be training
- [Welcome Greece, the most recent country to join the IRF](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/02/irf_welcomes_greece/) - In an historic announcement, the Hellenic Canoe-Kayak Federation (HCKF) is the most recent national federation to join the IRF. The HCKF identified the IRF as being the only legitimate and globally recognised rafting federation to truly and honestly represent all rafting interests around the world. With HCKF having been recognised by the Minister of Sport
- [Dam reservoirs - major greenhouse gas emitters](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/05/dam-reservoirs-major-greenhouse-gas-emitters/) - A recent study finds that reservoirs emit significant greenhouse gases planet-wide; and the researchers are urging that new hydropower projects are not to be christened with the green energy label. Read the full article here on International Rivers website
- [EC Georgia 2016](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/06/ec-georgia-2016/) - The first day of the event was for registration and orientation so the teams divided into those who went on a tour of landmarks around Borjomi and those who went to the water to train. There were 41 teams registered - 25 Open Men, 10 Open Women and 6 Masters Men, from eleven countries: Georgia
- [Race Rules - proposing an update](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/09/race-rules-proposing-an-update/) - The IRF Sport & Competition Committee assesses and updates the IRF Race Rules at the end of each year. This year it is being done much earlier due to the 2019 WRC happening early in the year (May). So proposals are to be in by 20 October. Any proposals after that cannot be guaranteed to be
- [Communication signals for paddlers](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/07/signals-for-paddlers/) - By Vidra Kele These signals can be used in a variety of paddling situations, like on flatwater when there is a great distance involved or on whitewater and the sea where noise of the water makes the communication options limited. The table below contains the most important and most frequently used signals. You can see
- [HungaroRaft women's team find new ways to train](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/09/hungaroraft-women/) - For HungaroRaft Women's team, racing has not been possible this year. Hungary doesn't have suitable white water for the team to train on so they had to find new places and ingenious ways to train this year. Today we catch up with Lilla Süveges, captain of the HungaroRaft Women's Team. HungaroRaft Women's team on the
- [Sustainability in rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/08/sustainability-in-rafting/) - For many years now, we have committed to sustainability in rafting. From objectives in our Bylaws, to running the world's first certified carbon neutral sports world championship. Most recently, we have extended our commitment to sustainability. In 2019 we committed to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework for Climate Change Convention) Sports for Climate Action. Now,
- [Czech your calendars - raft racing is back!](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/08/raft-racing/) - Raft racing returned in true river family style with the Troja Czech Cup / Euro Cup and more events than you can count on one hand! Last weekend saw a collection of teams old and new competing in Prague at the Troja white water centre. Saturday 22nd September saw the first R4 Czech Cup race and
- [Malaysia rafting recognition boost](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/08/malaysia-rafting-recognition/) - Malaysia rafting recognition was boosted recently by accreditation from the Malaysia Commissioner of Sports. The Malaysia Rafting Association (MRA) (or Persatuan Rafting Malaysia in Malay) and the sport of rafting have received a great boost as MRA have received this formal accreditation. This recognition firmly establishes MRA as the organisation governing the sport of rafting
- [Pantheon foundation invites you to unofficial European Kids Rafting Championship](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/03/pantheon-foundation-invites-you-to-unofficial-european-kids-rafting-championship/) - Our idea is to support and enlighten rafting among teenagers in the whole of Europe. Modern-day life styles are suppressing enthusiasm for active sports, so we gave ourselves a commitment to motivate and attract more kids and teenagers to active sports. Rafting is a unique collective sport, which is connecting physical movement with a positive
- [Judges course at ERC 2018](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/04/17581/) - A Judges course will be run during the 2018 Euro Rafting Championship in Slovakia. Anyone keen to do the course should email IRF Admin. The details are: Dates: 2 - 7 July (same dates as the ERC) Place: Event Headquarters, ERC, Slovakia Cost: $US30 to be paid to Instructor on the first day of the course. This
- [How to calculate your IRF Membership Fees for 2020](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/04/calculate-membership-fees/) - Firstly you need to have some idea of how many teams will be going to the Euro and/or World Champs from your country. Then you can put those numbers into this formula below and follow the steps. WRC: Open, Masters teams: $200 x number teams = WRC: U19, U23 teams: $160 x number teams =
- [WRC Argentina 2018 - website now live!](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/04/wrc-argentina-2018-website/) - #AreYouReady for IRFWRC Argentina! Argentina organisers have launched a website for the WRC R4 2018 which they will host from November 4-10 this year. Here you will find everything you need to plan your trip, as well as a tourist guide of the area. Take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to reward yourself with a tour of
- [Rafting clubs launch their bids in Austria to win the World Cup series](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/05/rafting-clubs-launch-their-bids-in-austria-to-win-the-world-cup-series/) - The recent IRF Euro Cup (EC) event in Wildalpen, Austria was the second in the 2018 EC series, the first being the Dracula Race in Romania. And it was the first in the 2018 World Cup series, with the second event being the Pre-Worlds in Australia (9 - 13 May). The Euro Cup and World
- [Time to dig deep (an early season workshop in the snow)](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/05/time-to-dig-deep-an-early-season-workshop-in-the-snow/) - 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
- [Pre-Worlds showcases what a great WRC river the Tully is!](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/05/pre-worlds-showcases-what-a-great-wrc-river-the-tully-is/) - Exactly one year to go to the 2019 IRF World Rafting Championships (WRC) which are to be held on the Tully River in Queensland, Australia. This past weekend saw the wrapping up of the Pre-Worlds there, where the organisers had a chance to test their systems, and rafters got to test the course! It was
- [We need you (your writing skills)!](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/05/we-need-your-writing/) - We need your input! Have you got a great story to share? Awesome river trip photos? Write up of your last raft competition? Advice for fellow guides or those starting in the industry? We want to hear from YOU! Get in touch: media@internationalrafting.com #sharingiscaring #goodstories #tellusmore #together #RaftersAreAwesome
- [Guide Training Workshops and Instructor Conference coming up](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/05/guide-training-courses-and-instructor-conference-coming-up/) - 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
- [Time to stop putting the word crazy in front of the word Russian!](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/06/time-to-stop-putting-the-word-crazy-in-front-of-the-word-russian/) - 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
- [Pakistan joins the IRF](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/06/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
- [ERC 2018 Participants - reminders](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/06/erc-2018-participants-reminders/) - We hope you are looking forward to this event as much as we are! Here are some reminders .... #irferc That's the hashtag to use for the ERC. So use it for all your posts where ever you make them. Twitter feed for #irferc can be found in the left hand column on the IRF website.
- [Nada bows out for a break](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/06/nada-bows-out-for-a-break/) - Nada Matic has been a big and important part of the IRF's rafting world since the start of 2012. It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to her as she steps back from the IRF's media position. Nada became a part of the IRF's media team purely through her love of the sport.
- [Where to follow the IRF 2018 European Rafting Championship](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/06/where-to-follow-the-irf-2018-european-rafting-championship/) - There are a number of places you can follow this year's Euro Rafting Champs. So here are the options: IRF's Euro Rafting Champs Facebook page - regular updates Event Organiser's Facebook page - regular updates Instagram Twitter IRF's website - the results will be posted in the left hand "Results" column as soon as we receive them.
- [White Water of Siberia Forum - 2018 - entries are in!](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/07/white-water-of-siberia-forum-2018-entries-are-in/) - The 3rd International Cultural and Sporting Rafting Forum «White Water Sibiria 2018» (hereinafter referred to as the Forum) will be held in two stages from August 20 to August 29, 2018. The first stage - Tomsk, Tomsk region (20 – 21.08.2018) The second stage - the Altai Republic (22 – 29.08.2018) The entries have just
- [Thank you Slovakia and Nadácia Pantheon Foundation!](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/07/thank-you-slovakia-and-nadacia-pantheon-foundation/) - The International Rafting Federation (IRF) would like to thank Michal Cerny and his whole team for their excellent work in hosting the IRF’s 2018 European Rafting Championships in Cunovo, Slovakia. We thank them for their willingness to work with us on all levels so that we could both achieve our objectives. We are especially grateful
- [So who are the new IRF European Rafting Champions!](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/07/so-who-are-the-new-irf-european-rafting-champions/) - Eight teams were crowned as the European Champions in Slovakia recently. Let's take a look at the champions and the medal winners. U19 Men - Slovenia 2 = 2018 European Rafting Champions for Overall as well as H2H and Downriver. (Silver in Sprint and Slalom) Russia 2 = Gold in Slalom (Silver in Overall, Bronze
- [Dragon Boating - a modern sport with ancient traditions](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/08/dragon-boating/) - Many a dragon boater has crossed over and raced in rafts, and vice versa. And so it is with many other sports. Therefore over the coming months we will be presenting the history of other paddle sport organisations as we also look into expanding our friendships with these and other organisations. Long standing history Dragon
- [Soviet Era Rafting - a step into the past](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/08/soviet-era-rafting/) - Vladimir Petukhov takes us back to soviet era rafting in this interview by Rafting Magazine. In order to understand the situation fully, I will say that the beginning of my passion for whitewater rafting started in the Soviet period. This means that there were a lot of whitewater rivers and there was a great desire
- [Are you ready for the Czech racing season?](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/08/czech2020/) - By Lenka Bauerová, SVoČR It all starts this weekend! The Troja Rafting Cup will open the postponed Czech racing season. There was already one down river race in June at Trnávka, but Troja will be the first complete weekend race. Troja is a Czech Cup R4 and at the same time there will be an
- [Sponsorship, how do we get it?](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/07/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
- [IRF GTE course in Georgia takes their rafting to new safety levels](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/07/irf-gte-course-in-georgia-takes-their-rafting-to-new-safety-levels/) - The Georgia project had been on the burner for a while. The sport of Rafting is growing in Georgia. Georgia also recently hosted the IRF Euro Rafting Champs last year. USaid had kindly sponsored and paid for a group of 13 self taught Georgian raft guides to attend a 9 day IRF Guide certification workshop
- [Safety course Slovenia includes IRF GTE, Rescue 3 Europe and Basic Life Support](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/08/safety-course-slovenia-includes-irf-gte-rescue-3-europe-and-basic-life-support/) - This is a great opportunity to do an intensive workshop where you can obtain certifications from 3 different organisations that are recognised worldwide - WRT – Pro: Whitewater Rescue Technician – Professional, Rescue 3 Europe IRF GT&E: Guide Training & Education, International Rafting Federation BLS: Basic Life Support, American Heart Association Dates: the 31 September to the 7 October 2018, and is
- [Zambezi White Water Festival - a Class V amateur rafting competition](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/08/zambezi-white-water-festival-a-class-v-amateur-rafting-competition/) - Livingstone Zambia, Africa, the base of “Mosi-oa-Tunya”, the “Victoria Falls”, the Zambezi River, the middle Batoka Gorge. This is the unique location for what is one of the worlds only class V amateur rafting competitions; the “Zambezi White Water Festival”. This years event is 25 - 27 October. Conceived as a way for the white
- [Experience Co announced as major sponsor of the IRF WRC 2019](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/08/experience-co-announced-as-major-sponsor-of-the-irf-wrc-2019/) - Experience Co has been announced as a major sponsor of the IRF 2019 World Rafting Championships to be held on the Tully River, Tropical North Queensland, 13 – 20 May 2019. Experience Co Limited was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in 2015 and currently operates throughout Australia and New Zealand. Experience Co offer
- [Judges course at WRC 2018](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/08/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.
- [River safety - Team Strategy](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/08/article-2-river-safety-team-strategy/) - We introduced the R3 Rescue for River Runners' video series in 2013 - but they are still really relevant today in the whitewater world of safety. This is a series of videos showing river rescue techniques, combinations of skills, tips and tricks to make you a better river rescuer and safer paddler. Its aimed at river
- [River of Reconciliation in Colombia](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/08/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
- [IRF Instructors Conference - Update](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/09/irf-instructors-conference-update/) - The annual IRF Instructors Conference is being held in Argentina this year - a great opportunity for the Instructors in this region to update their certificate according to IRF requirements. Location: Argentina, River Alumine, Villa Pehuenia Date: 1-2-3 November 2018 Registration link Host and Organizer: ARAFT, Mario Mateo: araft_irf@hotmail.com IRF Representatives: Joe Willie Jones -
- [IRF's Guide Training system flying along!](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/09/irfs-guide-training-system-flying-along/) - Globally recognised and respected, the IRF's Guide Training & Education system has seen massive growth in uptake over the last two years. In 2017 the number of courses held doubled from the previous year, and in 2018 we have already surpassed the 2017 number! The Guide Training & Education (GTE) system is built on the
- [Siberian white water enticed rafters from across the globe](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/09/siberianwhitewater2018/) - Another very successful «White Water of Siberia» rafting forum has taken place with new skills, new friendships and a truly international bonding of rafters across the globe. This was the third annual International Cultural and Sports Forum (White Water of Siberia 2018). Participants from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Republika Srpska), Belgium, India, Italy, Israel, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Netherlands, Serbia, Uzbekistan, and Russia all gathered in Tomsk on the 15th of
- [Trentino Wild are looking for IRF Guides for next season](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/10/trentino-wild-are-looking-for-irf-guides-for-next-season/) - Trentino Wild, one of the biggest rafting companies in Italy, are looking for IRF certified guides to work for them on the Noce River next season. They run trips on a class IV river and sometimes they run class V too. They are also a river rescue school, so the rescue part is essential for them. Their season
- [ERC 2019 to be held on the Vrbas, BiH](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/10/erc2019-vrbas-announcement/) - You love it. We love it. We're going back to River Vrbas in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina for the IRF European Rafting Championship 2019. Hosts to the World Rafting Championship in 2009, Euro Rafting Championships in 2009 and again in 2015, this popular stretch of river regularly sees teams from across the globe come
- [WRC 2018 participants - don't forget your...](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/10/irfwrc2018-reminders/) - We hope you're looking forward to this event as much as we are! Below are a few reminders to make your championship memorable for all the right reasons! Registration fees If you have not paid that to the Argentina Organisers yet I suggest you do that urgently! It is OVERDUE and they will start adding extra
- [IRF mourns the passing of GAISF President and IOC member Patrick Baumann](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/10/patrick-baumann/) - The International Rafting Federation is very sad to hear of the untimely and sudden loss of Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) President, Mr. Patrick Baumann last Friday. The IRF would like to offer all staff, and members of GAISF our deepest condolences. Our thoughts are with Mr. Baumann's wife, children and family. By
- [2018 Euro Cup Rafting Series comes to a close](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/10/2018ecfinishes/) - With the final event of the series recently being held in Slovenia on the Soca River near Solkan, the 2018 European Cup Series has drawn to a close. There were 6 events in the R4 series with some locations opting for R4 so teams planning to attend the ERC or WRC this year had opportunities
- [International Rafting Federation is proud to partner with Aquapac](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/10/aquapacpartnership/) - The International Rafting Federation is proud to announce a long term partnership with leading waterproof bag designers Aquapac. As a market leader in the design and production of waterproof bags since forming in 1983, Aquapac have grown and developed with sporting, rescue and recreational water based activities. Recently they made the jump into rafting with a
- [Planes, rafts and automobiles - preparations for IRF World Rafting Championship 2018](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/11/wrc2018-preparations/) - Logistics in planning an International Rafting Federation World Rafting Championship is a phenomenal feat made successful only by the hard work of thousands of people from across the globe. Front and centre, visible to all is the Event Director and Race Director - not so obvious are all the individuals involved in tasks that most
- [Stunning day for WRC Sprints on the Alumine](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/11/irfwrc2018-sprint/) - The day got off to a crispy start as the temperatures had dropped below zero during the night - frost gave the terrain a ghostly appearance as the participants arrived for the day's races. As the day warmed up so did the competition - the teams are loving the river and the continuous Class 3
- [Ex-FARC Guerrillas in Colombia train to be Raft Guides](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/11/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
- [Gold medal clashes in Head-to-head](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/11/gold-medal-clashes-in-head-to-head/) - The first race of the day was a great illustration of the excitement that the new format with buoys has brought to the Head-to-Head (H2H). Netherlands Open Women came down the last part of the course needing to round the final buoy and as they rounded it and headed to the line Chile Open Women
- [Skills, spills and thrills – Slalom on the Ruca Choroi](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/11/skills-spills-and-thrills-slalom-on-the-ruca-choroi/) - The teams gathered along the banks of the River Ruca Choroi, to test their skills against the hard slalom course set for them. The river is an innocuous, narrow, Class 2 with 1 Class 3 rapid on it, normally simple to negotiate. But today the course was set to challenge the best rafters in the
- [Czechia have a golden day on the Alumine](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/11/czechia-have-a-golden-day-on-the-alumine/) - The IRF's 2018 World Rafting Champs came to a spectacular close today with the arduous Downriver. The rain and sprinkles of snow on the surrounding mountains did nothing to dampen the teams' enjoyment of the awesome white water that the Aluminé offers. The day definitely belonged to the Czechia teams. Their Open Men halted Brazil's
- [#AreYouReady to #TameTheTully](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/11/irfwrc2019-accommodation/) - After the successful conclusion to the IRF World Rafting Championship (WRC) 2018 in Argentina, we now set our sights on the 2018 WRC in Tully, Australia. Teams have now started to register for the event - but most importantly now, all teams who want to stay in the Athletes' Village need to book their accommodation
- [Vote for our World Rafting Champions in the World Paddle Awards](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/11/vote-for-rafting-wpa/) - The World Paddle Awards are a prestigious award voted on annually by the public and a select committee of paddle sports peers. This year the rafting world is fortunate to have three nominations in with a chance. But they need your help to ensure they make it to the finalists and ultimately in order to
- [Bidding farewell too soon to Cass Emary](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/11/cassandraemary/) - With a heavy heart we share the untimely passing of Cassandra Emary or "Cass" as most people will fondly remember. Not one to let boundaries or challenges get in her way, Cass was an avid white water kayaker and adventurer. At only 23, her energy and voracity for life showed in all aspects of her
- [Promoting tourism safety in Costa Rica with 100s of newly certified raft guides and safety kayakers](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/12/costarica2018-safetytourism/) - By Shannon Farley The Costa Rica Sports Association for Adventure and Paddling, which represents the IRF in Costa Rica, has conducted a massive certification mission in the country to certify 178 raft guides and safety kayakers with the goal of improving safety in adventure tourism. The initiative, which has the support of the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT)
- [What do freestyle kayaking and rafting have in common?](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/01/what-do-freestyle-kayaking-and-rafting-have-in-common/) - For full details, check out the event website:kayakthenile.com/nile-river-festival-2019#AreYouReady #RaftersAreAwesome #FreestyleIsAwesome #Nile #Uganda
- [Will Tully give the Australian U19 Men team a home advantage?](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/01/riverfamily2019-ausu19m/) - Not content to just compete in rugby, mountain biking and kayaking, the AUS CROCS are looking to win hearts, minds and medals in the IRF's World Rafting Championship on the Tully River in May. This week we find out a little more about the team and how they've gotten to where they are. They can't
- [IRF 2019 Congress to be held in Tully, Australia](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/irf-2019-congress-to-be-held-in-tully-australia/) - The IRF's 2019 Congress will be held in the evenings of the 13 and 15 of May, at the WRC 2019 Event Head Quarters in Tully, Queensland, Australia. Please Note: Proposals to be put before Congress: Who can put proposals in? Each IRF Member (Full, not Provisional), IRF Executive Officers, and IRF Committee Chairs have
- [IRF World Rafting Championship - what's in it for me?](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/irfwrc2019-me/) - As the deadlines for entering into the 2019 World Rafting Champs in Australia are drawing near we bring you some details you need to know. Team Entry deadlines! 15th February 2019 - for any teams who require an invoice to to pay the entry fee. Registration form AND invoice details must be in by this date 1st March
- [#Areyouready to join our river family?](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/irf-shoplaunch/) - Now you can order high quality IRF branded kit at reasonable prices! We've got more t-shirts than you can poke a paddle at and jumpers and hoodies for everyone in the family - there's even a bandana for your dog! Purchase in the next seven days, and you'll get 15% off your order! www.internationalrafting.com/shop Some of
- [Save the Zambezi - your help needed NOW!](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/savethezambezi201902/) - Your action is needed NOW! Follow the cause, share and promote the campaign - we need to protect one of the planet's most beautiful yet endangered rivers. Plans are afoot to recommence the building of a dam in the Batoka Gorge of the Zambezi River. If completed, this will wipe out the major white water
- [Are you visa ready for Australia?](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/aussievisa2019/) - Travelling to Australia to compete in the IRF World Rafting Championship this May? Have you checked your visa requirements yet? Most European countries and Commonwealth countries don't need a letter from the organiser and can apply for a simple tourist visa before travelling. For those needing a visa letter, the event organisers can assist in
- [Exchanging rifles for paddles: Ticos and ex-guerillas of the FARC](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/riflesforpaddles/) - A Costa Rican rafting mission led by the company Rios Tropicales and the United Nations traveled to Colombia to meet with a group of ex-guerrillas from the FARC. Teaching them to tame the rapids of the Pato River, in complete peace, was the reason for the singular adventure. By Alexánder Sánchez It's a quiet and
- [#AreYouReady to race on the legendary Futaleufú River?](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/futaleufuinvitationalannouncement/) - It gives us great pleasure to officially announce that in March 2020 the IRF will once again pack our bags and travel to the legendary whitewater of Chile's Futaleufú river to host an historic 20th anniversary rafting event - the 2020 IRF Invitational World Rafting Cup! In 2000, the IRF organised the historic Camel White
- [Growing the rafting family in Argentina](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/raftingschoolvillapehuenia/) - Our river family is growing with great news from the welcoming and beautiful community of Villa Pehuenia and Moquehue in Neuquén, Argentina where we held last year's IRF World Rafting Championship. The event created a buzz in the community and has grown into a demand for learning how to raft. Stepping up to the challenge
- [The Franklin River, Australia's hidden gem](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/06/franklinriver/) - Tucked away in a quiet corner of Australia is one of the greatest gems of the Australian wilderness The Franklin River. This incredible river is no place for the casual adventurer and represents one of the most remote commercially run rivers in the world. The Franklin is typically run as an 8-10 day expedition where
- [Additional information for a safe re-entry into rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/06/rafting-reentry-june2020/) - We had many people from all around the world sending us their appreciation of our Guidelines for a safe re-entry into rafting. For some it has helped them get their operations back on the water and for others it has helped them present guidelines to their governments and/or health authorities who are in the process
- [IRF WRC 2011 is first Certified Carbon Neutral World Sports Event ever!](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/11/irf-wrc-2011-certified-carbon-neutral-world-sports-event-ever/) - The International Rafting Federation delivers the first certified carbon neutral World Sports Event with the Costa Rica 2011 World Rafting Championships. This article explains how they did it. A model for the world. http://www.youtube.com/embed/yQwhNdjRMRM Costa Rica raises the bar in global sustainable environmental initiatives once again. The World Rafting Championships (WRC), held October 4-11, 2011
- [Celebrating International Day of Friendship with our #RiverFamily](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/07/friendshipday2020/) - With recent unprecedented limits on movement and enforced isolation, now more than ever we need to recognise and value friendship across the globe. Today we mark United Nations International Day of Friendship by asking all rafters to reach out and contact friends whom you have not seen or spoken to since before the pandemic. We
- [Youth Sprint](https://internationalrafting.com/2010/07/youth-sprint/) - The 1st youth Teva world rafting championship started at 8pm on the artificial course at Dutch water Dreams in Zoetermeer, Netherlands. The Russian ladies team will go down in history as the first team to compete in a youth world championship, the first team to start on an artificial course and the first R4 world
- [Euro Cup 2011 - R6 - Final results!!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2011/09/euro-cup-2011-r6-final-results/) - Congratulations to the winners of the Euro Cup R6 2011 series - Men = Hazard Team (Slovakia) and Women = Adventure Net Team (Bulgaria). They were followed by Delta Sport-Split (Croatia) and Bestie Stream(Czech) in the men's and RK Kanyon (BiH) and Kanyon Raft Ladies (Hungary) in the women's sections. A total of 87 men's
- [2012 Youth & Masters World Rafting Championships!](https://internationalrafting.com/2011/09/2012-youth-masters-world-rafting-championships/) - 2012 Youth & Masters World Rafting ChampionshipsRiver VltavaCeske Budejovice, Czech Republic The Czech Boaters Union (SVoCR) cordially invites all IRF member federations to send their selected Youth and Masters teams to the 2012 Youth & Masters World Rafting Championship in the Czech Republic. The Youth event will be only be the second of its kind,
- [2012 European Rafting Championships](https://internationalrafting.com/2011/09/2012-european-rafting-championships/) - 2012 European Rafting Championships; River Vltava; Lipno nad Vltavou, Czech Republic The Czech Boaters Union (SVoCR) cordially invites all IRF member federations to send their selected teams to the 2012 European Rafting Championships on river Vltava in Lipno nad Vltavou. You all know the location - it hosted the 2003 WRC. So, start training and come. Dates:
- [Netherlands' women's team wins the Sprint!](https://internationalrafting.com/2011/10/netherlands-womens-team-wins-sprint/) - The Netherland women's team has won the first discipline of the 2011 World Rafting Championship, the Sprint. The course, set over a distance of about 450 metres, put all the teams to the test as the sprinted across this distance and through the rapids. They were followed by Great Britain, New Zealand, USA and Czech
- [Slalom WRC](https://internationalrafting.com/2011/10/slalom/) - The most testing slalom ever seen in the IRF 2011 World Rafting Championships, with 14 extremely testing gates. Many say gate 3 is impossible... So we will see! Gates 8+9 are both upstream gates on opposite sides of the river to each other, and extremely difficult to do both, many teams choose one or the
- [Youth teams soon to challenge for coveted title of World Rafting Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/07/youth-teams-challenge-coveted-title-world-rafting-champs/) - Its just over a month away from the Youth World Rafting Champs being held in the Czech Republic on the Ceske Budejovice artificial course. This event runs from the 23 - 28 August and has 20 confirmed teams attending. Brasil Men, 2011 World Champs in R6 (6-man rafts), will be defending their title against Russia,
- [First ever Masters World Champs!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/07/masters-world-champs/) - This year the IRF is holding its first ever Masters World Champs (23 - 28 Aug) in the Czech Rep on the Ceske Budejovice artificial course. This is a great opportunity for the paddlers who still love the competitions but have been knocked out by the young and up-and-coming rafting teams! Its also a chance to
- [First day of Youth & Masters World Rafting Championship.](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/today-fridays-updates-ym-wrc/) - Friday was the first official training day with the opening ceremony in the evening. See some photos of the teams training, campsite, course, parade, Opening Ceremony and night concerts. Photos: Jan Homolka Photography and Sportscene Sportscene have prepared another clip for you of the Parade and Opening Ceremony
- [Day Two – Youth & Masters WRC – Sprint!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/day-youth-masters-wrc-sprint/) - Today it is a rainy morning in České Vrbné! Everything is prepared. The race can start! Czech and Euro Cup Sprint races begin at 8:30 am, the Youth & Masters WRC Sprint begins at 11 am. Results just in: Youth Women Take a look here for photos of the teams as they come down the
- [Slalom on day 3 of the Y&MWRC](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/slalom-day-3-ymwrc/) - Day 3 of the championships again saw the home teams medaling in each category, but the Russia youth ladies team stole away the pole position from the Czech in a great performance on their second run leaving the Czech youth Ladies to take silver position. With the up to date ranking results now in it
- [Russia and Italy step up and challenge the local favourites](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/russia-italy-step-challenge-local-favourites/) - By Sportscene Fans packed the banks of the course for the second day of the 2012 Youth & Masters World Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. Slalom was today’s event, the third of four disciplines to be raced to determine who the world’s best Youth and Masters champions will be in this discipline. The course proved
- [Future looks bright for World Rafting after Czechs and Russians share World Champion honours](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/future-bright-world-rafting-czechs-russians-share-world-champion-honours/) - By Sportscene Rafting was the real winner after the 2012 Youth and Masters World Championships came to a conclusion, following the last of four disciplines, the ‘Downriver’ being raced along the Vltava River today. The course started in Vyssi Brod, with the four man raft teams paddling their way across the remotely flat waters for
- [Interview with Peter Micheler – Vice President International Rafting Federation](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/interview-peter-micheler-vice-president-international-rafting-federation/) - by Sportscene The 2012 Youth & Masters World Championships have come to a conclusion and Sportscene spoke to International Rafting Federation Vice President Peter Micheler post event. This year’s Championships produced some exciting racing across all four disciplines with the sprint, head to head and slalom disciplines being contested down recently re-developed Ceske Budejovice Whitewater
- [R4 Sprint & H2H racing on day 2 of the 2012 European champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/r4-sprint-h2h-racing-day-2-european-champs/) - What an exciting day of racing and you did not even have to be at the river to get the best spectator seats in the house thanks the hard work of the Czech organising team and fantastic live streaming from Strizna.cz, you get to see the best view of the all the races. If you
- [Indonesia to host 2014 R4 World Rafting Championships](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/indonesia-host-2014-r4-world-rafting-championships/) - By Sportscene (Please see update made on 5 February 2013!) Indonesia has won the right to host the 2014 R4 World Rafting Championships after the International Rafting Federation (IRF) voted for the Asian nation to host the event for the first time. The event will run from 27 November to 5 December, with a Pre-Worlds
- [R6 sprint & H2H racing from the 2012 European Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/r6-sprint-h2h-racing-2012-european-champs/) - Day 3 of the European Championships saw just as much excitement as the previous day with the R6 sprint and H2H taking place. Unfortunately the weather did not seem to want to play game after a thunderstorm yesterday evening the day started with grey skies and steady rain most of the day. But this did
- [R6 Slalom racing at the 2012 European Championships](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/09/day-4-r6-slalom-racing-2012-european-championships/) - Another fantastic morning of racing from the R6 teams. Summer time seems to have left Lipno with another wet cold day and the course looking rather magical with steam rising from the water. The Slalom looked like a good technical course definitely requiring teams working in controlled unison to navigate a clean fast run through the gates.
- [Golden Day for Czechs in Slalom!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/09/golden-day-czechs/) - The Czechs scoop up all the Gold medals today in the Euro Champs Slalom, showing their great skill at this discipline as they have on the other days. The morning saw the Czechs grab the Gold medals in the R6 men's and women's categories and the afternoon saw another great performance by them. In the
- [Germany and Czech Republic are the 2012 R6 European Champions!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/09/4827/) - Germany 1 have taken gold in the overall ranking of the 2012 European Championship in the men's R6, with Czech Republic 2 securing their overall gold medal in the women's R6. A huge congratulations to both team and enjoy the celebrations!!!!! Full overall R6 result The Downriver The final day of the competition saw the
- [Belgium and Czech, the new R4 European Champions are celebrating!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/09/r4-european-champions-celebrating/) - The final discipline - the Downriver - is over. And the R4 European Champions have emerged!! Congratulations to Czech Men 1 and to Belgium Women 1 - the 2012 R4 Euro Champions! Full results In the Men's section the Czech 1 team made a clean sweep! They comfortably won the Sprint, knocked out all their
- [Two new records for the R4 men Euro Champs!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/09/2-records-men-r4-euro-champions/) - The Euro Champs title in the R4 category remained in the hands of team TR Hiko of the Czech Rep. By winning this title they set two records at the Euro Champs 2012. Up until now, no team in this category has ever won the maximum of 1000 points and neither has any team managed
- [Brasil and Canada are the 2012 Pan Am Champs!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/09/brasil-canada-2012-pan-champs/) - Men's Team Bozo D'Agua of Brasil won the Sprint, H2H and Slalom and placed second in the Downriver to secure the 2012 title of Pan American Champs! Second place was also Brasil with Team Jacaré Pepira taking second in Sprint and H2H, but not having a good run in the Slalom at all and placing 6th.
- [NZ presents the Pre-Worlds](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/10/5295/) - It’s a very big holiday weekend for local white rafters as they compete at the New Zealand Championships on rivers round the region – the Kaituna, Tarawera and Rangitaiki. There is a lot at stake. The event doubles as selection for the 2013 IRF White Water World Championships on the same spectacular rivers, in November,
- [Sprint and Head to Head at Okere Falls on the Kaituna](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/10/sprint-head-head-okere-falls-kaituna/) - By Sportscene [youtube ToYJs5dDC4E] It was a fine Spring day for the opening event of the White Water Rafting 2012 National Championships in the Bay of Plenty on Friday. The first day was on the Kaituna at Okere Falls just north of Rotorua and featured the short, sharp and spectacular Sprint and Head 2
- [Kiwis take surprise win in Slalom at Pre-Worlds](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/10/kiwis-surprise-win-slalom-pre-worlds/) - The sun shone again on more exciting competition and a Kiwi crew came out on top. That was the story as the Pre-Worlds (and NZ White Water Rafting National Championships) moved over to the Tarawera River, in the Bay of Plenty, for the second day of competition. This weekend's event is a crucial event for
- [Close racing action finishes in New Zealand](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/10/close-racing-action-finishes-zealand/) - Three exciting days of white water rafting action ended on the Rangitaiki river, south of Rotorua, on Sunday afternoon. Selection was on the the line for the Kiwi crews for the IRF White Water Rafting Championships in Rotorua and Kawerau, November 13 to 24, 2013, so there was lot at stake. Team Teikei Japan won the
- [Video action from Pre-Worlds in NZ](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/10/video-action-pre-worlds-nz/) - Sportscene has produced some great videos once again of the racing action. Day 1 - Sprint and H2H Doing the Time Trial on the Kaituna with Japan Going down the Slalom course with the Czechs Day 3 - Downriver
- [Euro Cup R6 - final overall results!](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/10/euro-cup-final-results-out/) - The Euro Cup R6 events have now concluded for the year, with the last event being Trnavka in Czech. The first event in the series, which was to be in Slovenia, had to be cancelled due to lack of water, but all other events ran well. Team Kula Zagreb won the R6 Euro Cup Series
- [R4 Euro Cup 2012 is concluded in Augsburg](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/11/r4-euro-cup-results/) - The final 2012 R4 Euro Cup event was held in Augsburg, Germany, recently. This was the final event in the series and sees 2012 as a very successful year for Germany. They were crowned the 2012 R6 Euro Champions and now Team Bavaria RTA 1, Augsburg have been crowned the R4 Euro Cup champions. Not only
- [Great article on Pre-Worlds and WRC 2013 in NZ](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/11/great-article-pre-worlds-wrc-2013-nz/) - From the December issue of Adventure magazine: Wet and Wild, a look back at the Pre-Worlds at Labour Weekend and a look forward to the 2013 Worlds...4-page feature... Photos by Graeme Murray and Alan Ofsoski (big thanks again to the guys for coming out and doing the mahi for the love)... words by Graeme Simpson .... take a look at full
- [Breaking news re World Rafting Champs 2014 and 2015!](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/02/breaking-news-world-rafting-champs-2014-2015/) - We are very pleased to announce a change in location for the World Champs in 2014 and the location of the 2015 World Champs! 2014 World Rafting Champs will now be held in Foz do Iguassú, Brasil, using the Itaipu Canal for Sprint, H2H and Slalom and the Iguaçu River for the Downriver. Dates for
- [9 months to go to 2013 World Rafting Champs!!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/02/9-months-2013-world-rafting-champs/) - In 9 months time the Youth and Junior teams will already have had their first practise day in New Zealand for the 2013 World Rafting Champs. For those coming to support their teams and enjoy the hospitality of New Zealand its time to start making plans. The teams that have already been selected through their
- [River Safety - so much to learn!](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/04/river-safety-learn/) - Having fun on the rivers is what its all about to many of us, and being safe while doing it can mean having fun memories or having great regrets for the rest of your life. The IRF has been bringing you some river safety tips on a regular basis now and we'll continue doing this.
- [Great start to Euro Cup year in Wildapen, Austria](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/04/great-start-to-euro-cup-year-in-wildapen-austria/) - Teams came from far and wide to compete on the Salza River at the annual Austrian International Rafting Championship and Euro Cup event. 11 nations, 10 women's teams, 23 men's teams and 5 Austrian teams! This is one of the most popular events on the racing calendar due to it being central to many teams with
- [Pre-Worlds in Brasil cancelled!](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/07/pre-worlds-in-brasil-cancelled/) - Due to too few teams being able to attend the Pre-Worlds in Brasil this September the event has had to be cancelled. With travel being so expensive this year and next year for most teams, getting to Pre-Worlds has proven to be a penny too far. Training runs at other times However - if you
- [Euro Cup Overall Results!](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/10/euro-cup-overall-results-so-far/) - Euro Cup R6 is finished! With the final event happening in Slovenia the Euro Cup 2013 R6 series has now finished. Take a look at the Provisional Results and let us know if you see any problems. R6 Men Euro Cup 2013 - Provisional Results R6 Women Euro Cup 2013 - Provisional Results The results
- [Day 2 at Euro Cup Slovenia - R4](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/09/r4-euro-cup-slovenia/) - "Split up and compete," was the motto for many of the clubs on the second day of competition at Solkan, Slovenia. Most of the teams on the first day familiarised themselves with the course, the competition and each other, so the second day's atmosphere was excellent. R4 started with 17 teams - 16 men's and
- [Euro Cup R6 Series - final results for the year!!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/10/euro-cup-r6-series-final-results-for-the-year/) - The Euro Cup 2013 - R6 final results are now confirmed! Men's division - congratulations must go to Dajak Klub of BiH who have won the Men's category. The points came from winning the Sprint, Slalom and Downriver at the Serbian Euro Cup and winning Sprint and Downriver at Vrbas Euro Cup in BiH. Second
- [Seminar on drugs in sport instead of dope tests at WRC 2013](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/10/seminar-on-drugs-in-sport/) - Due to unforeseen circumstances the IRF will no longer be doing drug tests at the 2013 World Rafting Champs. "This is extremely disappointing for the IRF as this had been a goal set for quite some time. Its an important step to take if we want rafting to be taken seriously in the sporting world."
- [R4 Euro Cup Series - final results!](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/11/r4-euro-cup-series-final-results/) - With the final event in Augsburg not happening, the R4 Euro Cup Series can now be concluded. The Belgian Waterproof Ladies take the title for the second year in a row. Another title to their growing collection! They did this by winning all 4 disciplines at the Durance Euro Cup in France and doing well in
- [Thank you NZ - what a great location for a World Champs!](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/11/thanks-nz/) - To the 2013 IRF WRC Organising Committee, NZRA and all the many people involved The IRF and all its paddlers and followers would like to extend a heart felt thank you to you all for putting on an awesome IRF 2013 Rafting World Championship. We always knew a rafting world champs in New Zealand would
- [Did you know ....](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/12/did-you-know/) - Here are some interesting things from the World Rafting Champs 2013 ... In the Russian U19 team some of the paddlers were selected from and orphanage and given the opportunity to train up to be raft racers - their hard work and dedication paid off! They're the U19 World Rafting Champions! Slovakian Open Women have
- [Let's learn to Samba!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/02/lets-learn-to-samba/) - This year many of us will have the privilege of travelling to Brasil, the home of the samba! With our R4 World Rafting Champs happening there we should be learning about this typical Brasilian dance. "Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia, Brazil, and with its roots in Rio de Janeiro and Africa via the West African slave trade
- [R4 and R6 in Europe - it's complicated!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/02/r4-and-r6-in-europe-2/) - There are two Euro Champs this year - R4 and R6. In previous years there has been only one with both R4 and R6 together. But with the new divisions of U19, U23 and Masters this would have meant that each country could send 32 teams to the Euro Champs (4 divisions x men and
- [World Rafting Champs - Brasil!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/02/world-rafting-champs-brasil/) - The first information letter (updated) is available! In this letter you can find: Details about when and how to book training sessions before the event. Entry fee and what it includes Deadline dates for entries Provisional competition schedule Accommodation, meal and transport options Information about the City of Foz de Iguaçu, airports, etc. Information about the
- [First Euro Cup event of the season](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/03/first-euro-cup-event-of-the-season/) - Its less than 4 weeks to the first Euro Cup event of the season, which is the Soča-Solkan Euro in Slovenia. This event will be for R4 and R6 so is a great opportunity for all teams. Schedule and details are also now available. Here is a video of last years' R6 races to whet your appetite:
- [TAM airline comes on board for WRC 2014](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/03/tam-airline/) - The World Championship R4 Rafting 2014 will feature an unprecedented partnership between the Brazilian Canoe Confederation and TAM Airlines, which will be the Official Airline of the event. For national fares TAM grants participants a 25% discount on classes available at the time of purchase and 10% on special promotional fares for domestic flights for the period of 26/08/2014
- [World Rafting Champs 2014 POSTPONED!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/04/wrc-2014-postponed/) - We regret to announce that the country of Brazil is currently experiencing a prolonged drought - the worst that they have had in over 20 years - and that this drought has adversely affected water levels at the 2014 R4 World Rafting Championships venue. Furthermore, the drought is not expected to break before the start of
- [Euro Cup and 3rd University Championship - Nis, Serbia](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/04/euro-cup-and-3rd-university-championship-nis-serbia/) - Dear rafting friends, Serbian Rafting Federation and Nautical Club "Liman" are inviting you to the Euro Cup and 3rd University Championship that will be held in Nis on the river Nisava from 16-18 of May 2014. It will be R6 with the four disciplines - Sprint, H2H, Slalom and Downriver on the river that has
- [Busy weekend just past!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/04/busy-weekend-just-passed/) - There were two Euro Cup events this past weekend. A brand new addition to the calendar is EC Arouca over in Portugal which I'm sure will be growing in popularity as it gets better known. This is a big festival which includes kayaking, rafting and plenty of other activities for all to enjoy. Results Pictures EC
- [Euro Cup - Wildalpen](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/05/euro-cup-wildalpen/) - The Euro Cup in Austria at Wildalpen is one of the most popular in the series - and now I can see why! The course is technically very good, night slalom is very attractive, the downriver is on the crystal clear river of Salza through dense, magical forests. Added to that the always available and friendly
- [Floods in Serbia!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/05/floods-in-serbia/) - Dear Rafting friends, Due to extremely high rainfall, and flooding over the last few days, the Serbian government has declared a State of Emergency. The Ministry of Youth and Sport has issued a request tonight (May 15.) to cancel or postpone all sport events until further notice. Therefore, even though everything is ready for EC
- [R6 Euro Champs cancelled!!!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/05/r6-euro-champs-cancelled/) - A message from Alex and Goran and the Event Organising Committee: Due to extremely high rainfall and flooding over the last few days in Bosnia and Herzegovina the Organizing committee of Euro Champ R6 2014 have been forced to CANCEL the event.The Government of the Republic of Srpska has declared a state of emergency in
- [International teams heading to China](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/06/international-teams-heading-to-china/) - This raft race in China is one of the most unusual competitions on the IRF calendar. Held annually, it is an R2 event and only a select 5 to 6 teams from around the world are invited. To participate, i.e.. to be selected from the rafters from around the world to compete, is a real
- [Wallace!!! The story behind The Dirt Bag Paddlers](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/07/wallace-the-story-behind-the-dirt-bag-paddlers/) - The slogan of the International Rafting Federation succinctly describes the essence of the organization - "Its about rafting around the world.". But "Wallace makes me wet" and "You can't cheat the Wallace!" are some of the slogans which describe the Dirt Bag Paddlers group, which in a short time have established "Wallace" as a term
- [International Rafting Competition, China - 2014](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/07/international-rafting-competition-china-2014/) - Going to China, for most of us, is an achievement in itself. To go and race rafts there is just a dream and we never expected it would happen to us! The teams that had this privilege came from Serbia, Canada, Hungary, New Zealand and USA Over the past few years I have heard stories about
- [GB R4 Masters White Water Rafting Squad](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/07/gb-r4-masters-white-water-rafting-squad/) - These guys had their first major challenge in New Zealand as the R6 team at the 2013 WRC and now are preparing for the R4 challenges of Slovakia at the Euro Champs. There is over 80 years of collective white water rafting, kayaking and canoeing experience in this team. The squad consists of six males,
- [Training day two of R4 Euro Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/07/training-day-two-of-r4-euro-champs/) - Another sunny day on "Divoka water" Čunovo, Slovakia The second day of training was for Slalom. It went as smoothly as the first day, but the Slalom is more challenging so the water was exciting and busy. The track is technically quite demanding and so it took teams a lot of time on the
- [Day One of Euro Rafting Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/07/day-one-of-euro-rafting-champs/) - The first day of competition went very smoothly and professionally. I cannot wait for Slalom and Downriver! We were fortunate to have more sunny days and by the end of this competition it will look like we have all been on vacation! Fifteen nations are represented at this competition. U19 Men - 11 teams, Women -
- [Day Two Euro Rafting Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/07/day-two-euro-rafting-champs/) - The second day of competition was the Open Sprint and H2H. As I expected it was spectacular in both disciplines. First it was the Sprint where the CZE1 team defended their title from last time, NED1 achieved a fantastic result and climbed onto the podium at 2nd place, while the experienced Italian ITA1 took third
- [Day Three Euro Rafting Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/07/day-three-euro-rafting-champs/) - Another beautiful, sunny day in Čunovo is behind us. The third day was reserved for Slalom for Open Men and Women and Downriver for the U19, U23 and Masters' divisions. The first slalom race brought us two flips and one surf in a hole just before the end of the track. There was some swimming
- [Foz do Iguaçu, Brasil](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/09/foz-do-iguacu-brasil/) - Brazil is in the South American continent, popularly known as Latin America, and with a population of over 200 million people it is the fifth largest country in the world. The capital city is Brasilia and largest city Sao Paulo with the official language being Portuguese. Teams getting to the WRC can travel through Rio de Janeiro or Sao
- [China - Race 2, what an experience!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/07/china-race-2-what-an-experience/) - Chengdu is the city we arrived in after a crazy, night train ride. We had four days of rest here before the second race. This beautiful city of 15 million people, with many historical, religious and natural curiosities is a city to be on the list for sight seeing just as much as Paris and
- [New Euro Rafting Champions!!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/07/new-euro-rafting-champions/) - What a beautiful competition. 71 teams, 18 European countries, Čunovo - Divoka water, Slovakia, the sun as much as we wanted, well organized competition - what more could we ask for! Day Four of the competition (see Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3) started with Slalom for the U19, U23 and Masters divisions, and then
- [World Rafting Day](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/07/world-rafting-day/) - At our last Congress, the IRF decided to set aside 12 July to be World Rafting Day. And here are some of the ways that this day was celebrated in Serbia, Iran, New Zealand and the USA. Drina Regatta - Serbia This regatta gathers together a large number of fans of the river and of
- [Other rafting development stories](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/09/other-rafting-development-stories/) - We did an article recently on Developing Rafting in your Region, here are some more stories .... Did you know there is rafting in Mongolia? Mongolia became a member of the IRF at the end of last year and this year saw them running their first rafting competition. The event was R4, on the Tuul
- [Nepal anyone?](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/09/nepal-anyone/) - There is a great opportunity for white water action in Nepal late November.... firstly there is the Himalayan White Water Festival and straight after that an opportunity to get your IRF Safety Kayaker & Trip Leader Assessments. The Himalayan Whitewater Festival is fast becoming Asia’s largest whitewater festival. The 4th festival will be run from
- [Eat, drink, speak and be merry in Brazil](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/eat-drink-speak-brasil/) - We've talked about the music of Brasil, we've talked about the location of the competition. Now let's talk a little bit about the food, drink and some phrases you may like to know. What to eat in Brazil? When you travel to a new country it is good to know what specialities are worth trying. Brazil
- [R4 defending champions](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/r4-defending-champions/) - For the first time in Brasil we will have all 4 of our divisions competing in R4. So let's look back at who will be the defending champions. WRC 2010 at Dutch Water Dreams in the Netherlands This was the first R4 World Rafting Champs ever held. It was also the first ever Youth event which was
- [R4 World Rafting Champs officially opens!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/r4-world-rafting-champs-officially-opens/) - The Opening Ceremony was held at the Itaipu Canal, the venue for the majority of the races. All the teams bussed in from the town of Foz do Iguaçu, about a 20 minute ride. Last year’s hosts, New Zealand, and this year’s hosts, Brazil, are building on their friendships that started at the last World
- [Brazil leads the first day of the R4 Rafting World Championship](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/brazil-leads-the-first-day-of-the-r4-rafting-world-championship/) - Brazilian athletes feature strongly in the Sprint and Head to Head, both held today on Itaipu Channel, Foz do Iguaçu (PR) On this first day of competition in the R4 Rafting World Championship 2014 in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, there are 13 countries in Youth (Under 19) and Junior (U23), Male and Female, on the
- [Slalom Day for U19 and U23 at the WRC](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/slalom-day-for-u19-and-u23-at-the-wrc/) - Today on the Itaipu Channel, Foz do Iguaçu, the Brazilians took the title of Slalom Champions in the men’s categories of Under-19 and Under-23 and the women’s Under-19. Tomorrow (12th) happens in the Iguaçu National Park and it is the last and decisive discipline (Downriver) which will define the new world champions in the categories
- [Junior World Champions are declared!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/junior-world-champions-are-declared/) - Today in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, the R4 World Rafting Championship in the Under 19 and Under 23 categories concluded with Brazilian teams dominating by taking the title in three of the four categories: Under-19 and Under-23 Men's and Under 23 Women’s. It was a very early start for the athletes today as they headed
- [Open and Masters World Rafting Champs begin in Brazil](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/open-and-masters-world-rafting-champs-begin-in-brazil/) - The IRF 2014 R4 World Rafting Championships has moved into its second phase now which is the Open and Masters divisions. The past two days the teams had a chance to paddle on the Itaipu Canal where they familiarized themselves with the Sprint, H2H and Slalom track. The second day of training the water was
- [Japan, Slovakia and Czech Republic come out on top in the World Rafting Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/japan-slovakia-and-czech-republic-come-out-on-top-in-the-world-rafting-champs/) - Today in Foz do Iguaçu, the Open and Masters competition started at the R4 Rafting World Championship 2014 with the Sprint. With over 30 degrees of temperature, rafters from 14 countries competed in the Sprint on this Thursday afternoon, the Sprint on the Itaipu Channel. In the Open Men, Japan, the defending world champions, showed
- [Brazilians dominate the H2H today](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/brazilians-dominate-the-h2h-today/) - With the temperature around a hot and sweaty 40 degrees, the teams competed on the Itaipu Channel, Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, in the H2H discipline of the R4 Rafting World Championship 2014 Open and Masters. Brazil took a clean sweep of old the gold medals on offer - Open Men, Open Women and Masters Men.
- [Brazil dominates the World Rafting Championship](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/brazil-dominates-the-world-rafting-championship/) - The Brazil teams have scooped up the Open Men’s, Open Women’s and Masters Men’s title at the World Rafting Champs in Foz do Iguaçu. Brazil. Photos: Nilton Rolin / Itaipu and Rickardo Andrade The 2014 R4 Championships have ended after gathering the best in the world, from 19 countries, for two weeks of competition. Last
- [Himalayan White Water Festival](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/10/himalayan-white-water-festival/) - This is the 4th year for this festival which is growing every year as it gets better known and as it offers more to the participants. Dates: 24 - 26 November Location: Trishuli, Fishling, Nepal Info: www.facebook.com/nkcwhitewaterfest Prizes to be won! This year the event will be covered by various media from around the world such
- [PRO Rafting Team Costa Rica](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/11/pro-rafting-team-costa-rica/) - When a team that is only assembled four months before the World Rafting Championships wins their national champs and then goes on to the World Champs in Brazil and wins third place in the slalom, beating defending champions Japan, it leaves you speechless and asking yourself what kind of extraordinary talent is working here?! We
- [Photo memories from 2013 World Championships ...](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/01/wrc2013_photo_book/) - Garrick Cameron, one of the official photographers at the event, has put together a coffee table book of the 2013 World Rafting Champs in New Zealand - 127 pages of beautiful photos! This is a great way to keep the memory of that awesome trip alive forever. Or would make a great present for one of your
- [Climate change affects 2014 Euro Cup Series](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/01/climate-change-affects-2014-euro-cup-series/) - It is time to summarize the results of the Euro Cup competition for 2014. Mother Nature showed us her teeth during the year, with floods and droughts, causing some events to be cancelled and others postponed. This affected many teams' plans to attend events and may be the reason we had so few teams qualifying
- [EC R6 Struma River​ 2015​, Bulgaria](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/04/ec-r6-struma-river​-2015​-bulgaria/) - It's so good to be back on the river Struma again. My first impression and my first serious swim was great, back in 2008. Now the river Struma is even faster than before due to higher water. I've enjoyed my ride again and was not disappointed, it’s been even better. Big water and high speeds
- [EC R4 Wildalpen Austria 2015](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/04/ec-r4-wildalpen-austria-2015/) - ​Firstly I want to leave a tribute to all the contestants on their endurance through the very harsh weather we had at the event. It is amazing to watch them put their hearts out there even in those conditions. Being in it they cannot see it themselves, so it is my job to tell them
- [Ergometer Competition at Euro Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/05/ergometer-competition-at-euro-champs/) - The Serbian Rafting Federation are taking their Ergometers over to the Euro Rafting Champs in BiH to set up a fun competition. So all properly registered competitors at the Euro Championship in Banja Luka are invited to compete in this event that will be held for the first time within the Euro Championship. This will
- [Euro Rafting Champs about to start!!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/05/euro-rafting-champs-about-to-start/) - The 2015 R6 Euro Rafting Champs are about to get under way in Banja Luka, Bosnia y Herzegovina, on the Vrbas River. The event, hosted by Kanjon Rafting Klub, is in the same location and run by the same organisers as the very successful 2009 World Champs. The schedule: Starts on Tuesday the 19th with
- [Russia win 8 medals on day 1 and more on day 2 ...](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/05/russians-win-8-medals-on-1st-day-of-erc/) - The first day of the Euro Rafting Champs saw the U19, U23 and Masters teams competing in Sprint and Head 2 Head. The Sprint and Head to Head course makes for great photos and videos as the rafts have to go through two big wave hits and down into some strongly swirling water that can
- [Euro Champs - report 1](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/05/euro-champs-report-1/) - ERC R6 2015 is behind us. It was a fantastic week dotted with sun, rain, joy, disappointment, successes, training, surprises, competitions, parties and more. 16 countries and 51 teams competed in the U19, U23, Masters and Open divisions. Slightly disappointing was the decrease in the number of women's teams this year. Some of the Russian
- [Euro Champs - conclusion](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/05/euro-champs-conclusion/) - What a relief when the third day of competition started with sunshine. This third day was reserved for Slalom. The teams had the morning off as the Slalom was to be late afternoon/ evening under lights! So enough time to rest and prepare for this physically and technically difficult discipline. There were 14 gates, 6
- [ERC 2015 Photos, Videos and Results](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/05/erc-2015-vid-res-phot/) - Results: Open U19 U23 Masters Daily Reports: Rafting Klub Kanjon.com Russians win 8 medals on 1st day of ERC, Euro Champs - Report-1 Euro Champs - Conclusion Race videos: Official Practise day by IRF Opening Ceremony by IRF Opening Ceremony by Radiokanjon Banjaluka U19, U23 and Masters Sprint and H2H by IRF U19, U23 and Masters Sprint and
- [China R2 2015 - Stop 1 is Yichang](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/06/china-r2-2015-stop-1-is-yichang/) - As in the past few years, this year will once again see the unusual competition of the R2 in China. R2 races are not common in the IRF. This year there will be two races: Stop 1 - Yichang City and Stop 2 - Dujiangyan City. Teams from all over the world are signing up
- [Open Letter from Russian Team to all Women's Masters Teams](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/06/open-letter-from-russian-team-to-all-womens-masters-teams/) - Dear Women Master Rafters At the recently completed 2015 Euro Rafting Champs in BiH, after travelling 7000kms, we were faced with the unpleasant fact that we were the ONLY Open Women's Masters team! It would have been stupid to withdraw from the competition so we competed in the men's category. Why ?! Where are all the
- [Big thank you to Alex and BiH!](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/06/big-thank-you-to-alex-and-bih/) - The IRF would like to thank Alex, the Kayak, Canoe and Rafting Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Goran Lolic and his team of Judges and the entire R6 ERC organising crew for putting on an excellent IRF R6 Euro Rafting Championship. The event ran very efficiently and from the competitors perspective it was a well-run
- [R2 in China - Race 2 - Dujiangyan](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/06/r2-in-china-race-2-dujiangyan/) - Chinese Extreme Sports Association have once again invited teams from around the world to compete on the rivers of China. One team of two crew each have been chosen from Canada, Indonesia, Serbia, Switzerland and Turkey, to compete and represent their countries, on the Stop2 - Dijuang R2 rafting competition. I had the privilege of reporting from the competition
- [Storm in Turkey - EC R4 2015](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/06/storm-in-turkey-ec-r4-2015/) - The EC R4 contest in Turkey took place on the Firtina River and "firtina" in Turkish means storm. Yes, the river justifies its name. Surrounded by mountains, where tea is grown (harvested three times a year), this area is known for the cultivation of sweet corn and kiwis. The area along the river is inhabited
- [EC Trnavka - an action packed weekend](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/06/ec-trnavka-an-action-packed-weekend/) - This past weekend in the Czech Rep it was the Euro Cup Trnavka race as well as the Czech Republic Championship, both R4 and both slalom and sprint. Plus it was the Gumotex Baraka Cup R2 in slalom. The Euro Cup saw 29 Men's teams, 4 Women's teams and 7 Masters teams. R2 saw 15 teams. The
- [Japan announced as 2017 World Rafting Champs hosts](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/06/japan-announced-as-2017-world-rafting-champs-hosts/) - This past weekend the Japanese National Champs were held and at the conclusion of the event the IRF President, Joe Willie Jones, was proud to announce that Japan's bid to hold the 2017 World Rafting Champs has been successful. Japan produces some of the top teams in the rafting world arena and so it is
- [EC Turkey - put it on your bucket list](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/06/ec-turkey-put-it-on-your-bucket-list/) - We have already introduced you to the Firtina River and the first day of competition of the EC Turkey. Now we follow the Slalom and Downriver action. The river dropped overnight, making the course more difficult. The teams scattered around the track, looking at the 14 gates, of which 5 were upstream. As usual, everything
- [Czech Masters Women make a plea too!](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/06/czech-masters-women-make-a-plea-too/) - Dear Ladies, Let me stress that it’s really difficult to get together a team of ladies over 40 who would be willing and would be able to leave their kids and partners for two weeks, cover all costs and join a World Rafting Champs organized on the other side of the World. Last time we
- [Training with the Maidens of the Arctic](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/07/training-with-the-maidens-of-the-arctic/) - During the summer period each year the Suomi Cup attracts teams, mainly from the Arctic region of Northern Finland, to enjoy a race series throughout the short summer. The series of races are normally dominated by 2 teams, the mens team from the town of Muonio and the ladies Routa rafting team from Rovaniemi. Routa
- [China R2 - Impressions from the 2015 competitions](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/07/china-r2-2015/) - This year a few lucky teams from around the world were invited to travel to China to race in two R2 competitions. The competitions were held on the same rivers as last year, but this time they were separated into two events instead of just one. I was fortunate to be invited to Stop 2
- [EC R6 Italy - Paddling in the valley of castles](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/08/ec-r6-italy-paddling-in-the-valley-of-castles/) - Aosta valley in Italy is a small paradise. The many castles on the slopes of the Alpine mountains, small villages and narrow streets are divine. The river Dora Baltea flows through the valley and is fantastic. And so, at last, we had an EC in Italy! This event was also part of the national series
- [A view of WRC R6 Indonesia ](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/09/a-view-of-wrc-r6-indonesia/) - We're going to bring you some articles about Indonesia, to get you into the right frame of mind for the WRC which is being held there at the end of November. First we'll deal with the river and the environment, and next time it will be what to eat, what to drink, what to see
- [Final overall results of R6 Euro Cup 2015](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/09/final-r6-euro-cup-2015/) - A fantastic number of 58 teams took part in the R6 EC competition this year. This was 41 men's and 17 women's teams. Four R6 Euro Cups were held (Bulgaria, Serbia, Italy and Czech). Sadly three were cancelled: Slovenia due to high water, France and Germany due to lack of teams (definitely need to get the
- [WRC R6 2015 - Australian Open Men's team](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/09/wrc-r6-2015-australian-open-mens-team-2/) - Kris Kingston, Dave Berry, Brenton Morehead, Kye Berry, Denniss Fay, Tarrent Green and Wagner Torress will be defending the colours of Australia in their neighbouring Indonesia this year at the 2015 IRF World Rafting Champs. With the aim to make you better acquainted with the teams that are coming to the WRC R6 2015 we contacted Kris Kingston, captain and the coach
- [Dajak Klub - World Rafting Champs, Indonesia](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/08/dajak-klub-wrc15/) - (Interview in English) Pre početka WRC R6 Novi Zeland 2013 razgovarali smo sa BiH Open Men timom sa ciljem da ih upoznamo i predstavimo ih vama. Ove godine momci su se plasirali za odlazak na WRC R6 Indonezija 2015 i mi ćemo ponovo kratko popričati sa njima šta ima novo i šta se dešavalo u međuvremenu,
- [Brasil Open Men (in Portuguese)](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/08/brasil-open-men-in-portuguese/) - (Rea the article in English) Esta equipa não precisa de introdução. Não só eles são os campeões de rafting mundo R4 e R6, não tem havido uma Rafting Champs Mundo, onde não subiu ao pódio uma vez que primeiro começou a competir. Eles irradiam essa energia positiva que ele é simplesmente viciante. Seu amor de
- [Last year's surprises in Brazil!](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/10/last-years-surprises-in-brazil/) - So it's a year since we were heading to Brazil for the 2014 World Rafting Champs. Thinking back on it there were a few surprises on that trip! Rodents the size of large dogs! The Capybara could often be seen snuffling around on open fields. No one was allowed to stand around with shirts off
- [What to see in Indonesia](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/09/what-to-see-in-indonesia/) - 17.000 islands make up the archipelago of the Republic of Indonesia. In whichever direction you go, you will not go wrong. This paradise on earth will win the hearts of each of you. We hope that you have enough free time that you can see as much as possible. Prepare your bag and experience the
- [Dajak team to fly BiH flag at WRC](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/09/dajak-team-wrc15-e/) - (Intervju na Srpski jezik) Before the start of WRC R6 New Zealand 2013 we introduced you to the BIH Open Men's team. This year the boys have qualified to go to WRC R6 Indonesia 2015 and we will have a quick word with them again to see what's new and what has happened in the
- [Brasil Open Men - defending champions](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/09/brasil-open-men-defending-champions/) - (Leia o artigo em Português) This team needs no introduction. Not only are they the R4 and R6 World Rafting Champions, there has not been a World Rafting Champs where they have not climbed onto the podium since they first started competing. They radiate such positive energy that it is simply addictive. Their love of
- [RIP Fernanda](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/09/rip-fernanda/) - On Sunday, 13 September, we received the sad news that Fernanda Caroline Cardias, a competitor in the Brazilian U23 and Open Women's rafting team, died after major surgery to remove a tumour which was diagnosed only a few days before when she suddenly fainted. She was only 19. Fernanda was a successful athlete who participated
- [Costa Rica Open men's team](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/10/costa-rica-open-mens-team/) - Since 2003 (R6 WRC in Czech), this R6 team has only missed WRC 2007. The team now consists of eight members: Manuel Segura Amador , Bustos Marlon Araya , Juan Carlos Loaiza Jimenez , Walter Alvarado , Davis Oviedo Ortega , Daniel Bustos Araya Araya , Pablo Leiva and Walter Centeno Brenes. Being successful in going to the
- [Final overall results of R4 Euro Cup 2015](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/10/final-overall-results-of-r4-euro-cup-2015/) - EC season has officially finished with the last R4 race on the Tacen artificial course in Slovenia. An incredible 101 teams took part in this season's R4 series. This was made up of 76 men’s and 25 women’s teams. Four R4 Euro Cups were held: Austria, Turkey, Czech Republic and Slovenia. Two R4 EC were
- [What to eat and drink - Indonesia](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/10/what-to-eat-and-drink-indonesia/) - Some rate Indonesian cuisine as one of the top 10 in the world: "Indonesian cuisine is perhaps one of the most diverse in the world. It's appreciated all over and has been influenced by India, Spain, Middle-East, China, Portugal and Japan. This ethnic diversity is clearly reflected in the kind of food the Indonesian people
- [Slovakia Master's Men - Ready for Medals](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/10/wrc-r6-2015-svk-mm-ready-for-medals/) - Who is in the Slovakian Master's Men's team? Where do they train? What were the worst and best moments that have ever happened to them? What are their expectations for WRC R6 Indonesia? Here are their answers and more .... “Who are we? We are men's rafting team - RK Fortuna Bratislava. The Club was
- [Meet the Argentinian Open Women's team](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/10/meet-the-argentinian-open-womens-team/) - Florencia Moreno, Carolina Irustra Magni, Valentina Castro, Veronica Quilaquir, Zilvina Zarte, Mickaela Romero and Rebeca Lorca are the girls who will defend the blue and white colours of Argentina in the R6 World Rafting Champs this year. This team consists of girls who were originally from different teams in Argentina. They gathered last year with the
- [Pura Vida! Say the Masters Men of Costa Rica](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/10/pura-vida-say-the-masters-men-of-costa-rica/) - Before the start of WRC R6 2013 New Zealand, we talked with this team - Masters of Costa Rica. They returned home from that competition with the bronze medal in H2H. Congratulations to them on that great success. Their new goal is participating in WRC R6 in Indonesia and so we chat to Rafael Gallo again to
- [WRC 2016 - Wadi Adventures, Al Ain](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/11/wrc-2016-wadi-adventures-al-ain/) - The IRF is very pleased to announce that the 2016 R4 World Rafting Champs will be held at the artificial course, Wadi Adventures in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates! The IRF have teamed up with Wadi Adventures to ensure a world class event can be held in this new and interesting location. The dates will
- [Netherland Ladies - coming to WRC 2015!](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/11/netherland-ladies-coming-to-wrc-2015/) - Woo-hoo-hoo, the Netherland girls are coming to the 2015 WRC!! We missed them in Bosnia at the Euro Championship, that's for sure. What a group of happy, smiling, lovely girls. I was lucky to hang out with them this year on several occasions, and so can you now in Indonesia. ;) We talked with them
- [GBR Master Men 2015](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/11/gbr-master-men-2015/) - We wrote about these guys before they went to 2013 WRC in NZ and then again before the 2014 ERC in Slovakia, and here we are again chatting to Richard Procter before they head off to the WRC in Indonesia. I was lucky enough to meet with them this year and look forward to seeing them again. Those
- [Last year's U19 Women's champions on WRC2015](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/11/last-years-u19-womens-champions-on-wrc2015/) - The Australian U19 Women, who are the R4 World Champions, are ready for the R6 challenge. “The team that deserves a big mention is the new U19 Women’s R4 World Rafting Champions – Australia. This team managed to keep Brazil from making it a clean sweep of the top podium position. They've had a hard journey to
- [USA Open Men 2015](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/11/usa-open-men-2016/) - The United States national rafting team, composed of: John Mark Seelig (captain and back left), Seth Mason (back right), Matt Norfleet (middle left), Kurt Kincel (middle right), Rob Prechtl (front left), Jeremiah Williams (front right), will compete this year at the R6 World Rafting Championship, Indonesia in the Men's Open category. They will be fighting for
- [Italy Open Women 2015 - the cream of the crop](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/11/italy-open-women-2015/) - Bella Italia, belle ragazze - Caroline Goodall, Marianna Tedeschi, Alessandra Massimino, Clara Ganora, Jasmine Zurlini Frugis, Elena Bragastini and Francesca Leonardi are coming to Indonesia for the World Rafting Championship to cross their paddles with the 15 other women's teams. They will represent Italy in the Open division. We are used to seeing a team from one
- [Born with a paddle](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/11/born-with-a-paddle/) - Overall World Champions in Costa Rica in 2011, overall European Champions in 2012, runner up World Champions in New Zealand in 2013 and at R4 WRC in Brasil 2014 - Katerina Vacikova, Michaela Kratochvilova, Zuzana Valtrova, Lenka Lagnerova Vandasova, Hana Kankovska, Pavla Prochazkova make up this Open Women's team that will be paddling with the
- [French Open Men’s Rafting Team coming to WRC R6 2015](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/11/french-open-mens-rafting-team-coming-to-wrc-r6-2015/) - After WRC R6 Costa Rica and New Zealand, the French Open Men's next WRC participation will be at the R6 WRC in Indonesia. It will be great to hang out with them again at the WRC competition, and certainly interesting, because among their team members is one lady. Kevin Mouillade introduces us to his FRA
- [Meet the 2015 Danish Open Men's crew](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/11/meet-the-2015-danish-open-mens-crew/) - 21 teams this year will take part in Open Men’s division at the WRC R6 Indonesia, and we are glad that among them is again the Danish Men's National team. [vimeo 109925498 w=500&h=280] Three years have gone by since our interview with them about the Copenhagen artificial course and their participation in the ERC in Czech Rep in
- [From Siberia to Indonesia - Russian U19 Men's team](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/11/from-siberia-to-indonesia-russian-u19-mens-team/) - The colours of Russia, in the U19 division, will be defended by: Vladimir Kozich - team captain, Dmitry Zubov, Eugene Morotsky, Kirill Belkin, Pavel Melnikov, Alexander Melnikov and Alexey Ershov, guided by coach - Alexei Shirokov. The “Tomsk Odyssey” team has achieved excellent results in the European and World Championships in recent years: World Championship
- [Costa Rica Open Women are in Indonesia](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/11/costa-rica-open-women-are-in-indonesia/) - Laura Delgado, Gabriela Rodríguez, Melida Barbee, Johana Arguello, Marianela Castro and Carol Vargas (captain) with Coach: Alexander Segura, represent Costa Rica this year at the WRC R6 in the Women's Open category. They will, with the other 15 teams, fight for a title in the Sprint, H2H, Slalom, Downriver and Overall placement. The best female
- [2015 World Rafting Champs opens!](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/11/2015-world-rafting-champs-opens/) - The International Rafting Federation's 2015 World Rafting Champs, Indonesia, were officially opened by Pelabuhan Ratu Indonesia Marine Commander, Major Jenderal (Mar) Buyung Lalana, in the city of Pelabuhan Ratu, Sukabumi District, West Java, Monday morning. Around 592 rafters and officials marched into the city courtyard. The ceremony, which lasted about 90 minutes, in the very
- [Indonesia comes shining through on day one](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/12/indonesia-comes-shining-through-on-day-one/) - The first day of racing for the U19 and U23 rafting teams saw Indonesia winning medals in every category, a very impressive achievement. The first discipline, Sprint, which is a hard race for the teams against the clock, brought in Gold medals for Brazil in the U23 Men's and Women's category. Indonesia took the Gold
- [New Zealand Master’s Men’s Rafting Team](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/12/new-zealand-masters-mens-rafting-team/) - TEAM PROFILE The New Zealand Master Men’s Rafting Team were the world champions in 2013 when the competition was held in New Zealand. Although none of the team have been to Indonesia before, they’re a strong and solid team who make no apologies about aiming for top place again. The team have been together and
- [Start of races for Open and Masters](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/12/start-races-om/) - An early rise for all as the organisers hope to be finished before the afternoon rains fall and affect the river levels, giving an advantage to the teams starting later. The teams get a chance to inspect the course from the banks before they head upstream to get into their rafts. The advantage of being
- [A few upsets in the Head to Head](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/12/om-h2h/) - Sukabumi, December 4th, 2015 –After concluding the Sprint races on the second day of the WRC 2015 (December 2nd), today followed the Head to Head (H2H) of the Open and Master Division. H2H consist of two boats racing each other to compete for the best time in reaching the finish line. Starting from Nusa and
- [New Zealand scoop up Slalom medals in all categories](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/12/om-slalom/) - All the teams say they love Slalom. It is the most challenging of the disciplines, demanding team work, water reading skilsl as well as stamina and endurance. Getting one’s six paddlers working well together gives them enormous satisfaction, even if they don’t win medals. The course was excellent with great challenges – the most notable
- [Downriver claimed by Czechs and New Zealand](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/12/downriver-wrc-2015/) - The Downriver was a gruelling 14kms of rapids and rocks. They decided on sailing starts, meaning the rafts were free to move around above the finish line until the gun went. This did result in a few false starts and penalties, but none of these made a difference in the end. The first team across
- [Wrapping up WRC 2015](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/12/wrapping-up-wrc-2015/) - Bali must be wondering about the sudden influx of fit looking athletes, some with funny tans, many wearing T-shirts proclaiming WRC 2015 Indonesia! As we all come down off the high of another WRC we can look back at a great event held on the Citarik River. For many it started with a feeling of
- [Wadi Adventures - WRC 2016 location](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/12/wadi-adventures-wrc-2016-location/) - Here is a great promo video to give you a taste of what Wadi Adventures is and what it looks like .... . Can't wait to get there!
- [U23 age group to stay!](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/01/u23-age-group-to-stay/) - The 2015 IRF Congress re-instates the U23 division for the next four years. The original reason for dropping the U23 age group was that our member organisations and event organisers had been appealing to us to reduce the number of divisions as they felt four was too many to support financially. So in 2014, at
- [Calling all IRF GT&E Instructors and Assessors!!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/02/gte-conference-2015/) - There is to be a GT&E Conference aimed at getting as many Instructors and Assessors together in one place. Key details you need to know now: Dates: 19 - 21 April 2016 Location: Wildalpen, Austria The Conference has been called for a number of reasons: The recent rapid growth of the IRF GT&E Scheme Changes
- [Who are the defending R4 Euro Champions?](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/02/who-are-the-defending-r4-euro-champions/) - ​And here we are again, two years after the last R4 Euro Rafting Champs which was in Cunovo, Slovakia. Teams are gearing up once again to compete for the title of the best teams in Europe. They'll be facing each other in Straža, Slovenia from the 16 to 25 May 2016 where they will paddle Sprint, H2H
- [Pre-Worlds in Japan this year](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/02/pre-worlds-in-japan-this-year/) - The Dates have been set for the Pre-Worlds in Japan this year, in preparation for the 2017 WRC that will be held there next year. This event will also be part of the World Cup series (there will probably be two other World Cup events in the series - details soon.) Dates: 7 - 10
- [ERC 2016 in S~LOVE~nia](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/03/erc-2016-in-slovenia/) - Wherever we travel it is always good to be familiar with the host country. This time, the occasion is the ERC R4 2016, and Slovenia is the country we will become familiar with. Slovenia is a central European country with two million inhabitants and the capital city is Ljubljana. Its neighbours are Italy, Austria, Hungary
- [Straža - host city of ERC R4 2016](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/03/straza-host-city-of-erc-r4-2016/) - If you've ever wondered where Rafting Club "GIMPEX" are based and where they practice so as to achieve such good results at races in Europe and the World, you will have the opportunity to see during the Euro Rafting Champs this year because it is based in their home town of Straža. Hence Rafting Club
- [Euro Cups - they are open for all international teams!!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/03/euro-cups-they-are-open-for-all-teams/) - Have I ever mentioned how lucky we Europeans are because we have the Euro Cup series and the Euro Rafting Champs each year to attend? Yes I have, I'm sure, probably many, many times. But it is a fact that we are very proud of. But do you know you do not have to live
- [World Cup series - 2016](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/03/world-cup-series-2016/) - Just as there is a Euro Cup series, we also hold a similar series at a World level. Any teams who attended two or more of the World Cup events have their points totalled up to find the World Cup series Champions each year. So far we've never had any one team attend two events
- [World and Euro Cup Wildalpen 2016!](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/04/world-and-euro-cup-wildalpen-2016/) - I had the pleasure of once again attending the EC R4 in Wildalpen, Austria, on the Salza River. This year the event was also a World Cup Series event as well. Wildalpen hosted 30 teams in the men's and 13 in the women's competition, as well as 3 teams in the U19 men's category,. The organisers
- [Haraz Rafting Festival - Iran](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/05/haraz-rafting-festival-iran/) - The Iran Rafting Association is launching a great initiative in the form of a Rafting Festival. The festival will be held from the 17 to 22 May on the Haraz River in the Mazandaran Province. The main aims of the Festival are: To promote River Ecotourism and Safe and Standard Recreational Rafting in Iran To develop
- [Whitewater Rescue Challenge 2016: Day 2](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/05/whitewater-rescue-challenge-2016-day-2/) - If we thought that the first day of the White Water Rescue Challenge (WWRC) was cold, we were quickly corrected as Day 2 dawned with the icy, snowy conditions. With so many competitors knowing what a good challenge the first day was, it was expected that no one would give up despite the crazy weather conditions,
- [Whitewater Rescue Challenge 2016: Day 1](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/05/wwrc-2016-day-1/) - This is the first time we have had someone attending the Whitewater Rescue Challenge (WWRC) so as to report back to us from this fantastic competition. The location of the challenge is the same as the course for the EC R4 Wildalpen, and the organizers are Gaspar Goncz of Whitewater Training Center - WWTC, Neil Newton Taylor
- [China invites you to their World Cup series event](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/05/china-invite/) - The Chinese Extreme Sports Association (CESA) and the City of Yushu in Qinghai Province invite all international teams to the Yushu City World Cup Series event. Dates: 16 - 22 July Categories: R4 Open Men and Women Schedule: 16 July: Registration & Check in (teams & officials) 17 and 18 July: Adjustment & Training runs 19
- [Teams are invited to the 4th Kashmir Cup, India](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/05/teams-are-invited-to-the-4th-kashmir-cup-india/) - The 4th Kashmir Cup is to be held on the Sindh River in Sonamarg in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in India. This event is being run by J&K Tourism and the Whitewater Rafting Association of J&K. 5 international teams can benefit from travel subsidies from the organisers. Details: Dates: 4th – 10th August,
- [Great Britain walk away with three Golds!](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/05/great-britain-triple-gold/) - It was a good day for Great Britain at the Euro Rafting Champs today. Today was Sprint and H2H for the Open teams. The GBR 1 and 2 Open Women's teams won Gold and Silver in the Sprint and the GBR 1 team won Gold in the H2H. In the Open Men's GBR 2 took
- [Day 3 of the Euro Rafting Champs about to begin](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/05/day-3-of-the-euro-rafting-champs-about-to-begin/) - The Euro Rafting Champs is about to enter it's 3rd day which will be a day of Slalom for all divisions (U19, U23, Masters and Open). WATCH LIVE or follow LIVE RESULTS Sunday saw many teams doing some unofficial training and, due to heavy rains that had fallen, the teams were enjoying a pumping river
- [A day of tricky Slalom at ERC](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/05/a-day-of-tricky-slalom-at-erc/) - The CZE 1 Open Men's team have proven themselves masters of slalom. Their first run was a clear run AND the second fastest of the day (159.98). Their second run was the fastest of the day (158.54) with only a 5 sec penalty! An excellent performance. It was a hard course with the lowest penalty
- [Downriver and new Euro Champions declared!](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/05/downriver-and-new-euro-champions-declared/) - The final day of the 2016 Euro Rafting Champs in Slovenia has drawn to a close with the Downriver as the defining discipline. The Downriver was held on the Krka River from Zagradec to Šmihel and took the top teams just over 32 minutes to complete. As the Downriver has the most points it is vital
- [Euro Rafting Champs winding up](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/05/euro-rafting-champs-winding-up/) - The 2016 Euro Champs have finished and most teams are home again and back into their daily grinds. (Some have delayed that by going on to the Euro Cup in Georgia - lucky ones!). Russia certainly dominated this Euro Championship as they came away as the new Euro Rafting Champions in U19 Men and Women,
- [International Cultural and Recreational Forum](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/06/13110/) - Russian Federation International Cultural and Recreational Forum «Whitewater of Siberia - 2016» Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Cultural Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) has the honor to announce a Contest “Whitewater of Siberia 2016” and invite 30 winners to take part in International Cultural and Recreational Forum “Whitewater
- [EC R4 Noguera Pallaresa, Rialp/Sort 2016](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/06/ec-r4-noguera-pallaresa-rialpsort-2016/) - I was located in a small paradise called Casa Canelo in the magical Pyrenees, above the beautiful river Noguera Pallaresa on which the first EC in Spain was being held. The small village of Rialp was the host of this competition. The R4 category event attracted teams from GBR, NED, SPA and mixed BEL/NED team. This
- [Italy U19 Men - road to WRC 2016](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/07/italy-u19-men-road-to-wrc-2016/) - As we approach another World Rafting Championship, this time R4 in the UAE, so we begin presenting teams that will be participating there. It is two years since the last R4 WRC in Brazil and some new faces are on the scene, especially in the younger categories. Damiano Casazza, Mark Michael Mair, Michael Zanella, David Fassnauer
- [Team Bober - the legends](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/07/team-bober-the-legends/) - At the 2016 ERC the unimaginable happened - "Bober" (SLO) rafting team returned to the competitive rafting scene!!! Not only did many of my wishes become realities because of this, but I also had the privilege to interview and find out more about this amazing team. The crew of: Jani Plestenjak, Borut Holy, Matej Hočevar,
- [Yushu, a special place to hold a World Cup](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/08/yushu-a-special-place-to-hold-a-world-cup/) - Yushu City is in the centre of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with a population of about 111,200 and has an average elevation of 4,493 meters. It experienced a devastating earthquake in 2010 when the majority of the city's buildings were damaged beyond repair and many, many lives were lost. It has been the focus of rebuilding since
- [Argentina sending its Open Women to WRC 2016](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/08/argentina-sending-its-open-women-to-wrc-2016/) - The honour of representing Argentina in the Open Women's category at the IRF 2016 World Rafting Champs in Al Ain, UAE, at the end of October this year goes to: Sofia Paso Viola, Denise Martinez, Valeria Cobos and Cris Anello. But this success was also due to their coaching staff: Matias Lopez, Marcelo Ruiz, Ariel Dominguez; and trainer:
- [EC R6 Italy 2016 - Swimming season](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/08/ec-r6-italy-2016-swimming-season/) - This year, the EC R6 Italy, was held in the same place as last year, the beautiful valley of the castles called the Aosta Valley, on the beautiful Dora Baltea river. Slalom was on the part of the Dora called the Ivrea artificial course. Since the competition began with the Slalom our report begins from there.
- [Japan Pre-Worlds and World Cup final event in early October](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/08/japan-pre-worlds-and-world-cup-final-event-in-early-october/) - Japan are holding the Pre-Worlds as a test event for hosting the 2017 IRF R6 World Rafting Champs from the 7 to 10 October 2016. This event will also be the third and final event in the World Cup series. Here is the promo video for the 2017 WRC in Japan - a great taste
- [Romania's Outdoor Events Ladies Team](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/08/romanias-outdoor-events-ladies-team/) - A real refreshment in the Euro Cup series this year has been the Romanian Open Women's team. They took part for the first time at the R6 European Championship 2015 held in Banja Luka, Bosnia, with a mixed team of four men and two women. It was the starting point of an idea that has
- [Bozo D' Água - Brasil's Open Men's Rafting Team](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/09/bozo-d-agua-brasils-open-mens-rafting-team/) - This is such a famous team that they do not need a special introduction. (Previous interview with them in Portuguese), and now we are interested in their departure to the WRC R4 2016 where they are the defending champions in the Open Men's category. Here they are in action at the R6 WRC in 2013:
- [Competition under the Milky Way - Russian National Champs R4/6](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/09/competition-under-the-milky-way-russian-national-champs-r46/) - I was so delighted to be given the opportunity to attend the Russian national competitions. And although I only attended the Sprint and the beginning of the H2H, the very fact that I was there was a dream come true for me. Due to the language barrier and that the Russian teams are not so active
- [White Waters Of Siberia Forum 2016](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/09/wwos-forum-2016/) - We all gathered for the beginning of the ten-day WWOTS Forum adventure in the city of Tomsk, Russia. The participants came from far and wide. On the first day we settled into the hotel and then had introductions with the organisers and sponsors of the Forum, as well as the presentation of each participant individually
- [Euro Cup 2016 winners](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/09/euro-cup-2016-winners/) - Another fantastic EC season is behind us, so let's see how it all went, where we competed, how many teams participated, who was the best …. For EC 2016 we had 13 competitions in total, and the season began on 19 March this year, with a competition at Tacen in Slovenia, then followed by Croatia,
- [First time for USA Master's Men](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/09/first-time-for-usa-masters-men/) - The Masters division at the 2016 WRC R4 in the UAE will be the biggest yet, with 11 men's teams and 8 women's teams. I've always seen the Master's category as the one to enjoy, but these men are taking it very seriously. The USA will cross their paddles and measure their strength for the
- [Teams coming to the 2016 WRC in Al Ain](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/teams-coming-to-the-2016-wrc-in-al-ain/) - With team entries now officially closed and at 85 teams coming we can see that this is the largest number of teams we've ever had attending a World Rafting Champs. Last year was our previous largest at 71 and before that it was 63 in New Zealand (2013) and Netherlands (2010). Knowing that finances play
- [Turrialba represented at the 2016 WRC](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/turrialba-represented-at-the-2016-wrc/) - The Costa Rican Open Women's crew is composed of Marianela Castro - Captain, Cintya Escobar Valverde, Hannah Brown, Esther Mata, Melida Barbee with the Coach - Alexander Segura, and they will be representing Costa Rica at the up coming 2016 R4 WRC at Wadi Adventure, Al Ain, UAE. We chatted to Marianela to learn about their
- [Head Judge gives some wise tips ...](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/head-judge-gives-some-wise-tips/) - As we draw closer to World Rafting Champs 2016, we talked with the well known IRF Assessor Judge, Goran Lolić - Lola, who will be the Head Judge at this event. Lola passed the Judge exam run by Robert Kazik in 2006 in Banja Luka. Since then he has judged at 9 WRC, 7 ERC, 35 Euro Cup
- [Raft Cross race to be held during WRC 2016](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/raft-cross-race-to-be-held-during-wrc-2016/) - Always looking for new, fun ideas, the concept of Raft Cross has been around for a while - for example the Teva Mountain Games 2012. It is a concept used in a number of other sports, like Ice Cross, Kayak Slalom Cross, and was introduced to the GoPro Mountain Games held in Vail last year. It is
- [Euro Champs 2017](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/euro-champs-2017/) - We are delighted to announce the hosts for the 2017 Euro Rafting Champs will be the region of Borjomi in Georgia, on the Mtkvari River. A very successful Euro Cup was held in Georgia earlier this year and they were encouraged to put in a bid for the 2017 Euro Rafting Champs. After careful assessment and
- [World Cup 2016 Series finishes in Japan at the Pre-Worlds](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/world-cup-2017-series-finishes-in-japan-at-the-pre-worlds/) - There were three events in this year's World Cup Series - Austria, China and the last, just finished, in Japan. Japan Pre-Worlds and World Cup As the event was quite close to the 2016 World Rafting Champs not many international teams were able to attend the Pre-Worlds this year. One team that did was the
- [Germany back on the World rafting stage!](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/germany-back-world-rafting-stage/) - Germany has missed the last couple of WRC competitions, but now they are back and determined, with a new, young force that we will see at this year's World Rafting Champs. The new Open Men's squad includes Ludwig Wöhrl, Fabian Bär, Siegfried Beier, Jonas Hegge and Sebastian Bundt who will compete under the supervision of
- [Real female role models - USA Open Women's team](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/real-female-role-models-usa-open-womens-team/) - I know how much effort it takes to get a team to the IRF World Rafting Champs. So, Bre Rocksund (Captain) - Back Right, Julie Sutton - Back or Front Left, Rachel Day - Front Right, Meghan Robertson - Front Left, and Mia Carrasco-Songer - Alternate, are the true heroes and an example of perseverance
- [New Generation - Germany's U19 Men's team](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/new-generation-germanys-u19-mens-team-2/) - The feeling of going to a WRC competition out weighs the feeling of going to any other competition; and Jonas Hegge, Noah Brauneis, Noah Hegge, Sebastian Bundt with the help of the one and only Coach: Peter Micheler, will have the honour to compete under the German flag in the upcoming R4 World Rafting Championship
- [Home nation, UAE, cheers on their debuting National Rafting Team](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/11/home-nation-uae-cheers-on-their-debuing-national-rafting-team/) - Brazil, Russia, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Norway & Japan top in World Rafting Championship opener in Wadi Adventure UAE, November 2, 2016 - In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Muhammad bin Khalifa bin Sultan bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan, the first-ever UAE edition of the World Rafting Championship (WRC) went off to a great start
- [Organizers & spectators alike laud high level of competition](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/11/organizers-spectators-alike-laud-high-level-of-competition/) - Germany, Great Britain, Czech Republic, Brazil, and New Zealand dominated the slalom races held today as part of the ongoing 2016 World Rafting Championship running until November 5, 2015 at Wadi Adventure in Al Ain. The races ran from 8am until 1:30pm and pitted all 85 participating teams from 28 countries in the Under-19,
- [Open Slalom and Downriver U19 and U23 Women](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/11/open-slalom-and-downriver-u19-and-u23-women/) - What a day of racing! The Open teams had a challenging Slalom course, which, once again, some loved and some hated. Gate 13 proved unlucky for many. The course was designed to be a challenge even for the top teams, not just a speed test, but a river reading skills test - we are a
- [WRC 2016 draws to a close with the Downriver races](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/11/wrc-2016-draws-to-a-close-with-the-downriver-races/) - The morning started with a pleasant temperature which the U23 men were rather pleased about. They had 5 laps of the course to do and lower temperatures would make it more manageable. Russia took the lead from the start and kept stretching it. Brazil and Czech maintained their seconds and thirds respectively. Slovenia, who were
- [A new breeze blows through the WRC](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/11/a-new-breeze-blows-through-the-wrc/) - Yes, we didn’t feel that breeze at plus forty in the desert of UAE, but that freshness and the change of generations is visible on the podium of the 2016 World Rafting Championship. Our wonderful WRC gathering is behind us, and we are full of impressions, as always. There is no doubt that one of the
- [Argentina announced as hosts for the IRF 2018 World Rafting Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/01/argentina-announced-as-hosts-for-the-irf-2018-world-rafting-champs/) - The IRF is excited to announce that the 2018 WRC will be held on the Aluminé and Ruca Choroy Rivers in the Province of Neuquén, Argentina. The event will be based out of the towns of Aluminé and Villa Pehuenia which are located in Argentina Patagonia and in the "Corridor of lakes" which is a
- [Guilin World Cup, China 2017](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/04/guilin-world-cup-china-2017/) - After a very successful World Cup event in Yushu last year other cities in China have been keen to hold a World Cup as well. This time it is the city of Guilin that have successfully applied to hold the event: WHERE: Wupai River, Ziyuan County, Guilin City, Guangxi Province, China. (120km from
- [Three events in China to choose from](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/04/three-events-in-china-to-choose-from/) - Rafting in China has seen an explosion after the successful World Cup in Yushu last year. Here are three events coming up that you should make space for on your calendar! Dujiangyan World Rafting Grand Prix: 21 to 26 June 2017 Unfortunately, due to unexpected circumstances, this event is CANCELLED! Wubu Rafting Champs: 18 to 22
- [EC Wildalpen 2017 - snow, snow snow!](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/04/ec-wildalpen-2017-snow-snow-snow/) - Winter season .... ah, sorry ..... Euro Cup season has opened with the first competition in Wildalpen, Austria. Two days before the competition a metre of snow was ruthlessly falling in the competition area, leaving us with unprecedented snow levels for EC as well as very low temperatures and additional snow and rain falling, some
- [Outdoor and Whitewater Fest opens the rafting season in Bulgaria](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/05/outdoor-and-whitewater-fest-opens-the-rafting-season-in-bulgaria/) - There is no reason why the rafting season opening should be limited only to the rafting community. The Bulgarian rafting club Adventure net decided to orientate it to a broader public so they invited companies who deal with outdoor activities in general. Focusing on the concept of an open festival, they invited many outdoor and
- [Meet the SVK U23M team for ERC Georgia 2017](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/05/meet-the-svk-u19m-team-for-erc-georgia-2017/) - Branislav Linkay, Marek Švorc, Denis Antalík, Róbert Paál, Samuel Kováčik and Michal Kubrický make up this great, young, U23 team from Slovakia who will participate in the forthcoming European Rafting Championship (ERC) in Georgia. We asked each of them to answer some questions for us: Branislav Linkay How did you find yourself in rafting? - I
- [Safety Information for ERC 2017, Georgia](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/05/safety-information-for-erc-2017-georgia/) - ERC Georgia, May 22-28, 2017 Expected river flow 250 cms Hardest river rapid (s) class 4 Water temperature 15 Celsius degrees. Please dress accordingly. Air temperature 18-22 Celsius degrees Hazards to pay attention to: On land Road traffic in Georgia is generally fast, reckless to the western eye and potentially dangerous for pedestrians. As
- [ERC Nis 2017](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/05/erc-nis-2017/) - Euro Cup Nis was organized on the river Nisava, from May 12 through May 14. On this already familiar course there has been a World Cup in 2009 and 8 Euro Cups. In addition to the ideal, sunny and warm weather of 27o C, a sufficient amount of water was enabled by the hydro plant
- [Euro Rafting Champs 2017 gets under way in Georgia](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/05/euro-rafting-champs-2017-gets-under-way-in-georgia/) - Live Streaming of ERC 2017 here! The Under U19 and U23 rafters opened the first competing day of the European Rafting Championship today. Sprint and H2H races in rainy and cold weather could not dampen the excitement, fun of winning and results. Both race disciplines saw Turkey and Russia dominating the wins. U19 Women started
- [Golden day for Russia in Open and Masters](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/05/golden-day-for-russia-in-open-and-masters/) - The sunshine highlighted the beauty of the area where the Mtkvari races were being held. The day would see the European Open and Masters teams pitted against each other. First would be the Sprint which is a hard dash over a short distance. Based on those times the teams would race each other in a
- [Slalom day at the Euro Rafting Champs, Georgia](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/05/slalom-day-at-the-euro-rafting-champs-georgia/) - The Mtkvari River in the Borjomi Valley in Georgia is a large volume, fast flowing river. There are few obstacles at this water level and so the challenge is more dealing with the rapid current than negotiating a technical river. Although the slalom gates were often quite far apart they still presented a challenge as
- [The new Euro Rafting Champions are declared!](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/05/the-new-euro-rafting-champions-are-declared/) - The Downriver race is awarded the most points because it is a test of endurance, speed and the team’ s ability to read white water and pick the best line down the river. A top position can propel you into a much higher Overall position and hopefully even onto the Overall podium. But, in the
- [A highlights video of ERC 2017](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/05/a-highlights-video-of-erc-2017/) - Here is a highlights video covering the Sprint, H2H and some of the Slalom
- [Tully wins bid to host 2019 IRF World Rafting Championships](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/05/tully-wins-bid-to-host-2019-irf-world-rafting-championships/) - The International Rafting Federation is proud to announce that Australia has been selected to host the 2019 World Rafting Championships. The Championship will take place on the beautiful and challenging Tully River located in North Queensland within the Tully Gorge National Park - a UNESCO World Heritage Rainforest. President of the IRF, Joe Willis Jones
- [Big thank you to David and Georgia](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/06/big-thank-you-to-david-and-georgia/) - One more Euro Rafting Champ competition is behind us, Georgia has become part of our history now and it's time for us to gather impressions, mention some important details and say thank you to everyone who helped to organise it. From the 22 to 28 May in Borjomi, on the River Mtkvari, 44 teams from
- [WC/EC Branka Stulic Memorial event - 2017, Banja Luka](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/06/wcec-branka-stulic-memorial-event-2017-banja-luka/) - R6 World Cup and Euro Cup Branka Stulic Memorial event in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, was held from the 10 - 11 June on the river Vrbas which is a well known and beloved place for all of us. The organiser was Rafting Center Kanjon. Six countries, 11 teams, one of whom was female, gathered
- [EC Trnavka 2017](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/06/ec-trnavka-2017/) - And so after all these years of working as a reporter I finally found myself at the EC Trnavka. From the first information I got about this competition to the input from persons familiar with the course, I never doubted it was one of the most demanding EC competitions. The small stream of Trnavka, built
- [Guilin World Cup: 16 to 20 August 2017](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/06/guilin-world-cup-16-to-20-august-2017/) - This is the Asian leg of the IRF’s World Cup series – the other two events being BiH’s Euro Cup/WC event 10 – 11 June on the Vrbas in Banja Luka, and the Pre-Worlds in Argentina in October. China are renown for the excellent hospitality, and this event is shaping up to be as good
- [EC season 2017 so far and what awaits us before the end](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/06/ec-season-2017-so-far-and-what-awaits-us-before-the-end/) - We are in the middle of the EC season (IRF Race Calendar), and it's time to sum up the competitions so far and see where you can still take part before the end of the year. The weather had a big impact with the start of the EC season - at the very beginning we
- [WRC 2017 Japan - What to see](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/08/wrc-2017-japan-what-to-see/) - Once again we go to an island for the WRC; again to the east and again R6. This time Miyoshi city is our host - located in Tokushima Prefecture, on Shikoku island, Japan. The river: the Yoshino. If you have free time you can use the opportunity to visit some of these sights. In any
- [World Cup Rafting - Guilin, China 2017](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/08/world-rafting-cup-guilin-china-2017/) - The second World Cup this year will be held in China, on the Wupai River, Ziyuan County, Guilin City, Guangxi Province, from 16 to 21 August. Teams from Czech, Serbia, New Zealand, Germany, Australia, Russia, Hungary and Italy will compete in this event. Here is a schedule for the event: For many this is their
- [H2H with 2 upstream gates](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/08/h2h-with-2-upstream-gates/) - It was decided at WRC 2016 that it was time to rework the H2H. Although one of the most popular disciplines amongst the spectators, generally everyone felt that very few courses produced an interesting clash all the way to the finish line. More than 90% of races were won by the first bottleneck on the
- [WRC 2017 participants - reminders](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/09/wrc-2017-participants-reminders/) - We hope you are looking forward to this event as much as we are! Here are some reminders .... #irfwrc That's the hashtag to use for the WRC. So use it for all your posts where ever you make them. Twitter feed for #irfwrc can be found in the left hand column on the IRF website.
- [What's coming up ...](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/09/whats-coming-up-4/) - 2017 World Rafting Championships will be held from the 2 to 9 October on the Yoshino River (Koboke section), Miyoshi city, Tokushima Prefecture. The 2017 IRF Congress will be held on the 4th and 5th of October, at the same location as the captain's meetings (Former Nishiu Elementary School Gym). Both meetings are scheduled to
- [A 📷 tells a thousand words](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/09/a-picture-tells-a-thousand-words/) - You asked for it - we've delivered. We've made the bold move onto Instagram. Start following us now: @internationalrafting In the lead up to the 2017 WRC, we're posting daily #tbt throw backs to last year's WRC and a few from the ERC and other comps this year. As we get closer to the competition
- [World Rafting Cup China 2017 - Results](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/09/world-rafting-cup-china-2017-results/) - The second World Cup took us to China on the Wupai River, in the city of Ziyuan. The competition was held from 16 to 21 August. Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Serbia, Hungary, Russia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand with hosts China also taking part in the tournament. We had 11 competitors in the OM and 3 in
- [Looking for hosts for 2020 R4 World Rafting Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/09/looking-for-hosts-for-2020-r4-world-rafting-champs/) - If you are interested in hosting the 2020 IRF World Rafting Championships then it is time to get into action! Intention to Bid Forms are to be returned to IRF Admin by 31st October 2017. This form does not commit you to bidding but does help by letting us know that you want to bid. In this way
- [9 days to the start of the IRF World Rafting Championships 2017 in Japan](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/09/9-days-to-the-start-of-the-irf-world-rafting-championships-2017-in-japan/) - 71 teams ready themselves for the white water of the Yoshino River outside Miyoshi City. Teams from all around the world are preparing themselves, for the R6 (six-man rafts) World Rafting Championships which are being held on the Yoshino River, near the city of Miyoshi, in the Shikoku region of Japan. Teams register on the
- [Euro Cup rafting series closes for 2017](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/09/euro-cup-rafting-series-closes-for-2017/) - And here we are, summing up another Euro Cup season that is now behind us. We had a difficult beginning to the season with two competitions being cancelled at the very start, one because of excessive amount of water (Tacen, SLO) and the other because of the lack of water (Slunj, CRO), and then the
- [WRC 2017 - NED Open Men (Mix) Team](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/09/wrc-2017-ned-open-men-mix-team/) - We first talked to this team back in 2012 about WRC in Czech, then before going to Brazil for WRC R4 in 2014, and after that before WRC 2016 in Al Ain. This time we asked them about their preparation for IRF WRC 2017 in Japan: "Jenita Göbel, we're interested in how you got into this team?
- [I am going to Japan! - meet NOR OW team for WRC 2017 Japan](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/09/i-am-going-to-japan-meet-nor-ow-team-for-wrc-2017-japan/) - We wrote about these beautiful women for the first time in 2013, they have since changed their composition, overcome many challenges, changed the category in which they compete... but they have not and will not give up and we will soon see them in Japan as they compete in the Open category. So, let's meet
- [Slovakia declared as hosts for the 2018 Euro Rafting Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/09/slovakia-declared-as-hosts-for-the-2018-euro-rafting-champs/) - The IRF is pleased to announce that Slovakia will be the hosts for the 2018 IRF Euro Rafting Champs. Slovakia won the bid to host the event in a very close competition with Turkey. It was eventually Slovakia's ideal R4 course, Cunovo near Bratislava, that pushed the win in their direction, as well as the
- [WRC 2017 - GB Open Womens Team aiming for more medals](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/09/wrc-2017-gb-open-womens-team/) - Being crowned World Champions at the R4 WRC in Al Ain last year certainly adds pressure to the head game. These women have come through adversity this year (broken collar bone to name but one of the injuries) and found themselves fighting fit and ready to give it their all in Japan. This medal winning
- [Indonesian Masters Women Ready to Compete at WRC Japan 2017](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/09/indonesian-masters-women-ready-to-compete-at-wrc-japan-2017/) - "The Indonesian Masters Women Team consists of Veronica Moeliono (54), Amy Kadarhutami (53), Diah Bisono (52), Amalia Yunita (50), Mieranda Wimar (50), Tense Manalu (43), Sarah Sagita Harmoun (41) and Inge Sianturi (43) as team manager. The team was trained by Andi Suherli, the national paddler who once raced for Indonesia in the 2007 World
- [Brazil Rafting Forum – March 2018](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/11/brazil-rafting-forum-march-2018/) - A unique immersion experience in the world of competitive rafting with multi world champions: Brazil! The objective of this forum is to share the best techniques of competitive rafting, get to know the environment that made Brotas the world capital for competitive rafting and enjoy the lifestyle and beauty of Brazil's inner landscape. Dates: March 16th-25th,
- [Altai white water guide book now in English!](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/04/altai-white-water-guide-book-now-in-english/) - The first complete guidebook about Altai whitewater for kayakers and rafters by Anton Sveshnikov has now being brought out in English! In this Whitewater Altai guidebook you can find all you need to make your kayak or raft trip in this Russian region: Basic information about region: geography, climate, ethnography, history Valuable information for travellers: getting to,
- [Upcoming events on the IRF race calendar](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/02/upcoming-events-on-the-irf-calendar/) - 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
- [Outdoor and Whitewater Festival](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/03/outdoor-and-whitewater-festival/)
- [2018 YuShu World Rafting Plateau Championship now open for registration](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/05/2018yushuregistration/) - Applications for the 2018 Yushu World Rafting Plateau Championship is now open! Teams from across the globe are welcome to apply. Racing will take place in the City of Yushu in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, China. The Batang and Yangtze Rivers will be host to racing in the R4 format. The event will follow IRF
- [We are river family - meet Andrew Kellett](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/08/riverfamily2018-andrewk/) - Basing himself in the southern nations of the African continent, Andrew Kellett is no stranger to action and adventure on the amazing rivers of the world. Andrew's enthusiasm for rafting, especially with regard to training, stems from the ultimate goal of being safe on the water before any other outcome. When he first started rafting, there was
- [We are river family - meet Gunther Atem](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/09/riverfamily2018-gunther/) - Starting his paddling career in competitive rowing, Gunther Atem has since become a face synonymous with South American rafting - if you've been to an IRF World Rafting Championship in the last few years, you've definitely met him. You will certainly meet him in November this year as he has been key in the IRF
- [We are river family - meet Julie Munger](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/10/riverfamily2018-juliem/) - Rescue 3 provider, raft guide, raft racer, original Project RAFT participant and holder of several very recent long distance outrigger accomplishments, this week we meet Julie Munger. Her first raft trip was when she was 15 years old, 40 years ago. Now she crosses vast ocean stretches between Hawaiian islands and runs her own
- [We are river family - meet Lucas da Silva](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/10/riverfamily2018-lucas/) - A face familiar to all on the raft race circuit, this week we meet Lucas hailing from Brotas, Brazil - winner of many IRF World Rafting Championship medals. Lucas started rafting in 1999 at Empresa Vaca Nautica, in the city of Brotas-SP, through an invitation from a friend to do guide training. After three months of
- [We are river family - meet Steve Nomchong](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/10/riverfamily2018-steven/) - 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
- [We are river family - meet Pas Blackwell](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/10/riverfamily2018-pas/) - Current manager at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, team captain for the GB Open Men's team, avid freestyle kayaker (when he gets the chance) and recent convert to the world of Triathlons, this week we meet Pas Blackwell. Pas started getting heavily into freestyle kayaking after university so moved to Nottingham to be able to
- [More 2019 raft races than you can shake a paddle at!](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/01/raceschedule2019/) - It's only mid January and we have 18 raft race events already in the diary (at the time of publication). This number will increase in the coming weeks as organisers confirm dates for other events. 2019 is shaping up to be the year that your team get their name known on the IRF European and World
- [Athlete's Committee - time to propose candidates!](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/athletes-committee-time-to-propose-candidates/) - The Athlete's Committee is elected each year to represent the views of the Athlete's within the IRF. The election will be done during the WRC in May in Tully, Australia. The committee is made up of 7 people from around the world. We are therefore looking for candidates to stand on this committee. They will be
- [Judges course at WRC 2019](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/judges-course-at-wrc-2019/) - A Judges course will be run during the 2019 World Rafting Championship in Australia. Anyone keen to do the course should email IRF Admin The details are: Dates: 14 - 20 May 2019 (during WRC) Place: Event Headquarters, Tully, Australia Cost: $US30 to be paid to Instructor on the first day of the course. This is a
- [European Rafting Champs 2019 - all the details for planning your trip!](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/03/erc2019-tripplanning/) - It is not only the great Vrbas River and location that makes teams want to go back here, it is also the awesome hosts, Rafting Club "Kanyon", with their superb club house/bar/restaurant right on the river and their friendly, welcoming style. A great place to gather and catch up with all the other paddlers from
- [Rafting, tubing, kayaking and river conservation all in three days](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/03/kampar-festival2019/) - At a loss with what to do with yourself in early July? Why not head to the tropical heat of Malaysia for some raft racing with a spice of tubing and kayaking thrown in. All with an aim to raise awareness of plans to dam the river (not something we condone!). This festival is set to
- [oneworld® pleased to be appointed as Official Airline Alliance IRF WRC 2019](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/03/oneworld-irfwrc2019/) - oneworld® is pleased to be appointed as the Official Airline Alliance for the IRF World Rafting Championship 2019 Registered athletes can now access discounted flights for travel to this year’s IRF World Rafting Championship in Tully, Australia. Attendee benefits: Discounts on flights for attendees and one travel companion Travel up to seven days before and seven
- [China puts out the red carpet for the IRF's 2020 World Rafting Championship](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/03/china2020notice/) - We are excited to be heading to the city of Ziyuan, Guang Xi Province, China where we will be holding our 19th World Rafting Championship on the Wu Pai River! This location was used for the 2017 and 2018 World Cup Series and will see another World Cup event later this year. Enjoyed by all,
- [WRC 2019 participants - don't forget your ....](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/04/wrc2019reminders/) - Are you ready to Treasure the Tully? WRC 2019 is approaching fast! We hope you're looking forward to it as much as we are! Below are a few reminders to make your championship memorable for all the right reasons! Planning for your trip Take a read of this article - Important travel tips Visas, customs and
- [IRF's Athletes' Committee for 2019 / 20](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/04/irfs-athletes-committee-for-2019-20/) - A new Athletes' Committee is to be appointed by the Athletes at the 2019 World Rafting Championships in Tully, Queensland, Australia. The Committee is made up of three candidates from Europe and 2 each from Pan America and Asia/Oceania, making a total of 7. Please see the list of proposed candidates with photos and bios of
- [What's coming up on the IRF events calendar?](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/04/whats-coming-up-on-the-irf-events-calendar/) - This is always a very busy time in the IRF with the Northern Hemisphere season kicking off, and this year we add to that by having our World Champs and our Congress in May! The racing season picks up pace and there are plenty of GTE Workshops to choose from stretching around the world. Congress
- [China 2019 Rafting World Cup now accepting team applications](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/04/wrc2020-preworlds-registration-open/) - The city of Ziyuan will once again throw open its doors and welcome teams from across the globe to the Ziyuan Rafting World Cup - this event will also be the 2020 IRF WRC Pre-Worlds event. Raft race teams are now invited to apply for registration to this now famous World Cup event. The competition
- [IRF Euro Cup races off to a big start](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/04/eurocup2019-update1/) - This year' IRF Euro Cup series started on the Buzau River in Nehoiu, Romania, fondly referred to as the Dracula Race. Teams from as far away as Great Britain attended the event and were delighted to enjoy a great river in very different surroundings. Team "VIR" of Serbia nearly took a clean sweep of medals,
- [British Rafting looking to host 2022 IRF World Rafting Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/05/lvwwc2022bidintention/) - The IRF are delighted to have received an "Intention to Bid" from British Rafting who aim to host the event in the world renowned Lee Valley White Water Centre (LVWWC). The course is a purpose built white-water course, that was constructed to host the canoe slalom events of the London 2012 Olympic Games. During the
- [Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/05/aussie-aussie-aussie/) - Tully, Australia, is slowly filling up with rafters from the far corners of the world. Some are arriving early so as to be familiar with the river and location once the racing starts. Others will stay on afterwards to sample the attractions of this far north section of Queensland. And all will enjoy typical Aussie
- [The water story - by a Jirrbal Elder](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/05/the-water-story-by-a-jirrbal-elder/) - This is a summary of the Jirrbal story. The Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the Tully region would like to ensure that they promote and share their land, language and culture to visitors from around the world and locally. They wish to share the importance of their unique and different perspective of the country and how
- [Australia takes charge on the first day of racing](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/05/australia-takes-charge-on-the-first-day-of-racing/) - Today marked the first day of competition of the 2019 IRF World Rafting Championship, powered by Experience Co. on the River Tully. Tully is playing host to over 400 competitors and support crew from 19 different nations. The excitement was electric as teams hit the river to compete in the Sprint discipline - the winner
- [Slalom and Head to Head don't disappoint](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/05/slalom-and-head-to-head-dont-disappoint/) - Today saw sleek moves and great clashes on the Tully River as the second day of competition of the 2019 IRF World Rafting Championship, powered by Experience Co. rolled on by. The crowds were roaring as junior teams (U19 and U23) hit the Tully River to compete in the slalom discipline. The winner is determined
- [A challenging but awesome slalom day on the Tully River](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/05/a-challenging-but-awesome-slalom-day-on-the-tully-river/) - Today teams showcased their strength, precision and determination on the Tully River as the third day of competition of the 2019 IRF World Rafting Championship, powered by Experience Co. kicked off. The crowds were booming and the atmosphere was electric as the Open and Master teams hit the Tully River to compete in the slalom
- [Aussie U19 boys are World Champions](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/05/aussie-u19-boys-are-world-champions/) - Today was a test of endurance for the teams competing on the last day of competition of the 2019 IRF World Rafting Championship, powered by Experience Co. Downriver combines water reading skills and endurance and the Under 19 Australian Men’s team proved they had plenty of both coming over the finish line well ahead of
- [Thanks to the Cassowary Coast residents and volunteers](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/05/tullythanks2019/) - We came to Tame the Tully and we've left knowing we now Treasure the Tully. With deepest heartfelt thanks we'd like to acknowledge all the Tully and fellow Cassowary Coast residents and volunteers whom without, our 18th World Rafting Championship could not have been such a success. We thought we'd share with you some of the stories
- [Closing date for 2020 Pre-Worlds is this Sunday! #AreYouReady](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/05/2020preworlds-registrationclosing/) - Registration for the IRF 2020 Pre-Worlds Rafting Championship closes this coming Sunday (02nd June). Do not miss out on this world class opportunity to practice on the very river you will be racing on in the IRF World Rafting Championship next year! Join teams from these countries already registered: Open Men: Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic,
- [Judges needed for ERC 2019, and Judge course to be run as well](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/06/judges-needed-for-erc-2019-and-judge-course-to-be-run-as-well/) - If you are an IRF certified Judge and are keen to Judge at our 2019 European Rafting Championship in Bosnia then please send your details through to IRF Admin. If you are keen to become an IRF certified Judge then a Judges course will be run during the event as well. Anyone keen to do
- [Short stories from WRC 2019](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/07/short-stories-from-wrc-2019/) - The 2019 World Rafting Champs on the Tully River in Australia finished more than a month ago. Looking back at the event there are some lovely stories that have come to light. Teams often say the best thing about rafting is the camaraderie between the teams despite competing against each other. The U23 Women's Downriver
- [Warm weather and welcomes in Banja Luka for the IRF Euro Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/07/irferc2019_opens/) - Bosnia and Herzegovina has turned up the heat and the welcomes for the IRF's 13th Euro Rafting Championship which starts in a few short days at the ever popular site on the Vrbas River just outside Banja Luka. Rafting Centar "Kanyon" have previously hosted the World Rafting Championship in 2009, Euro Rafting Championships in 2009
- [Opening Ceremony of the IRF's European Rafting Championships](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/07/opening-ceremony-of-the-irfs-european-rafting-championships/) - Rafting Center "Kanyon" in Karanovac opened the IRF European Rafting Championship "Banjaluka-Vrbas 2019" last night, where about 250 rafters from 11 European countries will participate over the next four days. The championship was opened by the Deputy Mayor of Banja Luka, Srđan Amidžić, who said that water sports are gaining importance and that rafting is
- [Challenging Slalom draws the crowds](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/07/erc2019-slalom/) - The Vrbas canyon drew crowds in their hundreds for challenging Slalom in yesterday's IRF European Rafting Championship. Through rigorous national selections, only the best of the best were racing this challenging course. Thus the tradition of raft racing on white water continued with IRF course designers using every feature to ensure the 14 gates did
- [Whitewater, distance and heat put Downriver competitors to the test](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/07/downriver-erc2019/) - Vrbas has once again put competitors through their paces in the gruelling 14 kilometre downriver race at this year's IRF European Rafting Championship. With a sailing start at Kamp Krupa, teams raced their way down the idyllic Bosnian and Herzegovina countryside pitting their tactics, strength and stamina to the test against fellow competitors. The open
- [A short farewell to the Vrbas' whitewater](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/07/vrbas-backsoon/) - The 2019 IRF European Rafting Championship is now over with friends old and new sharing our love of the river and our sport together as one river family. Together we make rafting sport the engaging, exciting and accessible sport that it is. Regular podium winners were joined from other nations this year and we have
- [Busy second half of the year for the IRF](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/07/busy-second-half-of-the-year-for-the-irf/) - With our two major events already done and dusted teams are relaxing and enjoying some of the other events on our race calendar, plus there are quite a large number of national selections happening. And there are plenty of guide assessments happening. This Sunday sees the start of the Pre-Worlds in Ziyuan, China. An incredible
- [Julie Munger, world expert on river rescue to speak at the IRF World White Water Rafting Summit](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/08/iwwwrsummit2019-juliemunger/) - Leading world expert on river rescue and International Whitewater Hall of Fame member Julie Munger will be one of the esteemed international speakers at the inaugural World White Water Rafting Summit of the International Rafting Federation (IRF) from October 8 to 13, 2019 in Costa Rica. Munger, who is CEO and co-founder of Sierra Rescue
- [Wilderness Medicine to be a major topic at the IRF World White Water Rafting Summit](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/08/wwwrsummit2019-abigailpolsby/) - Wilderness medicine expert Abigail Polsby will be a distinguished speaker at the first International Rafting Federation (IRF) World White Water Rafting Summit in Costa Rica from October 8 to 13, 2019. Polsby is the CFO and co-founder of Sierra Rescue International in California and directs the Sierra Rescue Wilderness Medical Program. She is an Instructor
- [Costa Rica invites you to the inaugural IRF World White Water Rafting Summit](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/08/irfwwwrsummit2019launch/) - If your work is related to the river industry at all or even other adventure tourism activities, then we invite you to join us in Costa Rica to engage in dynamic discussions and exchange ideas with a vibrant and forward-thinking community of adventure travel professionals. Come build relationships, meet new colleagues, reconnect with old friends,
- [Project RAFT founder and sustainability expert Jib Ellison is headed to Costa Rica](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/08/irfwwwrsummit-jibellison/) - Jib Ellison, adventurer, conservationist and sustainability expert, will be a keynote speaker at the inaugural IRF World White Water Rafting Summit in Costa Rica this October. Working well in teams is one of the most useful life lessons a person can learn. Jib Ellison knows this firsthand using his more than 40 years of working
- [Wet and wild WuPai ready for the IRF World Rafting Championships 2020](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/08/wupai2019ready42020/) - The very successful and historic IRF Pre-Worlds 2019 have drawn to a successful close with 31 teams from 16 nations competing on the majestic Wu Pai River in Ziyuan County in southern China. Teams from across the globe came together to test the waters, the systems and the race officials in preparation for next year's
- [Paddling, pomp and pandas in Hongkou, Sichuan](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/08/dujiangyan2019/) - Immediately following the IRF 2019 Ziyuan (Pre-Worlds) World Cup, 20 competitors from Russia, Chile, Germany, Netherlands and Great Britain headed over to HongKou in Sichuan province, China. These competitors were in for a treat like no other... paddling, pomp and pandas! Organisers left nothing to spare at this event with 31 teams competing in the
- [Ziyuan is ready to welcome athletes one year from now](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/08/ziyuan2020launch/) - One year from today, the International Rafting Federation and the peoples of Ziyuan will welcome over 600 athletes, support crew, and officials along with countless spectators to the white water of the WuPai River. The countdown is on! From 22 August 2020, the world's best rafting athletes will meet in Ziyuan, China to compete in
- [The IRF Euro Cup 2019 series winners are....](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/09/eurocup2019results/) - The final Euro Cup Series events took place earlier this month, and with that the 2019 series has drawn to a close and the Euro Cup champions can be declared! The EC R4 was very popular this year with a total of 108 teams taking part in a total of 5 events. Raft Club Hodonin
- [Uniting nations and sports under a common goal for climate change](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/11/unfccc_at_irfwwwrsummit2019/) - Presenting to an audience of over 200 from over 20 nations at the inaugural IRF World White Water Rafting Summit, Ian Ponce, Programme Officer of the UNFCCC Programme Secretariat, shared the five key principles of the UNFCC programme and introduced the Sports for Climate Change initiative. Ian gave an overview of progress to date and highlighted
- [#AreYouReady to race in Futaleufú?](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/10/futa_teams/) - Five months today, top teams from around the globe will start official training on the Futaleufú. Will your team be one of them? Twenty years ago the International Rafting Federation was a young and developing global sports federation. The third Camel White Water Challenge took place on the Futaleufú river with teams from across the
- [Zambezi White Water Festival - a bucket list item!](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/11/zambezi-white-water-festival-a-bucket-list-item/) - There are a LOT of reasons why this event should be on your bucket list! Just look at the prizes - a bungi jump off the bridge for first place, a helicopter ride over the falls for second place, a bush drive for third place and a breakfast amongst the elephants for the best flip
- [IRF's World Cup Series 2019 draws to a close in Indonesia](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/12/irfs-world-cup-series-2019-draws-to-a-close-in-indonesia/) - The 2019 World Cup Series saw only 2 events this year due to unforeseen circumstances causing the World Cup in Georgia to be cancelled. The first was in China at the Pre-Worlds, and the second was in Indonesia on the Silokek River recently. The World Cup Series is aimed at teams at a club level,
- [Are you ready for ERC 2020 on Devil's Stream?](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/12/are-you-ready-for-erc-2020-on-devils-stream/) - Yes, we head back to the Czech Republic for our Euro Champs in 2020, this time to the artificial course Roudnice on the Labe River for the Sprint, H2H and Slalom, and to the exciting Devil's Stream for the Downriver. Details: Dates: 8 - 13 June 2020 Organised by: Union of Boaters of the Czech
- [Bounding into 2020!](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/01/bounding-into-2020/) - Happy New Year to you all! We hope you all had a Festive Season that rejuvenated you for the coming year. Our calendar is already building up fast with the key events to highlight: Guide Training & Education (GTE) Instructors Conference: 27 – 29 April in Durance, France. Details European Rafting Championships (ERC): 8 –
- [River Vrbas draws us back for WRC 2021!](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/01/vrbas_2021/) - Breaking the mould and proving that raft racing is an enthralling and vibrant sport, the river Vrbas invited teams from across the globe to take part in the 2009 IRF World Rafting Championships. An event which saw racing take place over two rivers in two neighbouring countries and with the most exciting slalom spectacle under
- [Turn back time and head back to Chuya](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/01/2023irfwrc_russiabid/) - AreYouReady to head back to where it all started? Федерация Рафтинга России / Russian Rafting Federation are pulling together their bid to host the 2023 IRF World Rafting Champs on the Katun River (Class 3 and 4) and Chuya River (Class 3 to 5)! Considered as the founding race that in 1989 pulled together nations
- [The Coronavirus and WRC 2020 (Update 1)](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/02/coronavirus-update/) - The following was issued to all national federation contacts on the 30 January 2020. Read the official correspondence to national federations here. The IRF has been working hard to prepare for our flagship competition, the 2020 R4 World Rafting Championship, scheduled to be held 22-30 August on the Wu Pai River in Ziyuan County, Guang
- [The Great Karnali Quest - 242 kms of epic Downriver racing!](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/03/great_karnali_quest/) - Karnali, the longest river in Nepal, is recognized as world class for whitewater rafting and is still the last free flowing river in Nepal. It originates from the base of mount Kailash, flowing across the beautiful landscape of Nepal before dispersing into the Ganges River. The Great Karnali Quest- sacred downriver raft race (probably the
- [Concerns re Coronavirus COVID-19 and IRF Events (Update 2)](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/03/corona_virus_update2/) - The following was issued to all IRF national rafting federation contacts on 04 March 2020. Read the official correspondence to IRF national rafting federations here. To: IRF National Federation Members From: Joseph Willis Jones – IRF President For Immediate Release Dear Member Federation, The IRF is continuing to closely monitor the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
- [Save the Karnali - Nepal’s last and most pristine free-flowing river](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/03/save-the-karnali/) - by Megh Ale and Karen Bennett The mighty Karnali, Nepal’s longest, largest, and least known river system is in peril. Of the three major river basins emerging from the Nepal Himalaya—the Koshi, Kali Gandaki, and Karnali—the Karnali is the only river that remains free-flowing. All others have been dammed for hydropower generation reflecting an increasingly
- [Coronavirus COVID-19 Impacts to IRF Events (Update 3)](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/03/irf_events_2020/) - Contrary to rumours being released by IRF detractors, the IRF is still actively pursuing our WRC, ERC, ECs and WCs this year along with our GTE activities. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the worldwide international sporting calendar, and the IRF calendar is no exception. Our immediate concern is for events coming
- [European Rafting Championship 2020 in Czechia Cancelled](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/03/european-rafting-championship-2020-in-czechia-cancelled/) - As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread at an alarming pace, on 12 March, for the first time in its modern history the Czech government declared a state of emergency for the entire country. On 16 March, Czechia closed its borders, forbid entry of foreigners and issued a nationwide curfew. Most European countries have also
- [Coronavirus COVID-19 Impacts to IRF Events (Update 4)](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/03/coronavirus_update4/) - The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the international sporting world, and the IRF is no exception. With lockdowns being brought into play throughout the world, borders closing and extreme travel restrictions in place, it is evident that it will be a long while before the sporting world gets back on its feet.
- [IRF World Rafting Championships 2020 (China) postponed](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/04/wrc2020china-postponed/) - As much of the world finds itself in the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, China is in the position of having practically eliminated community transmitted COVID-19 infections, and we have found ourselves faced with the same issues that the Olympics and many other sports have been facing over the last few weeks. The IRF Executive
- [IRF World Rafting Champs 2021 and 2022 dates announced](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/06/irfwrc2021_2022/) - Following the unexpected need to postpone our 2020 World Rafting Championship (WRC), the IRF has been working hard on delivering the best solution in these unprecendented times. Many meetings (virtual of course) and negotiations with all parties involved have delivered a robust solution that we feel will meet the expectations of all athletes and continue
- [Age divisions for World Rafting Champs 2021 confirmed](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/06/wrc2021agedivisions/) - As announced earlier, the IRF has completed the renegotiation of contract dates for the World Rafting Championships (WRC) 2021 and 2022, that resulted in our rescheduling the 2020 China and 2021 Bosnia World Rafting Championship events. These events were pushed back one year because of the uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic - as many
- [Stay active, stay fit this Olympic Day](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/06/olympicday2020/) - Olympic Day was introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on 23 June 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris. The goal was to promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability. The modern version of Olympic Day developed into much more than just a
- [2020 White Water of Siberia forum open for applications](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/07/2020-white-water-of-siberia-forum-open-for-applications/) - Applications for the 2020 White Water of Siberia forum are now being accepted. Applications are welcomed from across the globe, however please ensure you make yourself familiar with travel and quarantine restrictions of Russia, your own country, and any countries you may travel through on the way there. All questions about registration or the event
- [Choosing the correct throwbag (a helping hand!)](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/04/choosing-the-correct-throwbag-a-helping-hand/) - 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
- [RIP Maz - gone too early, the world of rafting is poorer without you](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/04/rip-maz-gone-too-early-the-world-of-rafting-is-poorer-without-you/) - The world of rafting reals in shock at the sudden loss of well renown rafter, Andrew Mazurkiewicz, better known to most as Maz. Maz passed away in Cairns Base Hospital on Sunday 8th of April 2018, failing to recover consciousness after he was taken off life support. "The shock of Maz’s sudden acute illness and rapid
- [We are river family - meet Stan Hájek](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/11/riverfamily2018-stanh/) - A very familiar face to the European Raft Race scene, with a paddling career spanning 53 years, Stan Hájek started paddling as a child, later meeting his girlfriend (now wife) whilst paddling in the Czech Republic and East & West Europe. At the time, sport expeditions were the only way to look outside the Iron
- [We are river family - meet Rado Orokocky](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/10/riverfamily2018-rado/) - After a White Water Slalom career spanning 20 years, Rado switched to rafting. His first contact with rafting was in 1997 for two years. Then he rejoined into in 2004 until now. At first he started with his team on several European and World Championships but then moved onto coaching two of the most successful
- [We are river family - meet Tim Marshall](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/11/riverfamily2018-timm/) - Owner/operator of Ultimate Descents in the land of the long white cloud (New Zealand) since 2002, Chair of the New Zealand River Association since 2014 and trip leader since 2000, this week we meet Tim Marshall. No stranger to the raft race circuit nor the IRF Guide Training & Education system, Tim is a senior
- [We are river family - meet Juniper Rose](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/09/riverfamily2018-juniper/) - Whitewater raft guide, kayaker and writer passionate about exploring new rivers and cultures, Juniper Rose has paddled in 15 states across the US and 9 countries around the globe. She loves sharing rivers with others whether its clients on a guided trip or good friends out for a kayaking run. When she was 12 years old
- [Keep it clean !!](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/07/keep-it-clean/) - I remember attending my first ever rescue class in the UK in 1996 as a fresh faced 19 year old kayaker. I attended the course as I wanted to learn more about rescue and river safety. During this time in the UK and Europe there was this new trend called the "Clean line principle" that
- [Ken Streater aims to empower the rafting community at the IRF World White Water Rafting Summit](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/08/iwwwrsummit2019-kenstreater/) - International author, social entrepreneur and raft guide, Ken Streater, will discuss how raft guides and adventure travel outfitters can transform their community and the world to inspire trust, ensure safety, and better the environment. How raft guides and adventure travel outfitters can transform their communities and the world will be the discussion presented by keynote speaker
- [We are river family - meet Vedat Vural](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/12/riverfamily-vedat/) - In our final River Family interview for 2018, we meet Vedat Vural - a pioneer of rafting in Turkey. Before 1990, he worked as a mountain and expedition guide, always getting excited every time he saw rivers carving through the mountains and valleys. It all seemed a mystery. Where does it go? Which places does
- [We are river family - meet Dragan Babic](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/01/riverfamily2019-draganb/) - This week we meet larger than life, character of a thousand words and improvisations, and master of hilariously bad jokes (especially when he translates them from one language to another), Dragan Babic. Many will know him from racing in Bosnia and Herzegovina OM but also he's quite often behind a whistle, stop watch or clipboard
- [We are river family - meet The River Face](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/riverfamily2019-riverface/) - One of the first teams to register for the IRF World Rafting Championship in Tully, Australia this coming May, River Face have been growing strength on strength each year with an impressive medal tally of Bronze (Sprint), Silver (Head-to-Head), Gold (Downriver) and Overall Silver at last year's Championship in Argentina. So do you want to know
- [We are river family - meet R.E.D.](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/riverfamily2019-red/) - This week we meet R.E.D. (Retired, Extremely Dangerous), the GB1 Masters Men team hoping to make their mark at their first IRF World Rafting Championship. The team came together to compete in the British Rafting selections in March 2016 as Lee Valley Paddlesports Club Masters Men. They didn't make GB status that time so trained hard and
- [We are river family - meet Team Costa Rica Masters Women](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/riverfamily2019-crcow/) - If you thought getting your team together was tough for training, try getting everyone together when it's not just one side of the country to the other but from three countries! This week we meet the team from Costa Rica looking to bring home medals at this year's IRF World Rafting Championship in Tully, Australia. Those
- [We are river family - meet Graham "Fredi" Maifredi](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/12/riverfamily2018-fredi/) - If you haven't met Graham "Fredi" Maifredi, you're either brand new to rafting or been living under a rock for the past 25+ years. One of the biggest characters of our River Family, this week we meet the one and only (and let's face it the world is not ready for more than one of
- [We are river family - meet Chris "Mongo" Reeder](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/11/riverfamily2018-mongo/) - A love of the ocean and living nowhere near to it led Chris "Mongo" Reeder to discover his life passion for rafting. Not content with just rafting, he's leading an Adventure Racing project to get kids into the competitive world of adventure racing. Chris grew up near the ocean in Maine and later moved to
- [We are river family - Bijan Arbab](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/04/riverfamily-bijanarbab/) - Starting rafting in the very early "naughties" because he found a way to make money rather than spend it, this week we meet Bijan Arbab. Desert hiking trips were a big factor in Bijan's life and work experiences before he discovered paddling (and more importantly rafting!). In the Green Kalahari of South Africa, Bijan found a
- [The Alliance of Independent recognised Members of Sport (AIMS)](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/07/the-alliance-of-independent-recognised-members-of-sport-aims/) - The IRF recently attended a conference with the Alliance of Independent recognised Members of Sport (AIMS) to discuss the current challenges facing the organisations with GAISF Observe status during the pandemic and post pandemic. For those that are not familiar as to who AIMS is, here is an introduction. The AIMS organisation was founded in
- [Norway](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/11/norway/) - The first things you think of when you mention Norway is fjords, beautiful nature, a wealth of wild rivers, friendly people and incredible cold. Located on the Scandinavian peninsula, it is one of the most northerly countries in the world where people live. So this northernmost team will be travelling to one of the most
- [What is the ATTA and why should we know more?](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/08/atta/) - The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) is a vital leadership voice and partner for the adventure travel industry around the world. If your company is an adventure travel company, or gear supplier to the industry it is a "no-brainer" that you should become a member of ATTA. Membership Community The ATTA community today is a
- [We're all paddling a first descent with the Coronavirus](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/04/riostropicales_coronavirusimpact/) - The world finds itself in uncharted territory in the turbulent crisis of the coronavirus pandemic. Longtime river adventurer, and IRF Honorary President, Rafael Gallo gives some words of comfort for how to navigate through to calmer waters ahead. by Shannon Farley We find ourselves in uncharted territory with the coronavirus pandemic. The world’s borders closed.
- [Meet the Raft Team "Denmark Ladies"](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/03/denmark-ladies/) - It is always an honour and a pleasure to introduce another female team that has just started with the sport of rafting. At the global level, the number of women's clubs is coming up to the males. Most of the countries with rafting teams have men's and women's teams now and it is only a
- [ORT - extreme rafters pushing the limits](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/02/ort-extreme-rafters-pushing-the-limits/) - The Oregon Rafting Team (ORT) of the USA is a unique team and they are much more than just a competitive team. They also engage in volunteer work which includes river cleanups, search and rescue missions, as well as coordinating events. Their trademark has become shooting waterfalls and their adventures takes our breath away. Many admire them and imagine that one
- [Can cold water rivers have higher risks when you flip?](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/07/cold-water-flips/) - Most of us have experienced the shock to our system as we suddenly plunge into cold water. Take it a step further, imagine you’re on a Class 4 or 5 river and flip. Now you have two urgent problems. First is the raging white water. Second is dealing with the cold shock. What happens to
- [Gift ideas for rafters](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/12/gift-ideas-for-rafters/) - Dry bag Such a handy item to have in many places, not just on river trips - like going hiking in the rain, canyoning, boating, beaching. Read about five surprising uses of dry bags from managing your laundry, or as a pillow, managing cables and tech stuff, and staying in shape! Take a look at
- [Rafting in Iran](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/12/rafting-in-iran/) - Iran, also known as Persia, is home to one of the world's oldest civilizations. It's a country in Western Asia surrounded by Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Caspian Sea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Persian Gulf and gulf of Oman with over 77 million inhabitants. Iran is the world's 17th most populous nation and the 19th largest country in the world. Its area
- [Taureau - Quebecs Class V beast](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/07/taureau-quebecs-class-v-beast/) - Boasting 25 KM of continuous Class V the Taureau Section of the Jacques-Cartier River is one Quebec's toughest sections of whitewater and this Class V beast certainly lives up to the hype. Checkout the adventure as Pascal Girard and his crew take on some incredible drops. https://youtu.be/7k5g4lZcc9Y Located just outside of Quebec City, the Jacques-Cartier
- [What did it take to start the International Rafting Federation?](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/10/irfinception/) - 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
- [DRD4 - Italy's U23 Men's team](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/12/drd4-italys-u23-mens-team/) - Adventure is in our genes. What is it that makes us love being on the edge, pushing ourselves to our limits, to our extremes? DRD4 is a gene which detects dopamine in our brains and that chemical is associated with the feeling of reward. But DRD4 has a variant in the -521 C/T polymorphism. Those
- [World Champs in R4 and R6 category - "Rafting team TEIKEI" Japan](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/09/world-champs-r4-r6-category-rafting-team-teikei-japan/) - They come from the land of the rising sun, but they light up their country with the gold medals they won in the R4 and R6 men's World Rafting Championships. This professional rafting team are living their dream thanks to their sponsor "TEIKEI" which is a big security company. We know them as friendly, disciplined
- [Rafting for People with Disabilities in Iran](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/09/rafting-for-people-with-disabilities-in-iran/) - “Believe us… We are ABLE to Enjoy Wet Adventure” On Monday 29 June 2015, one of my lifetime dreams came true… “Rafting for People with Disabilities”… For a long time I have been thinking that people with disabilities are able to participate and enjoy adventure activities. A disability cannot stop them from enjoying nature and
- [We are river family - meet Team Russia Open Women](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/riverfamily2019-russiaow/) - Training as a team in a country with eleven contiguous time zones is no easy feat. The current Russian Open Women's team is spread across the country meaning meeting to train involves travelling by train for 4 or 5 days or up to a 6 hour flight. With such distances between them, training sessions involve meticulous
- [We are river family - meet Team New Zealand Open Women](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/riverfamily2019-nzow/) - With the IRF's World Rafting Championship 2019 being held in May this year, it means for the first time in 20 years (in fact... ever!), New Zealand teams get to train in summer months! This is something the New Zealand Open Women are relishing! This group of ladies love to spend their time playing on the beautiful
- [We are river family - meet Red Rose Rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/03/riverfamily2019-redrose/) - Hailing from Northern England, you will have met these women if you've attended any IRF European Rafting Championship in the last few years. Red Rose Rafting have held their flag high at several European competitions in the last few years, making their mark on the international stage at last year's IRF World Plateau Rafting Championship
- [We are river family - Team Teikei (Japan OM)](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/03/riverfamily-teamteikei2019/) - Training six days a week, competing at each pre-worlds for the last few years, and winning overall medals in the last few years, you might expect Team Teikei (Japan OM) to be all practice and no play but don't be fooled, these guys are respected and widely accepted for their determination, ambition and team spirit.
- [Meet our river family - Team Canada Open Men](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/04/riverfamily2019-canadaom/) - This week we meet the Canadian Men's rafting team based out of the Whitewater Region in Ontario, Canada. The team have attended several IRF rafting world championships and continue to strive to get better and learn from every event and opportunity. Their club is compiled of a number of veteran raft guides which allows them
- [Ales Danek - the new Chair of the IRF's Athlete's Committee](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/06/ales-danek-the-new-chair-of-the-irfs-athletes-committee/) - Congratulations to Ales Danek who has been voted in as the new Chair of the IRF's Athletes' Committee. Alex is 39 years old, works as a sales manager for Würth. He's been rafting since he was sixteen and for the last 10 years has been a member of team HIKO, a top Czech raft team,
- [A fond farewell to Uncle Vláďa](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/11/vlada/) - With a heavy heart we share the news of the passing of Vladimir Naděje. The legend of Czech and international judges, to all he was simply known as Uncle. Uncle Vladimir is on the other bank ... At 73 years old, Vladimir left us on November 22. A long-time rafting judge, co-author of the first
- [#AreYouReady to race? Updated Race Rules for 2019](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/02/racerules2019/) - Following several months of discussion and voting on proposed improvement to the race rules, the updated IRF Race Rules are now published. The amended rules take effect from 01st March 2019. Changes were proposed by your Athletes Committee, Sports & Competition Committee, Judges Committee, IRF Board of Directors and now been voted on by the
- [The Shotover - Queenstown's majestic whitewater](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/05/the-shotover-queenstowns-majestic-whitewater/) - Situated along the breathtaking shores of Lake Wakatipu on New Zealand’s South Island, Queenstown is often hailed as the ‘adventure capital of the world’. This incredible tourist mecca offers innumerable adventure experiences to suit everyone’s imagination. Adventure options include everything from bungee jumping, mountain biking, and horseback riding to being the gateway to many of
- [A California Spring trip? Check out the Kaweah river](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/05/california-kaweah-river/) - Spring time in California is an epic and much anticipated season for rafting. California becomes a Mecca for paddlers from around the world. The free flowing rivers begin to roar and rafting companies start up their operations on California's best whitewater. The Kaweah River is a favourite for many. This stunningly clear river originates high
- [The Ubaye - gem of the French Alps](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/04/the-ubaye-gem-of-the-french-alps/) - 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
- [Franklin River - Australia's hidden gem](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/04/franklin-river-australias-hidden-gem/) - Heading to Australia for IRF WRC Pre-Worlds this year or IRF WRC next year? Why not extend your trip to include Tasmania! Tucked away in a quiet corner of Australia is one of the greatest gems of the Australian wilderness The Franklin River. This incredible river is no place for the casual adventurer and represents
- [Fork It! - California's best - the South Fork river](https://internationalrafting.com/2018/05/fork-it-californias-best-the-south-fork-river/) - The South Fork of the American River offers 21 miles of class III whitewater to enjoy. The heart of this popular river resides in the town of Coloma California. This river was pioneered in the early 1970s by a handful of outfitters looking for a new boating resource after the Main Stanislaus was dammed. Most
- [Should We Be Classifying Rafts?](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/03/should-we-be-classifying-rafts/) - Kayaking has taken an interesting trend over the years by classifying boats. Given the crossover of many paddlers between these sports it is surprising that rafting hasn’t picked up the stratification of boat classes into broad categories. As we get more experienced with a topic we require greater degrees of specificity to describe similar yet
- [Boating Business - Coronavirus and Economic Slowdowns](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/03/boating-business-coronavirus-and-economic-slowdowns/) - How will Coronavirus affect hospitality? Coronavirus in a hot topic at the moment and rightly so after all at the time of writing this piece we have seen a huge impact to stock markets and global supply chains. These effects will ripple across the market and especially impact the tourism and hospitality sector. Senator Joel
- [Ropes for River Use](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/03/ropes-for-river-use/) - In this article Rafting Magazine takes a look at rope used for rafting specifically static line. For this article they reached out to both Sterling and BlueWater ropes to get some technical insight on what works best for river rescue use. There is a lot to know and a lot to understand about what rafters
- [Rafting Magazines Gear Shed - Arch Rival Drysuit](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/05/rafting-magazines-gear-shed-arch-rival-drysuit/) - Shell Fabric: 3-layer waterproof/breathable shell with 100% nylon taslan face fabric treated with C6 DWR (durable water repellent) finish Fabric Weight: 181g/m² Waterproofness (mm h₂o): 30,000 Breathability (g/m²/24h): 4000 Front YKK® AquaSeal® entry and releif zipper Seat and Knees reinforced with abrasion resistant Devil’s Club nylon taslan 3-layer 240g/m² fabric Latex neck and wrist gaskets
- [8 Things to Ask a Rafting Company Before You Book](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/04/8thingstocheck/) - Its getting hot in your area and you want to cool off with your friends and have a little excitement on the river. Maybe you saw a rafting trip on a daily deal site and thought it looked fun. Well don't get suckered into a trip that you don't want or get a trip that
- [A Boater's Guide to Carabiners](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/05/carabiners/) - Carabiners are not only an essential rescue tool on the water, but one of a boater’s most versatile pieces of equipment. From unwrapping boats to attaching equipment to hanging a hammock boaters keep several of these at had at all times. In this article, we are going to break down why carabiners are important as
- [Three changes in the world of sport that could positively impact competitive rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/08/3changestosport/) - Competitive rafting is one of the main realms of the IRF, it is a truly exhilarating sport. It requires teamwork, cohesion, physical endurance and strategy. And it takes place in some incredible locations all around the world. There are four main disciplines involved in competitive rafting: the fast sprint, the tactical head-to-head, the technical slalom
- [Race Rules - proposing updates](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/08/race-rules-proposing-updates/) - The IRF Sport & Competition Committee assesses and updates the IRF Race Rules towards the end of each year. Proposals are to be in by 20 October. Any proposals after that cannot be guaranteed to be included. The process is as follows: Rule proposals may be submitted only as one of the three possible options.
- [Drugs and alcohol in rafting - is there a line?](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/09/iwwwrsummit2019-enab/) - Huaxteca Expeditions owner Ena Buenfil will share her experiences of running a certified drug-free rafting company in Mexico and how this new culture is being adopted across Latin America. Ena is one of the key note presenters at the inaugural International Rafting Federation World White Water Rafting Summit in Costa Rica from October 8 to 13,
- [In a raft, actions speak louder than words](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/09/wwwrsummit2019-markh/) - International Rafting Federation Raft Guide Assessor and Rescue3 provider Mark Hirst will challenge preconceptions about speech and actions at the inaugural IRF World White Water Rafting Summit. International Rafting Federation (IRF) Raft Guide Assessor and Rescue3 provider Mark Hirst will run an open session on the use of actions over language in raft guiding at
- [IRF President to welcome hundreds to the inaugural IRF World White Water Summit](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/09/iwwwrsummit2019-joe/) - International Rafting Federation President Joseph Willis Jones will welcome over 200 participants from nations across the globe to the inaugural IRF World White Water Rafting Summit. International Rafting Federation (IRF) President and Chair of the IRF Board of Directors, Joseph Willis Jones will open the inaugural International Rafting Federation World White Water Rafting Summit in
- [Pioneering the accreditation of recreational rafting operators](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/10/roa_launch/) - As the global governing body for rafting sport and the globally recognised standards setter for raft guiding through the IRF Guide Training & Education (GTE) system, the IRF are taking another pioneering step forward in rafting safety through the implementation of the IRF Rafting Operator Accreditation. Two days of discussion and sharing of experiences of
- [Reducing risk, improving safety, empowering rivers: three key messages from the IRF Summit](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/10/summit_conclusion/) - Taking ownership of our environment and rivers while also reducing risk and improving safety were definitely the key messages at the first ever IRF World White Water Rafting Summit. Binding agreements were signed by the International Rafting Federation (IRF) for river conservation and for the piloting of a rafting operator accreditation. A historic rafting trip
- [U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica gives thumbs up to safe rafting industry](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/10/usambassador_crc/) - Last Friday, U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica, Sharon Day, showed her support for improving safety in the rafting industry by going rafting on the Pacuare River during the World White Water Rafting Summit finale. Ambassador Day was one of 207 people from over 20 nations from across the globe who joined together under the banner
- [The magical 4 letter F word!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/11/the-magical-4-letter-f-word/) - By Mark Hirst At some point in our raft guiding careers we will all experience a flip! This article aims to highlight some of the key points associated with flipping and will hopefully deliver a few tips to aid in the recovery of a flipped raft along with its crew. Let’s focus on the 3
- [Expanding the IRF River Family in Bhutan](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/12/expanding-the-irf-river-family-in-bhutan/) - By Zachary Collier The rivers of Bhutan were first explored by groups of international kayakers in the late 1990s. They discovered some phenomenal runs for both rafts and kayaks ranging from Class I to V+. In the 2000s these explorers brought groups of kayakers to Bhutan for the first commercial whitewater trips. Bhutan’s first local
- [IRF GTE Instructor’s Conference - 2020](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/01/irf-gte-instructors-conference-2020/) - We invite all IRF certified Instructors to join us at the 2020 IRF GTE Instructor’s Conference! Goal of the Conference: Update Instructors regarding current IRF practice and standard Keep currency of their instructor certificate Receive all the GTE program updates at first hand Participate in the dynamic development of the IRF GTE Discuss and find
- [Balkan White Water Safety Summit](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/02/balkan-whitewater-safety-summit/) - The Rafting Federation of the Republic of Srpska (Rafting savez Republike Srpske) are proud to announce the first ever whitewater safety conference aimed specifically at the Balkan region. The Balkan White Water Safety Summit will be held in the City of Banja Luka from 18 to 22 May 2020, with a workshop being run on the
- [IRF GTE Instructor Conference Agenda launched](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/02/gte2020instructoragenda/) - Hosted in the French alps, over three action packed days, delegates to the 2020 IRF GTE Instructor Conference will discuss and share ideas on the latest developments in raft guiding and safety. Registration is now open and delegates are encouraged to register early to avoid disappointment when tickets sell out. Full agenda can be found
- [IRF's 2020 Race Rules now available](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/03/irfs-2020-race-rules-now-available/) - The IRF Sport & Competition Committee have concluded the annual updating of the Race Rules. The new rules come into effect from the 1 March. The majority of the changes are under the H2H section, which is not surprising as this new format is still getting a few crinkles ironed out. The changes can be
- [2020 IRF Race Rules now available in Serbian](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/03/2020racerules_srb/) - The 2020 edition of the IRF Race Rules is now available in Serbian. Thanks to Jasmina Marčok for the invaluable assistance in translations and review. 2020 IRF Race Rules in Serbian 2020 IRF Race Rules in Serbian (track changes from 2019 version) Having the race rules translated into multiple languages allows us all to share
- [IRF's GTE System upgrades make it cheaper](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/04/gte-costs-reduced/) - The IRF Guide Training & Education (GTE) System has recently had its cost structure, certification and card issuing process overhauled In this time of so much bad news we'd like to bring you some good news. The cost of IRF GTE certifications has reduced! The system has been simplified so that guides get their cards
- [Knot your business](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/04/knot-your-business/) - It's rare that I write a personal article but lockdown has given me plenty of time so as I while away the hours and days, I've found myself reviewing the last few months and in particular being assessed for the New Zealand raft guide qualification. During lockdown I'm living at the rafting centre where I've
- [Reviewed, refreshed and renewed - IRF GTE Instructor resources](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/05/updated-instructor-resources/) - Reviewed, refreshed and renewed - IRF Instructor documentation and resources (in English and now also in Spanish) There is now a wealth of resources that the IRF provides to our certified Instructors and Assessors which are all aimed at assisting them to simplify the processes, administration and implementation of assessing Guides, Trip Leaders and Instructors.
- [IRF GTE Instructor update in Costa Rica this September](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/05/crc-instructor-update2020/) - The IRF GTE will be holding an Instructor update 30th September - 2nd October 2020 for all existing IRF instructors who are able to travel to attend the update on the Sarapiqui river in Costa Rica. The aim of the update is for IRF instructors to share current global best practice within the rafting industry.
- [Saving tourism in unprecedented and challenging times](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/05/savetourism/) - In these testing times we find ourselves and our loved ones in situations we would likely never have considered. Many of us in the rafting industry are under increasing pressure with not just personal situations but tourist operations and employees affected by lockdowns and vast swathes of people cancelling their holidays and travel plans. It's
- [Advice on IRF guide training workshops as COVID-19 restrictions are eased](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/05/irf-gte-lockdown-easing-guidelines/) - Over the past week several countries have started lifting COVID-19 stay at home orders and other restrictions in a phased way even though the pandemic is far from being over. Re-openings are taking place due to various reasons, while health experts warn that the virus will likely continue to be a health risk for many
- [ATTA's 10 Recovery, Health and Safety Recommendations for Adventure Travel](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/05/attas-10-recovery-health-and-safety-recommendations-for-adventure-travel/) - Gustavo Timo of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) feels that "Covid-19 brings unprecedented challenges to the tourism industry and that means the Adventure Travel sector as well. However, Adventure Travel might be better equipped to recover and reboot faster simply because of the DNA of the experiences we offer – small groups, nature-based, and set in rural
- [Help stop the Batoka Gorge Dam](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/04/batoka-esia-review/) - The review dates of the Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the proposed Batoka Gorge Hydro- Electric Scheme (Zambia and Zimbabwe) on the Zambezi River been delayed due to impacts from the coronavirus. Now is the time to have your say - read the ESIA, make informed decisions, register your interest to help stop
- [Delivering a powerful message: river guides and rafting operators are river guardians](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/10/powerfulmessage/) - The message from several international speakers during the World White Water Rafting Summit 2019 was loud and clear: river guides and rafting companies should be the guardians of the world’s rivers. Not only does their livelihood depend on clean and healthy rivers, they spend a considerable amount of time on rivers and, with clients in
- [Rios Tropicales Wins Sustainable Tourism Award from Skål International](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/11/rios-tropicales-wins-sustainable-tourism-award-from-skal-international/) - Skål International announces Rios Tropicales, Costa Rica’s leading adventure company, as the winner of its 2014 Sustainable Tourism Award in the category of Tour Operators. What began in 1985 as a simple dream to pursue a love of paddling, provide jobs for fellow Costa Ricans and support rainforest land protection developed into Rios Tropicales, Costa
- [Save the Zambezi!](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/01/save-the-zambezi/) - Sadly yet another of the world's greatest rivers is under threat from daming. This is not a new threat - impact assessments were halted in 2015 but the project has now been restarted and now is the time for you to get involved and help prevent the loss of a natural beauty, white water enthusiast
- [Announcing the inaugural World White Water Rafting Summit](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/05/wwwrsummit2019launch/) - San José, Costa Rica. Under the theme, “Risk management for a prosperous future”, the first-ever World White Water Rafting Summit (WWWRS) will be held at the National Conference and Convention Centre in San Jose, Costa Rica from October 8 to 13, 2019. The historic event was announced on Saturday, May 18, 2019, during the IRF
- [IRF proud signatory to UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action initiative](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/08/unfccc-climateaction/) - We are proud to announce the International Rafting Federation have joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's (UNFCCC) Sports for Climate Action initiative as a signatory to the Sports for Climate Action Framework. The Sports for Climate Action initiative calls on sporting organisations to acknowledge the contribution of the sports sector to climate
- [IRF and International Rivers in historic agreement to be better stewards to the world’s rivers](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/10/irf_and_internationalrivers_partnership/) - At the conclusion of the International Rafting Federation’s inaugural World White Water Rafting Summit, leading global rivers campaign organisation International Rivers and the IRF signed an historic Memorandum Of Understanding to bring together the common goals of both organisations to ensure that all rivers of the world have a voice. Introducing the agreement, summit MC
- [Global recognition of the International Rafting Federation](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/10/gaisf_application_update/) - At the International Rafting Federation Congress in Miyoshi City, Japan in 2017, our national rafting federation members voted unanimously that the IRF should continue to pursue its dream of taking rafting to the Olympic Games. In pursuit of this dream, the Congress also agreed that the IRF must finalise the work needed to apply for
- [Guidelines for a safe re-entry into rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/05/safe_re-entry_guidelines/) - As parts of the world start easing COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and other restrictions the big question in rafting operators' minds is - how to start getting back onto the river and running trips safely? Properly managed outdoor activities are among the safest activities to engage in as the outdoor environment presents fewer opportunities for the
- [AIMS Observer Meeting](https://internationalrafting.com/2020/07/aims-observer-meeting/) - With the IRF's Observer Status of GAISF, we have previously unprecedented support to our sport. IRF President Joe Willis Jones was invited to an Alliance of Independent recognised Members of Sport (AIMS) online conference to discuss current challenges during the pandemic and post pandemic. The AIMS President, Stephan Fox, was joined by Vice President, General
- [WRC 1998 - 2011:  Medal Distribution](https://internationalrafting.com/2011/10/wrc-1998-2011-medal-distribution/) - Here is the medal distribution over the history of the IRF World Rafting Champs: Men: Country Gold Silver Bronze Total Czech Republic 11 8 5 24 Germany 3 10 6 19 Russia 7 5 6 18 Japan 4 7 4 15 Brazil 7 4 3 14 Slovenia 6 2 4 12 Slovakia 2 3 4
- [Slovakia's Open Women heading to UAE](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/09/slovakias-open-women-heading-to-uae/) - This team has been competing for many years and have a host of interviews by us to go with their many medals. (Slovakia - white paddles of mistral, Women's Euro R4 Champs, Revamped Mistral Women's team) We chat to Júlia Pevlková about the up coming WRC 2016. Now that you are officially registered, Julia, who is in your team
- [Revamped "Mistral" women's team](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/09/revamped-mistral-womens-team/) - So there is fresh blood flowing through this team. Rumours of changes reached us so we thought we'd go and find out what was happening and who we'd be seeing in Indonesia because this team will be there! We first introduced Mistral some time ago, and then caught up with them when they became R4
- [Tranining with crocodiles - Australia U19 teams](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/04/australia-u19-teams/) - "Redlynch State College" rafting crew from Far North Queensland, Australia, will have the honour of representing their country in Brazil at the R4 World Rafting Championships. They will be representing the U19 women's and men's divisions. Alice Wedmaier - will introduce us to her team and the men's team and help us to find out
- [GB ladies Euro Champs review](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/09/gb-ladies-euro-champs-review/) - What a week the ERC was! We arrived in glorious sunshine to a beautiful campsite by the lake and, for us Brits, summer was finally here! We made the most of the sunshine on our rest day sun bathing and giving our pasty white British bodies a good airing because on Wednesday it was business
- [Congress 2017 - Agenda and other information](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/09/congress-2017-agenda-and-other-information/) - The IRF will be holding its Congress during the 2017 World Rafting Champs in Japan. All federations have been notified of this already, and sent the Agenda. Below are the details and links: Dates: evening of 4th and 5th October 2017 Location: Former Nishiu Elementary School Gym, which is the captain's meeting room at the WRC Headquarters near
- [Are you carrying the correct emergency equipment?](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/06/are-you-carrying-the-correct-emergency-equipment/) - by Mark Hirst: As we now find ourselves at the beginning of a Northern hemisphere season, a quick glance at various social media outlets are awash with various stories of epic high water runs and carnage. Most of us will have been surrounded by snow all winter and are counting down the days until it begins
- [IRF GTE Conference 2017](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/02/irf-gte-conference-2017/) - Dates: 8 - 12 of April 2017. (NB: Changed from 16 - 20) Location: Greece, Aoos River Arrival airport: Thessaloniki Registration Form Participating at the IRF GTE Conference 2017 gives Instructors a chance to: Keep currency of their instructor certificate Receive all the GTE program updates at first hand Participate at the dynamic development of
- [Refreshed NED U23 Men's team coming to Al Ain](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/refreshed-ned-u23-mens-team-coming-to-al-ain-2/) - We are one step away from the beginning of the WRC competition, and we present to you once again the unusual combination in the U23 Men's team from Holland, that are coming to the WRC, a mixed team. Forward Motion has long been present on the rafting scene (team-forward-motion-likes-sports-rafting), (forward-motion-again) , but now we see them
- [Czech Open Men's team, Hiko, coming to UAE](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/czech-open-mens-team-hiko-coming-to-uae/) - HIKO is a team with whom we have already worked (European R4 heavy machinery, HIKO rafting team), and they are generally well known, so we will skip the introductory part and move on to questions. Ales, let's start with your impressions from China, where you won first place. What composition was the team there and
- [Hungary, flat water specialists seeking white water](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/hungary-flat-water-specialists-seeking-white-water/) - In Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, at the World Rafting Championship, Hungary will be represented by two teams, both in the women's categories. The one is Masters Women, and the other is, this team in the Open Women. This is the strongest womne's category in this sport, so there is a very difficult taks in
- [Italy's Open Women ready to fly!](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/italys-open-women-ready-to-fly/) - Caroline Louise Goodall, Marianna Tedeschi, Elena Bragastini, Jasmine Zurlini Frugis and Alessandra Massimino are members of the Italian Open Women team that will participate at the R4 World Rafting Championship in Al Ain, UAE. This team is already well-known and we've looked at these cheerful and smiling faces at several previous WRC and ERC competitions.
- [Saint Petersburg's U23 Women on their way to the WRC](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/saint-petersburgs-u23-women-on-their-way-to-the-wrc/) - When I attended the Russian national competition on the Katun River at the end of August, I had the opportunity to see how hard the competition is that these young girls race in, and how strong the competition is against which they have to fight to represent Russia. But Fomina Polina - front right, her
- [R6 OW champs, Czech, want to take R4 crown too](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/r6-ow-champs-czech-want-to-take-r4-crown-too/) - Michaela, a year ago, before your participation in the R6 World Rafting Championship Indonesia 2015, we were talking about your successes (Born with a paddle) that you have had during your career - and there you won bronze in the H2H, gold in the Downriver and gold in the Overall. Congratulations on that fantastic success
- [Italy Open Men ready for WRC 2016](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/italy-open-men-ready-for-wrc-2016/) - The R4 raft of the Italian Open Men's team has a mix of the older, experienced paddlers at the back and the young, new forces in the front. This winning combination is made up of the Tyrolean men who have dominated on the national level. Patrick Agostini (front right), Roberto Schifferle (captain and back right),Thomas Waldner
- [GB Open Men ready to build on ERC success](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/gb-open-men-ready-to-build-on-erc-success/) - The GBR Mens Rafting Team has a prolific history of athletes and is well respected on the European and World stages. The Team is made up of a group of passionate individuals, sharing their love for the sport, full dedication to training and desire to gain medals in the process. The squad has been based
- [First Kazakhstan women's rafting team coming to the UAE](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/first-kazakhstan-womens-rafting-team-coming-to-the-uae/) - Anastassiya Gubkina, Alexandra Berestova, Kristina Seryankina, Kristina Resnyanskikh (captain), Yana Khokh with help of Coach Vitaliy Drobizov will be representing Kazakhstan at the upcoming World Championships. It's always a pleasure to see a new team amongst us at the WRC competition. This time it is the Open Women's team from Kazakhstan. Everything seems mystical, exotic
- [Pejibaye Raft Team looking forward to WRC 2016](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/crc-u19m-2016/) - Costa Rica has a long tradition in the sport of rafting having organised a Project Raft and two World Rafting Championships (WRC). Their athletes have brought medals home from around the world, and the best indication that they have a good future is looking at the youth which every year is growing up and slowly
- [BiH have high hopes for their Open Men's team](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/10/bih-have-high-hopes-for-their-open-mens-team/) - The BiH Open Men's team is already known to us through other interviews (Rafting Klub Dajak, Dajak Team to WRC 2015) and this time we speak to them about their fantastic success at the ERC in Slovenia and their imminent departure for the WRC R4 2016 in Al Ain, UAE. We spoke to Dragan Babic again.
- [Rafting Club Vidra to represent Slovenia at the 2016 WRC](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/09/rafting-club-vidra-to-represent-slovenia-at-the-2016-wrc/) - Introducing Rafting Club Vidra who will be flying the Slovenian colours in the Open Men's category at the upcoming World Rafting Champs at Wadi Adventure, Al Ain, in the UAE. And it's members are: Dejan Kernc, Luka Bratuš, Leon Breznik, Domen Bistan and Matic Jug. This is the first season that they are paddling together in
- [Italy U19 Women ready for WRC 2016](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/09/italy-u19-women-ready-for-wrc-2016/) - DRD4 club is a machine for producing champions. This time, our cooperation with them is related to their U19 Women's team that will be representing Italy in the UAE at the 2016 WRC. This team is composed of: Raphaela Oberhofer, Sarah Oberhofer, Deborah Walter, Sarah Walter, Marilena Nabersberg with coach: Felix Pirhofer. They have already won
- [U23 Men of Alaya Competition - heading to WRC 2016](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/09/brotas-u23-men-heading-to-wrc-2016/) - Alaya Competition of Brotas is another well known name in the competitive world of rafting. The team is made up of: Edward Angelo Degrandi (Du), Gabriel Pessa (Pessa), Joao Luiz Rodrigues (Junior), Leandro Cavalcante (Le), Fernando Antonio Morassutti (Nando), Jorge Luis de Souza (Nave) Uma breve história da equipe: Equipe de Rafting da cidade de Brotas-SP, formada em 2009. Visa formar
- [Costa Rica X-Pinner Team to NZ](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/09/costa-rica-x-pinner-team-to-nz/) - We talk again with the women's rafting team of Costa Rica - independent, professional, fighters, athletes and confident in themselves, women who above all love white water. In our previous article, (Club Rafting Femenino - hailing from Costa Rica) we had the opportunity to find out who is in the female team of Costa Rica. We
- ["Club Rafting Femenino" - hailing from Costa Rica](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/12/club-rafting-femenino-hail-costa-rica/) - "Club Rafting Femenino" Costa Rica is a group of women who love white water and nature. They promote the sport of rafting amongst women and the result is a team that is the best representation of competitive women rafting in Costa Rica. Most members of the team have been in the team since 2006; some
- [Petawawa Raft Team Canada have their eyes on WRC NZ 2013](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/11/petawawa-raft-team-canada-eyes-wrc-nz-2013/) - A crew from Manitoba and Ontario that came together on the Ottawa River, in Foresters Falls Ontario, will represent Canada at the 20 13 World Rafting Champs in New Zealand in November. The "Magnificent Seven" are: Gwyn Ashcroft, Graham Ball, Jon Booren, Andy Hill, Bill Leslie, Lars Romeskie and Tim Wintoniw. Most of the members
- [Tragic loss of Payam Banihashemi](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/08/tragic-loss-of-payam-banihashemi/) - by Kianoosh Mehrabi, Iran Rafting Association. Our best river friend, Mr Payam Banihashemi, lost his life on the Haraz River on Friday 19 August 2016, while he was trying to rescue people. The selfless way that he endangered his own life to save others is something that will always be remembered. He was a great
- [IRF President selected as member of WPA Academy](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/02/irf-president-selected-as-member-of-wpa-academy/) - Our President, Joe Willie Jones, has recently been honoured by being selected as a member of the Academy of the World Paddle Awards (WPA). He'll be working with a group of some of the greatest living legends in paddlesports, to vote for the 'best of the best' around the globe in 17 different paddlesports categories. The
- [Life jacket or buoyancy aid? Know the difference](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/03/life-jacket-buoyancy-aid/) - By Guy Dresser | Royal Canoe Club - We've reposted this and added it to our series of Safety Articles. Press coverage after a canoeing tragedy tends to focus on the safety precautions that those involved took. Often one reads the throwaway line ‘the victim was not wearing a lifejacket’, journalistic short-hand for ‘the person involved took inadequate precautions and
- [Into the Unknown (again) - 1st IRF workshop in the Ukraine](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/06/into-the-unknown-again-1st-irf-workshop-in-the-ukraine/) - As the demand for International Rafting Federation courses is growing year on year, I am noticing that I am able to travel to new and exciting destinations to run IRF courses. This year alone my travels have taken me to Morocco, Nepal, France, UK and now to the Ukraine for their first ever IRF workshop.
- [DRD4 club's Open Women at ERC](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/05/drd4-club/) - Dorothea Oberhofer, Melanie Kobald, Katharina Dietl and Valentina Steck are all part of the well-known DRD4 club in Italy. Three years ago I wrote about the DRD4's U23 men's team, so it's a special pleasure and honour for me to write about the women's team now. The DRD4 Ladies will represent Italy in the Open Women's category
- [Report from the first ever IRF GTE Conference](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/06/report-from-the-first-ever-irf-gte-conference/) - The first ever IRF Guide Training & Education (GTE) Conference for Instructors and Assessors was held from the 19 - 21 April, in the AOS Hostel, in Wildalpen, Austria. The conference participants had the honour of being his first guests. It's a beautiful place, with very friendly staff and a special, good energy that flows through
- [Team Sparta from Kazakhstan](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/05/team-sparta-from-kazakhstan/) - The team of six regular guys who loved extreme sports and leisure was formed in June 2014. None of us realised it was the start of something that would go on so long and that it would become the passion of our lives! After the first raft trip on the rivers in the mountains of
- [Raising the bar in the Himalayas](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/04/raising-the-bar-in-the-himalayas/) - By Mark Hirst As many of us witnessed the disaster caused by the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, my thoughts turned to how I could personally help towards the long term rebuilding process. I have had the honour of travelling to Nepal for kayaking and rafting based trips since 1998. Since 2013 I have also run a series of IRF guide training
- [International Rivers - an organisation well worth being friends with!](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/04/international-rivers-an-organisation-well-worth-being-friends-with/) - Since 1985, International Rivers has been at the heart of the global struggle to protect rivers and the rights of communities that depend on them. As they are the leader in the fight for the preservation of rivers, we will be doing a three part introduction to them. They are a vital organisation for all river
- [The Albanian Adventure Resort - Meet the mind behind the idea](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/01/the-albanian-adventure-resort-meet-the-mind-behind-the-idea/) - Blerina Ago, a 28 years old entrepreneur born and raised in the charming city of Berat in Albania, tells us how her life has been flowing between living in the city and exploring the Osumi canyons. She worked hard and dreamt big so that she can tell us her future plans, the Albanian Adventure Resort,
- [Extreme kayaker and professional rafter; Sam Sutton’s rival mindsets](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/01/extreme-kayaker-professional-rafter-sam-suttons-rival-mindsets/) - Nick Harding | Sportscene - In a gig-venue and shop named The Store near Okere Falls, Rotorua, New Zealand, SPORTSCENE Director Rob has a morning coffee with extreme paddling poster-boy Sam Sutton. A little bit on Sam before we get into his dual personalities. The Adidas Sickline extreme kayak triple World Champion (2010, 2011, 2012) was born a
- [Kiwi white water women rafters – paddlers taking it to the world](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/10/5220/) - A star-studded Kiwi women’s rafting crew is training hard for the National Championships in the Bay of Plenty at Labour Weekend. Up for grabs is selection for the IRF World Rafting World Championships in Rotorua and Kawerau, in the heartland of New Zealand’s North Island from November 13 to 24, 2013. Nikki Kelly is one of
- [Soon ‘flat water’ will become ‘wild water’ in Denmark!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/09/flat-water-wild-water-denmark/) - Several projects are planned to construct artificial white water courses in Denmark, where kayakers, canoeists and rafters will have the opportunity to improve their white water skills in their own country. With these new courses the hope is Denmark's white water competitors will be able to raise the level of skill in their sport as
- [Milan Lovrenčič, probably the most well known face in the IRF!](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/11/milan-lovrencic-probably-the-most-well-known-face-in-the-irf/) - The IRF has the great honour to present to you Milan Lovrenčič. Milan's first World Rafting Championship was the Camel White Water Challenge in 1997 on the Zambezi, where he was the reserve team member for the Bober (Beaver) team, Slovenia, who have been 6 times World Rafting Champions, a record that will probably never be
- [Famous rafting faces - Roberto Schifferle](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/11/famous-rafting-faces-roberto-schifferle/) - When passion for something is so big it clears all obstacles, find ways and persists, then it lasts. In our sport it is not easy for the passion to last; our sport is rough, difficult, dangerous, costly, but there are with us some people who have persisted so long that they have become recognizable to
- ["Pushing Rubber Downhill" by Adam Piggott](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/09/pushing-rubber-downhill-by-adam-piggott/) - It is a great pleasure when a riverguide replaces paddle with pen for a moment and share with us his rich experiences which he gained on different continents doing this job. We love these books and so we are pleased to present this one. If you look at the back cover of the book "Pushing
- [Team KES "VIR" - Pancevo](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/01/team-kes-vir-pancevo/) - The best men's team that Serbia has had so far is Klub ekstremnih sportova "VIR" from Pancevo. This crew is made up of Miroslav and Branislav Barasević (brothers), Nenad Miković, Miloš Petrović, Nenad Tomić, Jovan Njagul and Dragan Kovacević . The part of the Danube River on which they paddle is not wild water, so the whole team were flat water canoeists and most of
- [Meet the "Ark Sharks" team from the USA](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/01/meet-ark-sharks-team-usa/) - Matt Norfleet, Josh Bradford, Jere Burrell Jr., Austen Dyer, Jeremiah Peck, Eli Norman and John Anicito are team members of the "Ark Sharks" from Colorado,USA. They have a combined 65+ years of rafting and paddle sports. All members of the team have been working as river guides in Colorado and have spent most of the
- [The rumble in the Thai jungle](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/09/the-rumble-in-the-thai-jungle/) - As I took my seat on Finnair flight from Helsinki bound for Bangkok, Thailand I had to take a reality check to see if this was really happening. In the matter of two short weeks and a few emails I was heading to Thailand to run the first ever IRF workshop deep in the jungle
- [U19 Slovak Rafters competing at ERC 2015](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/05/u19-slovak-rafters-competing-at-erc-2015/) - ​The U19 Slovak Men’s team consists of: Oliver Turek, Denis Antalík, Braňo Horváth, Martin Borovský, Matúš Vosátko, Braňo Linkay, Ronald Černý -​ with these guys Slovakia does not have to worry about their future, they make it look great. This young team will represent their country in Bosnia at the 2015 Euro Rafting Champs (ERC)​.
- [Red Rose Raft Team - heading to ERC](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/05/red-rose-raft-team-heading-to-erc/) - The effort that paid off - Red Rose Raft Team on their way to the Euro Rafting Champs Jess Evans, Sarah-Jayne Evans, Alison St John Claire, Tori Jones, Molly Mckenzie, Bex Faragher are heading to the R6 Euro Rafting Champs 2015 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the River Vrbas, Banja Luka, as the women's GBR 2 team.
- [SKR Bosna's home advantage!](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/03/skr-bosna/) - SKR Bosna will have the honour of representing Bosnia y Herzegovina in the up coming R6 Euro Rafting Champs which are being held on the Vrbas River near Banja Luka. This Open Men's team is made up of: Dajan Vinovcic -Captain, Sanjin Smriko, Mustafa Bisic, Jasmin Dizdarevic, Armin Kasapovic, Haris Pehadzic and Coach: Ekrem Tuka.
- [Best rivers in the World for rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/02/best-rivers-in-the-world-for-rafting/) - We asked the public for their lists of the best rivers to raft in the world. We were surprised by the names of the rivers that were NOT on the list! But these rivers deserve equal place in the summary. So, following our research as well as communication with many distinguished names in rafting and
- [Red Ladies of Colorado](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/03/red-ladies-of-colorado/) - Red Ladies Raft Racing, Colorado, are well known to us (Red Ladies of the USA looking at rafting development long term), but it’s a long time since we last chatted to them. So to find out what has has happened in the meantime we chat to Julie Sutton. ​Hello Julie, it's been a long time
- [The Importance of Good Safety Kayakers](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/11/safetykayakers/) - I am not or don’t pretend to be a great kayaker. I have run my fair share of scary stuff over the years. I have also had my fair share of swims and confidence meltdowns. What I do take pride in is the fact I know I am a solid safety kayaker when working on
- [Ladies of the Ottawa](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/11/ladies-of-the-ottawa/) - There have been a number of teams that have dominated their national champs for years and have been common sights at the WRC events. This year at the recent WRC in Brazil there were some new faces from Canada in the shape of the Ladies of the Ottawa River. These girls attracted our attention and
- [IRF guide certification scheme gets recognition in top tourism report](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/11/irf-guide-certification-scheme-gets-recognition-in-top-tourism-report/) - The U.N. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) have released their first Global Report on Adventure Tourism. "The ATTA worked with the UNWTO on this report to help educate the global leisure tourism industry on the core values of responsible tourism. The report allows all stakeholders in the industry to
- [Rafting Team "Liman"](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/11/rafting-team-liman/) - We introduce to you the U23 national men's team from Serbia - Rafting Team "Liman". The Eastern European country of Serbia has been a member of the International Rafting Federation (IRF) since 2006, and since the IRF established a Youth division in 2010 the young athletes in Serbia have been given the opportunity to participate
- [Forward Motion in action again](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/09/forward-motion-again/) - Two years ago I wrote about the Dutch team "Forward Motion" and their uniqueness in having a mixed team. It still hasn't changed. :) We chat to them again about their upcoming plans. Jenita, your participation at the 2012 Youth World Rafting Champs in Czech was one of the reasons I chatted to you last time, but
- [Every drop counts!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/09/every-drop-counts/) - If you use the rivers for your fun and sport and yet on the other hand you do not take care to conserve and not to pollute water - that would be hypocritical. Are we doing everything to keep our waters clean and safe, are we always acting responsibly? This is not just about our behaviour
- [Austria now using the IRF GT&E Scheme](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/08/austria-irf-gte-scheme/) - The IRF Guide Training & Education (GT&E) Scheme has recently been adopted into Austrian law which will make it compulsory from next season for all river guides in Austria to be IRF certified if they wish to guide there. The change came about as Austria looked at updating their 20 year old guide certification system
- [Throwbags - some are better than others!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/09/throwbags-some-are-better-than-others/) - Mark Hirst - IRF Instructor - recently wrote this article about throw bags and would like to share it: "For those of you who know me personally you may be aware of my love for great kit. Especially well thought-out, well designed kit. Having attended an IRF instructor workshop last season I was introduced to these
- [European R4 heavy machinery - "Hiko" Rafting Team](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/08/european-r4-heavy-machinery-hiko-rafting-team/) - This team from the Czech Republic has awesome previous results and is proving very hard for any other teams to get anywhere near let alone surpass. We bring you the 2014 R4 European Champions! The names of the big four are: Jan Havlíček, Ondřej Pinkava, Jan Šťastný, Aleš Daněk and for downriver Tomáš Kejklíček. Jan
- [So who is Nada?](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/03/so-who-is-nada/) - Many of you may have been getting emails from someone called "Nada" and wondering who she is, especially as she asks so many questions! So we thought we’d turn the tables and interview HER for a change! So lets get you all familiar with her - Nada – how did you get into rafting? "I
- [New Women's European R4 Champions - Mistral, Slovakia](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/08/new-womens-european-r4-champion-mistral-slovakia/) - We are all already familiar with this team who have been at the top of the rafting honours for over 10 years now and have just swept up the title of R4 Euro Champions in the Open Women’s category. We’re talking about the well-known team - Mistral Bratislava of Slovakia. We’d like to take this
- [Safety Talks - getting it right!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/08/safety-talks-getting-it-right/) - Mark Hirst, an IRF GT&E Instructor, has written a great article about how to deliver good Safety Talks at a start of a river trip - here is what he has to say: Over the years I have had the opportunity to witness some professional, motivating raft safety talks and unfortunately some painfully poor safety
- [Home team - U23 Slovak Women's team ready!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/07/u23-slovak-women/) - This is another young team that started its career at the R4 Euro Champs – Čunovo, 2014. We talked to Monika Kebiskova to get an introduction to this team. "Our team is called "Vopičky", which means ' monkeys', because we are small, bouncy and quite loud. The team was founded in 2012, and we mostly
- [Mistral Men's U23 team - home competition!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/07/mistral-mens-u23-team-home-competition/) - I like writing about young athletes who are beginning their careers because I have the opportunity to watch and follow them from their very beginning. The R4 Euro Champs in Slovakia starts this week, and so we are writing about the Men's U23 team that will represent Slovakia at this competition. SVK 1 team will
- [What would YOU do if severe floods hit your region?](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/05/what-would-you-do-if-severe-floods-hit-your-region/) - Eastern Europe, particularly Serbia and Bosnia, were recently hit by the worst floods seen since they started recording rainfall 120 years ago. Floods we encounter frequently, they are nothing new, but when faced with flooding on an unprecedented scale, then what? Do you ever wonder if your teams, clubs, associations, individuals are ready for what
- [Italy's U23 women's team - heading to Bosnia!](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/05/italys-u23-w-to-bosnia/) - We recently had the opportunity to get acquainted with the Italian U23 women's team and their expectations for the trip to the WRC R4. Now we will ask them a few questions about their planned trips to the Euro Champs. They provided us with a gritty performance at the R4 Euro Cup in Wildalpen, Austria, where they
- [CABANOS Rafting Team](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/05/cabanos-rafting-team/) - Every year they participate in at least three national and three international competitions. The highlights for this year are both Euro Champs, BiH and Slovakia. This is also a special year for them as the R4 Euro Champs, Čunovo, Slovakia, will be held in their country on the artificial course where they know every stone.
- [Pub o'Cino Rafting Team Leoben](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/04/pub-ocino-rafting-team-leoben/) - The biggest Euro Cup in R4 discipline is in Wildalpen, Austria, so we're going to present to you a home team that now has both male and female crews. The sweet taste of their first race during last year's summer hooked them on rafting. They are new in the sport rafting so this will be
- [Whitewater books to read ...](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/04/whitewater-books-to-read/) - Every sport has its accompanying literature. Although competitive rafting does not have a book yet from which to learn the basic techniques of the sport, there are still plenty of other books out there that make excellent reading. Whether you like to read for the entertainment value or to learn more about the sport there
- [4th White Water Rescue Race - April 2014](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/03/4th-wwrr-april-2014/) - Calling all guides - here is a competition for you! The 4th White Water Rescue Race is being held in Wildalpen, Austria on the 19-20, April 2014. Race program: - Fast Flowing Water - Professional Rescuers - Whitewater Specialists - Excited Spectators - Water Tempreture of 5*Celsius - International Teams - Human-size dummies to rescue
- [Italy's U23 women's team aiming for Brazil](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/03/italy-u23-women/) - The rafting community is growing in Italy. First there was "DRD4", U23 men's team, and now we present to you the U23 women's team who are aiming to go to Brazil this year to represent their country at the World Rafting Championships in the R4 category. This Italian U23 women's team consists of: Marianna Tedeschi, Elena Bragastini, Clara
- ["Reflip Ladies" are heading to the R6 and R4 Euro Rafting Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2014/03/reflip-ladies/) - Reflip - a great name for a rafting club. These beautiful, young, friendly girls come to us from Bulgaria. This year, in addition to the many Euro Cup events, we will be able to see them at the Euro Championships - R6 in Bosnia and Herzegovina - R4 in Slovakia, as Bulgaria Team 2. This team was created
- [Chile's Astorga clan ready to fight for WRC title](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/11/chile/) - Competing in their third world rafting championships, the Chilean National Rafting Team ‘Team Cascada’ is excited to be in Rotorua. This unusual team, which consist of 7 cousins and brothers, are carrying forward a long rafting tradition as part of the Astorga clan. This is a family of well known outdoor adventurers who live together
- [Rafting Klub Dajak to represent BiH](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/11/rafting-klub-dajak/) - Rafting Klub "Dajak" are travelling to New Zealand to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina in the men's Open category at the 2013 World Rafting Championships (WRC). The competition starts in a few days, and the honour to defend the colours of BiH is up to: Dragan Babic (captain), Igor Kuzmanovic, Andrej Zamolo, Dejan Markovic, Drasko Ubiparip
- [Fredi - the rafting bull fighter](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/11/fredi-the-rafting-bull-fighter/) - Over the years some competitive rafting teams have built up their names and statuses and are now world renown. But there are also some individual rafters who have done this too. Here we will talk to one of these characters. At this WRC 2013 the Australian Master Men's team consists of: Darrell Daveson, Wagner Torres, Glen Hardy,
- [Belgium's Waterproof Ladies](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/11/belgiums-waterproof-ladies/) - In New Zealand at the 2013 WRC Open Women's category, Belgium will be represented by the team with the most original team name: Waterproof Rafting Team. Very shortly after it came into existence this team name put Belgium into the center of attention of world rafting . Most notably by winning the R4 European Champions in
- ["Behind the Eight Ball" - USA Open Men's team](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/10/behind-the-eight-ball-usa-open-mens-team/) - The team "Behind the Eight Ball" has had a long and successful history in the USA. The team reclaimed the National title this year for the 12th consecutive season. Though some of the members have changed over its 12 year history, the core members have continued. This season the longest running member, Mike Reid, has retired. Chris "Mongo"
- [Youngster beats the odds to line up in World Rafting Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/10/youngster-beats-the-odds-to-line-up-in-world-rafting-champs-2/) - The international white water rafting community will no doubt save a special cheer for one competitor at the forthcoming World Championships in New Zealand – as he slowly but surely wins a battle off the water against cancer. Sam Daley (16), a member of the Great Britain U19 Rafting Team and a keen young athlete
- [The rafting future of the Czech Republic - U19 team at the 2013 World Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/10/u19-czech-team/) - The Czech Republic will be present at the WRC 2013 in NZ and represented in the age group - U19 men. With this young team still building their careers, it will be interesting to follow their development over the coming years. Therefore, we will start now to get to know them a little better. Coming
- [U23 women of NZ - new faces in raft racing](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/10/u23-women-nz/) - The competition amongst the U23 women will be very strong at this WRC. Here we present the host team, who hope to win the Overall gold medal. The team is: Oriwa Hepi, Dale Thomas, Kayla Pene, Amy Tipling, Lisa Podlucky, Sam Gibson We chat with Oriva Hepi to get to know them a bit better
- [Slovakia + white paddles = Mistral](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/10/slovakia-white-paddles-mistral/) - Yeah, they are recognizable by the white paddles. And of course they are also recognizable due to their success both on the domestic and the world stage. Their wealth of experience and medals is not the only thing that I have noted about them; they are, at the same time, a key part of their
- [Golden girls of Canada](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/10/golden-girls-of-canada/) - This team knows what its like to stand on the podium! The golden girls of WRC 2009, with many other medals, are coming to New Zealand to represent Canada in the Open women's category. That honour goes to: Véronique Delisle, Karine Marchand, Natacha Lavoie (capitain R4 / R6), Maritza Chiasson, Annie Bergevin, Joannie Verret, Marie-Anne
- [Promoting rafting over 504km of rivers in 14 days](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/10/promoting-rafting-over-504km-of-rivers-in-14-days/) - 504 km is a very long rafting regatta!!! The two rivers of Vrbas and Sava linked the two cities of Banja Luka, BiH and Belgrade, Serbia through this amazing regatta which lasted from the 23rd September to the 6th October. The technical organizers of the regatta were Rafting Klub "Kanjon" from Banja Luka and
- [Masters of Costa Rica!](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/10/masters-of-costa-rica/) - Wow! This team is so interesting! And we’re not just talking about our IRF President who is a part of it, but also about the people who have participated in raft race history from the beginning and who are back to compete again. The Costa Rica Masters Team, is made up of “Rios Tropicales” guides,
- [U23 World Champions, Brasil - to defend their title in NZ](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/09/u23-world-champions-brasil-to-defend-their-title-in-nz/) - They will be at the WRC 2013 to defend their title which they earned at WRC 2011. The U23 Brazil men: Angelo Eduardo Degrandi (Captain), Gabriel Pessa (front right), Leandro Cavalcante (front left), Fernando Morassutti (middle left), Joao Luiz Rodrigues Junior-Stern (middle right), Jorge Nave (left back), Jonatan de Brito (middle right), with coach Joao
- [BiH's Bosna Zenica rafting team at ERC](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/05/bih-om-2-team/) - The Euro Rafting Champs is upon us. Here is a quick interview with SRK Bosna Zenica, from BiH, who are representing their country as the BiH OM 2 team in the upcoming R4 ERC in Slovenia. They formed in May 2008, with a goal of promoting extreme sports like white-water rafting, kayaking, mountain biking and
- [VET! Short for Volmolen Energie Team](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/09/vet-short-for-volmolen-energie-team/) - The Netherlands is a geographically low-lying country, with about 20% of its area and 21% of its population located below sea level, and 50% of its land lying less than one meter above sea level, so how does this flat country cope in the wild waters? To find out we get to know one of
- [NZ's U23 Men's team - fired up!](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/09/nzs-u23-mens-team-fired-up/) - The team of Samuel Harrison, Draxson Kerr, Aperahama Hurihanganui, Matt Barnard, Christy Hammond, Isaac Tracey, Roretana Kerr, Conner Hamilton is the first ever U23 men's team to be entered in the worlds to represent New Zealand. Several of these guys have been rafting for the past five years. They first got together back in April 2013
- [Red Ladies of the USA looking at rafting development long term](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/09/red-ladies-of-the-usa-looking-at-rafting-development-long-term/) - When the Red Ladies became Team USA for WRC 2013, they knew that they wanted to do so much more than just race. We talk to them about what they are hoping to achieve and how they are going about it. We are multi-dimensional women and our interests outside of the raft are wide and
- [GBR Master's team - ready for the challenge in NZ](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/08/gbr-masters/) - This is the first time that Great Britain will be represented in the men's Masters division at a World Rafting Champs. And this honour goes to Chris Dalby, Paul Gray, Lee Hopkins, Tony Pape, Richard Procter and Mark Steel who all embark on their first major competition. From the rivers of Canada through the U.S.A.,
- [WRC 2013 host nation - NZ's U19 men's team!](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/08/nz-u19-team/) - New Zealand are planning to have teams in every category (8 teams) at this World Champs. For a country that nearly always has to pay the most to travel to the World Champs it is great to see them taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity of a home event. We have Rob Sperling the U19
- [Slovakian Team Hazard - heading to NZ](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/08/slovakian-team-hazard-heading-to-nz/) - In every sport there are some people, countries or clubs who are synonymous with the sport, and for those who recognize these names you can be said to be connoisseurs of the same. And so it is in the rafting. When you say "Hazard" - for connoisseurs of the sport of rafting this embodies everything
- [River Anatomy](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/08/river-anatomy/) - Here is a great drawing of a rivers anatomy. Understanding the names and the different parts of a river can help you learn to read them and to know what others may be talking about. When needing to navigate rivers this is an essential tool to have. Next you will need to know what happens
- [GBR Junior team](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/08/gbr-junior-team/) - Although Great Britain had a Junior Men's team at the WRC in Costa Rica in 2011 it is a completely new team that will be competing at the WRC in New Zealand in 2013. The team: Luke Dorbin (Captain), Kim Snape, Liam Dorbin, Jonny Johnston, Josh Eaton, Chris Lloyd, Alex Joy with David Dorbin as
- [Raft Team Kula of Croatia!](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/08/raft-team-kula-of-croatia/) - A tribute to Kula - Rafting Team Kula has been developing since 1995 when Kula himself founded the Vidra Water Sports Club in order to promote rafting as a sport and form of recreation. Since 1998 members of KŠV Vidra have been Croatian representatives at European and World Championship and Cup races. Zvonko Kula Drakšić - rafter, kayaker, canoeist, mountaineer and P.E. teacher brought this team together and created their rafting
- [Points for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc ... needing a change?](https://internationalrafting.com/2015/07/division-of-points-per-discipline/) - When racing Sprint, Head to Head, Slalom and Downriver the points distribution is weighted quite heavily to the top three teams, with the winning team getting the giants share. It has been proposed to reduce that distribution so that the overall points will be closer and make the overall title more exciting. This is what
- [Bozo D' Água - Brasil Rafting Team](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/08/bozo-d-agua/) - Language barriers won't prevent us presenting one of the greatest rafting teams in the world that will be at the World Champs in New Zealand later this year. This interview was conducted by an interviewer who could not speak Portuguese and replies by the interviewee who could not speak English! So below is the interview in
- [Jim Coffey, IRF Assessor, receives award for R3 Rescue for River Runners video series.](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/06/jim-coffey-irf-assessor-receives-award-for-r3-rescue-for-river-runners-video-series/) - Many of us first met Jim when he brought his Canadian team over to race at the '95 to '98 Camel White Water Challenge events and were consistent winners of the Team Spirit Award. So to many of us it is no surprise to hear that he has, once again, won a notable prize - this time,
- [Effectiveness of bystander CPR in drowning cases](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/06/cpr-drowning/) - A look at recently published medical studies and their relevance to the Swiftwater Rescue program. Neil Newton Taylor | Swiftwater Rescue - It is over ten years ago that I remember running up the road from the Öztalerache river in Austria trying to think of the German for “not breathing” and to find a house with a
- [Race Rules - Teams and Competitors](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/05/race-rules-teams-and-competitors/) - For A and B level races competitors need to comply to a few rules so that they can compete - They need to be members of their national rafting organisation. They can only represent one country in any one year. If their passport is not the same as the country they race for they must
- [Stop the damming of the Zambezi - URGENT!](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/04/stop-the-damming-of-the-zambezi-urgent/) - Have you ever been down the Zambezi? Do you want to go for the first time or go again? TIME FOR ACTION THEN! They have started building roads on either side of where they will be building the wall! After years and years of the damming being on and then off its now on and
- [FLIRT - First Ladies Irish Rafting Team](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/04/flirt-ladies-irish-rafting-team/) - It's always exciting when we hear about a newly established team, especially a women's team. This time we present to you "FLIRT" - First Ladies Irish Rafting Team. (What a great name!) Jenny Kilbride, Sue Doyle, Vicki Guy, Mateja Trpin, Muireann Lynch, Laura Griffin and Kim Siekerman are team members. They’re all outdoor sports people.
- [Rafting - a team of individuals](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/05/individuals-rafting/) - When we see rafts racing we see a team striving for its goals, we often forget they are individuals from all walks of life.. That team is often made up of people from different activities like kayakers, C1 paddlers, guides, social rafters and more. All have one thing in common - they are eager for
- [Race Rules - C and D level event race classification](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/04/race-rules-level-event-race-classification/) - C-level competitions are the most common of all the IRF competitions. All the Euro Cup events and most other events fall into this category. D level events are ones that are closed to other countries - only the host country's teams can compete at D-level events - and sometimes may not be run according to
- [Why You Should Join the ATTA](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/03/join-atta/) - The ATTA's primary goal is to help your business grow and give you access to a global adventure travel community. Connect with a variety of businesses that will help you succeed from media, destinations and tour operators to suppliers, accommodations and specialty travel agents. By becoming a member you can promote your products/services; secure new customers;
- [Top 5 Reasons to take your Family on a Rafting Trip](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/02/top-5-reasons-family-rafting-trip/) - Looking to plan that next family adventure and can’t seem to decide where to go? Sometimes it is the hardest to plan vacations as the kids get older, and their tastes change. Even more complicated is when you have a family of different aged youngsters and teens. Offering a solution to the problem is a
- [Eternally second - an annoying syndrome](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/02/eternally-annoying-syndrome/) - We all know that the winning teams, the first teams, in each country's national selections get to go to the World Rafting Champs. In many countries they are the same team each year; so the question is - "what about those "eternally second" teams?" During my paddling, and through this opportunity to write about the
- [Race Rules - B level event classification](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/03/race-rules-b-level/) - Do you know the difference between A and B level events? Our 3rd article on Race Rules covers B level event classification. (Read A level classification if you missed it.) B level events are Continental Champs and World Cup events. Due to the Euro Champs being so much more developed than the other continental champs
- [Race Rules - Race Classification: A level](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/02/race-rules-race-classification/) - This is our 2nd article on Race Rules - helping you understand all sections. In our Race Classification we have 4 event levels and we split them into A, B, C and D. A level events - these events are World Championships, the best of the IRF, and are split into 4 divisions (Open, Masters, Junior
- [Race Rules - explained](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/01/race-rules-explained/) - We're launching a series of short articles that will bring you in closer touch with the IRF Race Rules. We're hoping that these articles will help you become more familiar with the rules and maybe explain why some of these rules are there. Here is the first article - DEFINITIONS USED IN THE RACE RULES: These
- [Did you come 2nd in your national races? Know your rules.](https://internationalrafting.com/2016/08/did-you-come-2nd-in-your-national-races-know-your-rules/) - Many teams that come 2nd or lower in their national champs / selections don't know about IRF Race Rule B.12.c. This rule states that if the 1st placed team is unable to attend the World Champs or Continental Champs then they can be replaced by the team that finished 2nd, and so on down the
- [Clean lines on throwbags](https://internationalrafting.com/2013/02/clean-lines-throw-bags/) - Our 3rd article on river safety covers throw bags and the advantages of what is called a "clean line". Neil Newton Taylor | Swiftwater Rescue - To the best of our knowledge there are at the moment only 4 manufacturers selling throwbags with so called "clean lines". Europe has been very slow to follow the lead
- [Weirs - nice to play in? Or deadly - can you tell the difference?](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/02/weirs-nice-play-in-deadly-difference/) - Neil Newton Taylor | Swiftwater Rescue - Although many weirs are perfectly safe to slide over or play in the stopper formed at the bottom, many are not. Telling the difference can be very difficult. "Weirs are either straightforward or they kill you” - Franco Ferrero: Author Whitewater Safety & Rescue This statement is born out
- [Red Ladies Raft Racers hailing from the USA](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/12/red-ladies-raft-racers/) - The Red Lady Raft Racers, made up from a team of professional river guides, was grown in the Arkansas Valley, USA. They are real ambassadors for their sport, a young team with big ambitions, and will spend their winter training on the Colorado River to compete in the National Selections in 2013. The stakes are
- [One week of tour rafting in the Alps!](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/11/week-tour-rafting-alps/) - Finally, the last week of June has arrived and I can leave for France once more. After a detour to bike up Mont Ventoux it’s off to Lake Geneva near the Swiss border to start a one week rafting trip through the French Alps. First on our to-do list is Les Dranses. A very nice
- [BTA Masters Team NZ](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/10/btv-masters-team-nz/) - Commercially rafting is a huge tourist attraction in New Zealand with around 100,000 people each year doing guided raft trips. Sports rafting, historically, has been limited to the Rotorua and Kawerau area and hence there are a few competitive teams based in that area. However, since New Zealand won the bid to hold the 2013
- [Slovenia returns to the Euro and World Podium](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/10/slovenia-returns-euro-world-podium/) - After several years of drought medals have once again begun to arrive in Slovenia. Rejuvenated with a new trainer and changed composition of team "GIMPEX Straža", in less than a year Slovenia have returned to the World and European rafting podium. In Costa Rica (R6) they won third place in the Slalom, Downriver and Overall
- [Crew from Augsburg love being new R6 Euro Champions!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/09/crew-augsburg-love-r6-euro-champions/) - GER 1 team with Fabian Bär, Ludwig Wöhrl, René Mühlmann, Christian Lechlmayr, Sebastian Schüssler, Max Remmele and Leonhard Anzinger are new R6 champions on the old continent. They have surprised themselves and all of us by finishing first in the R6 category. By the very end of the competition the fight was intense, uncertain. Czechs,
- [One of the last wilderness frontiers of Europe - Iceland](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/10/wilderness-frontiers-europe-iceland/) - Rising from the third largest glacier in Iceland (Hofsjökull 64°49′N 18°49′W ) The Austari jökulsa (East Glacial river) is without a doubt one of the silent giants of the European rafting world. If you ask any raft guides or rafting fans to name there 3 top European rafting rivers I am sure you would hear
- [A catch up with BVS rafting team Hazard](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/09/catch-bvs-rafting-team-hazard/) - 4th place is a very worthy result yet also one that can be so disappointing to a team. A result where you are so close to a medal, but still so far away. For the BSV Hazard raft team this was a result they saw many times during the European Championships and in the overall
- [Interview with team USA](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/09/interview-team-usa/) - The current USA men’s rafting team has consistently represented their Country on the international scene since the 2003 World rafting Championships in Czech. Like most teams they have had a couple of changes through out the years but always they are there amongst the top ranking teams pushing the level of competitive rafting. I first
- [Germans lose a friend and fellow team mate – Falk Schumann](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/09/germans-lose-friend-fellow-team-mate-falk-schumann/) - Thursday the 30th August 2012 was a sad day for the German rafting teams because they lost a close friend and long time team mate - Falk Schumann.Falk died of brain cancer in the Augsburg hospital after nearly 2 years of treatments, none which could save his life. Falk was an architect and Gold medal
- [Team Hazard](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/team-hazard/) - Here you can find out more from another team preparing for the much awaited competition at Lipno, and now we will be able to watch all the teams live!!! I caught up with Hazard team to find out inside information on their experience of the location and their aspirations for the competition. The BVS raft
- [ATTA and IRF Partner Program](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/atta-irf-partner-program/) - "Networking, cooperative marketing and collaboration serve as the driving forces behind increased participation in the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s (ATTA) Association Partnership Program, which today announced the addition of five new members, including the global body representing indigenous tourism interests. With the newest member additions, the ATTA’s AP network gains networking resources in Africa, Eastern Europe,
- [German Youth team are aiming for a podium finish!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/german-youth-mens-team-determined-podium-finish/) - The German youth team coming to Youth and Euro Champs 2012 has one change in the team since their success at the 2010 Youth WRC. The team consists of Leonhard Anzinger, René Raschka, Merlin and Gabriel Holzapfel. They train at the 1972 Olympic canoe slalom course in Augsburg (the first one in the world) four times
- ["Jazinky" raft team plan to take Gold on home grounds this Euro Champs](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/jazinky-raft-team-plan-gold-home-grounds-euro-champs/) - Since 2000. they have not missed a single Euro Champs, and each one they stood on the podium. Counting their medals from the Euro and World Champs is quite a task because they are the team with the most incredible winning continuity in the rafting sport. They come from the Czech Republic, the Euro Champs
- [Is the Bulgarian women's team the one to watch at this Euro Champs?](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/07/bulgarian-womens-team-watch-euro-champs/) - The female rafting team "Adventure Net", that will represent Bulgaria at the Euro Rafting Champs in the Czech Rep, is very well known to their competitors in the Balkan region. But this season, "Adventure Net", have had a break through with fantastic results at the Euro Cup events at which they have taken first place
- [Introducing some of the Youth teams ...](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/07/introducing-youth-teams/) - Netherlands - Forward Motion, R4 Youth - Men Team Forward Motion is a group of enthusiastic students with a love for outdoor activities and whitewater. In March 2012 it was decided to establish a rafting team. The reason they formed this team is to participate the National Championships rafting. The enthusiasm grew because of some workouts
- [IRF May/ June Newsletter](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/06/irf-may-june-newsletter/) - The latest newsletter (May/June) has been sent out to all on the newsletter database. If you did not receive one then sign-up.
- [March Newsletter](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/03/march-newsletter/) - March 2012 Newsletter IN THIS ISSUE Youth & Masters WRC Continental Champs World Cup & Euro Cup Other Rafting Series Race Rules Guide Training Courses and Workshops River Boarding Workshop Guide and Rescue Race Partners 1. Youth & Masters World Rafting Champs 2012: The 2012 Youth & Masters World
- [IRF becomes an Associated Partner with the Adventure Travel Trade Association](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/02/irf-partner-adventure-travel-trade-association/) - The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), an international membership-based professional association made of more than 730 adventure travel businesses around the world, has national and regional adventure and eco-travel focused associations like the IRF join its Association Partner program. The Association Partnership program provides our organization with: 1) A FREE ATTA corporate Membership for our association with
- [Press Release for Wed 6 Oct - Opening Ceremony](https://internationalrafting.com/2011/10/press-release-wed-6-oct-opening-ceremony/) - Press release
- [IRF links up with Adventure Travel Trade Association for education and training](https://internationalrafting.com/2011/02/irf-links-adventure-travel-trade-association-education-training/) - The IRF has linked up with the ATTA for a long-term education and training initiative as part of the ATTA's mission to professionalize the adventure tourism community. The ATTA and a selection of best-of-class adventure education and training institutions are joining together to launch the first phase of AdventureEDU,Training for a Sustainable Business, Earth and Adventure.
- [Euro Championships Report](https://internationalrafting.com/2010/07/euro-championships-report/) - The attached PDF is a report by the IRF in regards to the Euro Championships
- [Teva World Rafting Champs - Downriver](https://internationalrafting.com/2010/07/teva-world-rafting-champs-downriver/) - July 17 – Downriver The Teva World Champs couldn’t have asked for a better finish. The downriver race, its multiple laps (5 for women and 6 for men) proved to be grueling and took its toll on the athletes. Each lap you could see them getting more tired. But in the end every one of
- [Albanian Eagles](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/albanian-eagles/) - The Albanian Eagles rafting team The World Youth and Masters rafting championships starting at the end of August in the Czech Republic has been this year’s focus for many teams. We have saw the introduction of world youth competitions at the R4 world championships in Holland in 2010, but this year will see the first
- [European Championships Accident](https://internationalrafting.com/2010/06/european-championships-accidnet/) - The IRF is shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of Branka Stulic. A message of condolences has been sent to her family on behalf of the IRF and all its members. The IRF has been investigating the incident. All reports sent to us by those who saw the incident are being taken into consideration.
- [New GTE Committee appointed](https://internationalrafting.com/2019/11/new-gte-committee-appointed/) - With the IRF's Guide Training and Education System growing so strongly at the moment a new committee has recently been appointed to help take the system to even higher standards. This new committee is being led by Gaspar Goncz who is the Chair of the GTE Com and has been driving the system since May
- [WRC 2017 - Costa Rican Open Women's Team](https://internationalrafting.com/2017/09/wrc-2017-costa-rica-open-women-team/) - We are always pleased to present the national teams before the start of the World Championship, at this time we're presenting to you the Costa Rican Open Women's team. “We are Machacas, the team created by Asociación Machacas (Women Rafting Association), proud to represent Costa Rica as the Open Women Rafting Team in Japan 2017.
- [Slovenia send their first women’s team to Youth WRC](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/slovenia-send-womens-team-euro-champs/) - The Rafting Festival in the Czech Republic begins on the 23rd August with the youth and master categories in Ceske Budejovice on the Artificial Slalom Course. An interesting youth team that will be there is the Slovenian woman's team. As with most teams coming to the Youth WRC they do not have great results from
- ["We love clean rivers" says Oregon Rafting Team](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/we-love-clean-rivers-oregon-rafting-team/) - Oregon Raft Team will be participating in the "We Love Clean Rivers" clean up campaign which in partnership with Clackamas River Basin Council, hosts the 10th Annual Down the River Clean Up on the Clackamas – SUNDAY, SEPT 9th. This is a 15-mile, on-river clean up made possible by a rich network of river recreationalists
- [Team "Forward Motion" likes all sports but rafting is #1 right now!!](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/08/team-forward-motion-likes-sports-rafting-1-now/) - There is a crew who like outdoor activities: kayaking, climbing and mountain biking, but who connect well with their love for the sport of white water. Netherlands men's junior team "Forward Motion" will be coming to the Youth WRC in Czech, and is definitely special because their captain is a female!? We spoke to Jenita
- [Why are so many of our articles about women's teams?](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/12/articles-womens-teams/) - Recently we've had quite a few articles about women's rafting teams and not so many about men's teams! The reason for this is that we seldom get the responses we're looking for from the men's teams! So if you have a team and would like us to write an article about it then contact us.
- [New IRF Board of Directors appointed](https://internationalrafting.com/2011/10/irf-board-directors-appointed/) - A new Board of Directors was elected at the recent IRF Congress. Congratulations go to: Rafael Gallo (President); Peter Micheler (1st Vice President), Robert Kazik (2nd VP), Sue Liell-Cock (Secretary), Alex Pastir (Treasurer/ Development Officer), Oleg Grigoriev (Head of S&C Com), Joe Willie Jones (Vice Head of S&C Com), Gaspar Goncz (Head GT&E), Deb Cook
- [Outgoing Board of Directors](https://internationalrafting.com/2011/10/outgoing-board-directors/) - The IRF would like to thank Mark Joffe for all his work over the last 13 years that he has been on the IRF Board of Directors. Mark has been key in setting up the IRF as an NGO, managing the IRF banking accounts, setting up and maintaining the new website, facebook and other media
- [Junior division added to IRF leagues](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/10/junior-division-added-irf-leagues/) - The IRF Youth league is a fairly new one, with the first World Champs for youth being held in 2010. Since this league has been introduced we have always had to make exceptions to the age range so as to ensure the event is viable with enough teams. After carefully looking at other international sports
- [Rafting training and competing indoors anyone?](https://internationalrafting.com/2012/12/r/) - Rafters doing training and competitions indoors?! If you think this sounds unusual and impossible, then read on .... Serbia have recently come up with the idea of a rafting ergometer (exercise machine which can measure the amount of work performed when exercising on it) and they have added competitions to it as well. In an
- [UK team shows how rafting is done on the Olympic Whitewater Course in London ](https://internationalrafting.com/2010/12/uk-team-shows-rafting-olympic-whitewater-london/) - The Olympic Whitewater Course was officially opened and the Great Britain Rafting Teams were there. Below are some pictures from the days events. Photos are all credited to the Olympic Delivery Authority.

## Pages

- [Home](https://internationalrafting.com/) - INTERNATIONAL RAFTING FEDERATIONOfficial world governing body for raftingFIND OUT MORERAFT RACINGRacing rafts in all corners of the globe since 1997FIND OUT MOREGUIDE TRAINING & EDUCATIONThe only globally recognised raft guide certificationFIND OUT MORESUSTAINABILITYLeading in sustainable events since 2011FIND OUT MORERECREATIONAL RAFTINGRafting for all ages, abilities and adventuresFIND OUT MORE The International Rafting Federation (IRF) is
- [GTE Certification Requirements, Processes and Fees](https://internationalrafting.com/guiding/requirements/) - Guide Training & Education (GTE) Award SystemThe IRF Guide Training & Education (GTE) Award System (“the GTE system” was created to provide commercial operators, industry organisations, national rafting federations, government regulators and other interested parties worldwide with a common standard for whitewater professionals. The GTE system is managed by the International Rafting Federation (IRF) through
- [Media](https://internationalrafting.com/media/) - MEDIAPhotos, videos, newsletters and press releases Enquiries for any of the following should be made direct to our media team:Authority to be official media at any of our eventsInclusion on press releases for any events / general updatesRafting history / background, press releases or high resolution rafting mediaPractical IRF media and branding links:IRF Brand GuidelinesIRF
- [Continental Sub-Committees](https://internationalrafting.com/about/committees/sport-competition/continental-sub-committees/) - Continental Committees are Sub-Committees of the Sport & Competition Committee (S&C Com) whose remit is Raft Racing. Bylaw 44 - Continental Sub-Committees Continental Sub-Committees shall:Endeavor to have seven to ten (7-10) elected members.Conduct votes among IRF Member Organizations on relevant Continental issues.Handle Continental Sport and Competition issues that the IRF Executive Committee requests of them.Report all
- [Anti-Doping Committee](https://internationalrafting.com/about/committees/sport-competition/anti-doping/) - The Anti-Doping Committee is a sub-committee of the Sport & Competition Committee.The remit of the Anti-Doping Committee is Anti-Doping. Bylaw 45 - Anti-Doping Committee The Anti-Doping Sub-Committee shall serve under the Sport and Competition Committee and is responsible for ensuring that the IRF substantially complies with the recommendations and requirements codified by the World Anti-
- [Sustainability Committee](https://internationalrafting.com/about/committees/sustainability-committee/) - The remit of the Sustainability Committee is Sustainability. Bylaw 51 - Sustainability Committee The Conservation (Sustainability) Committee is charged with advancing ARTICLE 5, Section 13 of the Bylaws, and shall serve as consultants to the IRF Board of Directors and the IRF Executive Committee on all IRF policies and decisions that are related to Conservation.The
- [Sport & Competition Committee](https://internationalrafting.com/about/committees/sport-competition/) - The remit of the Sport & Competition Committee (S&C Com) is Raft Racing. Bylaw 43 - Sport & Competition Committee The Sport and Competition Committee is responsible for advancing ARTICLE 5, Sections 5, 6 and 7 of the Bylaws, and shall have oversight over all IRF policies and decisions that are related to sport and
- [Para Rafting Committee](https://internationalrafting.com/about/committees/para-rafting-committee/) - The remit of the Para Rafting Committee is to oversee the management of the IRF’s Para Rafting Rules, Codes and Classification Systems. Committee members: Jezza Williams Saeed Zaroori Emma Wiggs Oleksandr Bakanychev Darko Mitrović Kelley Kalafatich Jim Coffey Andrey Viktorovich Batalov Advisors: Julie Gray
- [Ethics Committee](https://internationalrafting.com/about/committees/ethics-committee/) - IRF Ethics Committee Regulations and Procedures IRF Code of Ethical Conduct IRF Code of Ethical Conduct (Español)
- [Judges Committee](https://internationalrafting.com/about/committees/judges-committee/) - The remit of the Judges Committee is Raft Race Judging. Bylaw 46 - Judges Committee The Judges’ Committee is responsible for advancing ARTICLE 5, Section 8 of the Bylaws, and shall serve as consultants to the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee on all IRF policies and decisions that are related to judging issues.The
- [International Relations Committee](https://internationalrafting.com/about/committees/international-relations/) - The remit of the International Relations Committee is to promote rafting in all nations. Bylaw 49 - International Relations Committee The International Relations Committee is charged with advancing ARTICLE 5, Section 2 of the Bylaws, and shall serve as consultants to the IRF Board of Directors and the IRF Executive Committee on all IRF policies
- [Guide Training & Education (GTE) Committee](https://internationalrafting.com/about/committees/gte-committee/) - The remit of the Guide Training & Education (GTE) Committee is Raft Guiding. Bylaw 48 - Guide Training & Education Committee The Guide Training and Education Committee is responsible for advancing ARTICLE 5, Sections 9, 10 and 11 of the Bylaws. This includes developing and promoting programs and systems that may be used as a
- [Communications Committee](https://internationalrafting.com/about/committees/communications/) - The remit of the Communications Committee is to manage the IRF brand, media and marketing. Bylaw 52 - Media & Marketing Committee The Communications Committee shall have oversight over all IRF policies and decisions that are related to communications.The Communications Committee shall submit proposals and establish a budget for the development of IRF Communications.The Communications
- [Recreational Rafting Committee](https://internationalrafting.com/about/committees/recreation-committee/) - The remit of the Recreational Rafting Committee is promoting rafting as a leisure or adventure activity. Bylaw 50 - Recreational Rafting Committee The Recreational Rafting Committee is charged with advancing ARTICLE 5, Section 12 of the Bylaws, and shall serve as consultants to the IRF Board of Directors and the IRF Executive Committee on all
- [Individual Membership](https://internationalrafting.com/about/membership/individual-membership/) - The Individual Membership Fee for 2022 is $10 USD.Individual Membership is compulsory for:all Athletes competing at A or B level eventsall IRF Judges (this will be introduced through renewal workshops).Individual Membership is optional for:all other Athletesall coaches, managers, federation officials, IRF Officials, supporters, etcPayment options Pay with Debit or Credit Card through Stripe Pay with
- [Board of Directors](https://internationalrafting.com/about/bod/) - In accordance with Article 8 (2) of IRF Bylaws, the Board of Directors (BOD) is composed of Executive Officers and Administrative Committee Chairs who are elected by the Congress. The Board of Directors is responsible for the management of the IRF, and for determining the Annexes to Bylaw Articles, and general policies which affect the
- [Committees and Commissions](https://internationalrafting.com/about/committees/) - In accordance with Article 8 (2) of IRF Bylaws, the Board of Directors (BOD) is composed of Executive Officers and Administrative Committee Chairs who are elected by the Congress. The Board of Directors is responsible for the management of the IRF and general policies which affect the entirety of the IRF, within the confines set forth
- [Athletes' Commission](https://internationalrafting.com/about/committees/athletes-commission/) - The remit of the Athletes’ Commission is to represent all rafting athletes in the sport of Raft Racing. Bylaw 47 - Athletes' Commission Athletes’ Commission shall consist of seven (7) members including a Chair.The duties of the Athletes’ Commission are:To represent the athletes in the sports related decision making bodies of the IRF.To act as
- [Membership Application](https://internationalrafting.com/about/membership/application/) - If you are interested in becoming a National Federation Member please download and complete the NF Membership Application Form If you are interested in becoming an Associate Member please download and complete the Associate Membership Application Form With the NF Membership Application Form you need to include: a full list of the management committee or equivalent
- [Membership Fees](https://internationalrafting.com/about/membership/fees/) - National Member Organisations (National Rafting Federations) Current Membership Fees Current Membership Fees The IRF collects membership fees as a primary method for paying for the expenses necessary to administer the IRF. The fees are set by the IRF Board of Directors as required under the IRF Bylaws.The IRF offers two options for our National Member
- [About](https://internationalrafting.com/about/) - INTERNATIONAL RAFTING FEDERATIONOfficial world governing body for rafting What is the International Rafting Federation Since 1997, the International Rafting Federation (IRF) is recognised as the world governing body for Rafting Sport. We are a non-profit, democratic, global affiliation of sporting entities, responsible for fostering fair, credible and legitimate international rafting competition at all levels. The
- [What is the IRF](https://internationalrafting.com/about/irf/) - INTERNATIONAL RAFTING FEDERATIONThe official world governing body for rafting Since 1997, the International Rafting Federation (IRF) is recognised as the world governing body for Rafting SportWe are a non-profit, democratic, global affiliation of sporting entities and personalities, responsible for fostering fair, credible and legitimate international rafting competition at all levels. The IRF includes entities such
- [Members & Fees](https://internationalrafting.com/about/membership/) - Membership of the International Rafting Federation (IRF): Membership of the International Rafting Federation is defined in Part II (Articles 13-19) of the IRF Bylaws.Annual membership feesNew membership applications Current International Rafting Federation (IRF) members: 🇦🇱 Albania Official name:Republic of AlbaniaCountry code:ALBOrganisation name:Albanian Rafting FederationType of member:FullMembership:2011 – presentAddress:rr. Abdyl Frasheri, nr. 31Business Center “Hekla”Website:www.fshr.alEmail:info@fshr.alPhone:+355 672
- [Top 10 most improved rivers](https://internationalrafting.com/sustainability_/top-10-most-improved-rivers/) - The International Rafting Federation maintains a ‘Top 10 Most Improved Rivers’ listIncluded in the list are those rafting rivers which were once considered to be threatened or endangered, but have since been added to ‘protected rivers’ lists, have had dams removed, have been cleaned up, or the government and/or local community is actively involved in
- [Top 10 most threatened rivers](https://internationalrafting.com/sustainability_/top-10-most-threatened-rivers/) - The International Rafting Federation maintains a ‘Top 10 Most Threatened Rivers’ list. The list includes rafting rivers which are considered by the IRF to be the most endangered or threatened by damming or diversion, mining, fracking, pollution, and other constant development threats that loom over rivers worldwide. These types of projects diminish water quality, impede vital fish runs,
- [Green Events Action Plan](https://internationalrafting.com/sustainability_/green-events-action-plan/) - International Rafting Federation Green Events Action Plan By Ms. Hanieh Goharipour and Conservation Committee The IRF’s aim is to ensure the sport of rafting is sustainable, and to do that we need to look at how our events are run. Events have an impact on the environment through: Direct resources (electricity, water, food, etc)
- [Thank you for registering](https://internationalrafting.com/thank-you-for-registering/) - IRF Congress 2021 Thank you for registering You will shortly receive a confirmation email with your unique login for the event.We will send you another email the day before the event with the same login details. If you’ve lost either of the emails, let us know and we’ll resend you the details. Your opportunity to
- [GTE Conference 2024 - Costa Rica 🇨🇷](https://internationalrafting.com/gte-conference-2024-costa-rica/) - GTE Conference 2024 The GTE Conference 2024 will be held on the Sarapiqui river, Costa Rica. Sarapiqui is approximately two hours drive from Juan Santamaria international airport in San Jose, Costa Rica.The Sarapiqui river is a tributary of the San Juan river, and was host to the Downriver race of the World Rafting Championships 2011.
- [My account](https://internationalrafting.com/my-account/) - [woocommerce_my_account]
- [Sustainability](https://internationalrafting.com/sustainability_/) - SUSTAINABILITYLeading in sustainable events since 2011 The Sustainability Committee is tasked with advancing Article 5, Section 13 of the Bylaws:Promote the conservation and protection of rivers and river environments, and educate the public in sustainable environmental stewardship practices.Our commitment to sustainabilityThe IRF is committed to nurturing positive environmental, social, and economic impacts for current and future generations
- [Sitemap](https://internationalrafting.com/sitemap/) - SITE MAP SitemapAboutBoard of DirectorsBylawsCommittees and CommissionsAthletes’ CommissionCommunications CommitteeEthics CommitteeGuide Training & Education (GTE) CommitteeInternational Relations CommitteeJudges CommitteePara Rafting CommitteeRafting Operator Accreditation (ROA)Recreational Rafting CommitteeSport & Competition CommitteeAnti-Doping CommitteeContinental Sub-CommitteesSustainability CommitteeCongressHistoryMembers & FeesIndividual MembershipMembership ApplicationMembership FeesWhat is the IRFAnti DopingBasketCheckoutCheckoutContactPrivacyTerms of Service AgreementGTE Conference 2024 – Costa Rica 🇨🇷GTE Instructor Conference 2023GuidingCertified Guides / InstructorsGTE
- [Shop](https://internationalrafting.com/shop/)
- [Products](https://internationalrafting.com/products/)
- [GTE Instructor Conference 2023](https://internationalrafting.com/gte-instructor-conference-2023/) - An individual registration form must be completed for each person attending the IRF GTE Instructor Conference 2023.Registration payments may be made for more than one person - use the same transaction ID in all relevant forms.Submission of the registration form is not confirmation of attendance. Only the payment of the registration fee guarantees attendance.If an
- [Checkout](https://internationalrafting.com/checkout-2/)
- [Coming soon](https://internationalrafting.com/coming-soon/) - Under construction Following your feedback, we are relaunching our website with a new look and feel. Join us on Monday to see your new look International Rafting Federation website. Contact Us - General All general queries, please send a message toinfo@internationalrafting.com Contact Us - GTE All raft guide queries, please send a message togte@internationalrafting.com Social
- [Basket](https://internationalrafting.com/basket/) - You may be interested in… Your basket is currently empty! New in store
- [Anti Doping](https://internationalrafting.com/anti-doping/) - ANTI DOPINGWADA Code observer since 2014 IRF Position on Doping in Sport The IRF is unequivocally opposed, on ethical and medical grounds, to the practice of doping in sport and fully supports the position of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against the use of banned substances and methods.The use, possession
- [Checkout](https://internationalrafting.com/checkout/) - Thank you If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us direct.
- [Events Calendar](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/) - Raft race events Check back regularly for schedule additions and updated details. Event Categories (as defined in Race Rules):A● World Champs (1 team per gender / age category per country)B● Continental Champs (2 teams per gender / age category per country)C● International events (any teams are welcome)D● National events (any teams within published criteria)–● Run
- [Euro Rafting Champs 2014 - Slovakia](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/r4-euro-champs-2014/) - RESULTS: U19 women U19 men U23 women U23_men Master_women Master_men Open_women Open_men INFORMATION: Dates: 17 - 20 July 2014 Location: Areál Divoká voda Čuňovo, Bratislava, Slovakia River: Danube, artificial course River Class: 3 to 4 Team categories: R4 only Divisions: U19, U23, Masters (40+), Open Categories: Men, Women Disciplines: Sprint, H2H, Slalom, Downriver Rafts: RobFin HOBIT 400
- [Euro Rafting Champs 2015 - Bosnia & Herzegovina](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/erc-2015-bosnia/) - Dates: 19 - 24 May 2015 Location: Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina River: Vrbas River River Class: 3 Team categories: R6 only Divisions: U19 and U23, Masters (40+), Open Categories: Men, Women Disciplines: Sprint, H2H, Slalom, Downriver Rafts & Equipment: Organizer are providing (all other equipment needs to be brought by the teams) Organisers: Rafting club "KANJON", Banja Luka Event Director: Alexandar Pastir - Bosnia
- [Euro Rafting Champs 2010 - Italy](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/erc-2010-italy/) - EURO CHAMPS – Val di Sole, Italy 2 – 6 June 2010 RESULTS R4 Men - Sprint; H2H; Slalom; Downriver; Overall R4 Women - Sprint; H2H; Slalom; Downriver; Overall R6 men - Sprint; H2H; Slalom; Downriver; Overall R6 Women - Sprint; H2H; Slalom; Downriver; Overall -- Information for participants The competitions will be held in
- [Euro Rafting Champs 2012 - Czechia](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/erc-2012-czechia/) - The 2012 Euro Rafting Champs will be held in the Czech Republic on the Vltava River from the 28 August - 2nd September. The top two men's and top two women's teams from each member federation in Europe are invited to this event. Check with your national rafting federation for your own selection race dates where
- [Racing](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/) - RAFT RACINGRacing rafts in all corners of the globe since 1997 Raft racing is the sport of competitive rafting within the definitions of raft race rules.Events – full list of all upcoming events; includes links to previous eventsRace Rules – the official raft race rules. Reviewed annually by national membersAge Divisions – the official age
- [River safety articles & videos](https://internationalrafting.com/guiding/river-safety-articles/) - RIVER SAFETYArticles, videos and links Having fun on the rivers is what its all about to many of us, and being safe while doing it can mean having fun memories or having great regrets for the rest of your life. The IRF has been bringing you some river safety tips on a regular basis now
- [GTE Workshops / Assessments](https://internationalrafting.com/guiding/courses/) - The below lists are the authorised IRF Guide Training & Education (GTE) courses and workshops.If a course is not listed below, it has not been approved as an official IRF Guide Training & Education (GTE) course / workshop / assessment.If you are an instructor and want your course /workshop listed, contact the GTE administration with
- [Certified Guides / Instructors](https://internationalrafting.com/guiding/certified/) - CERTIFIED GUIDES & INSTRUCTORSCurrently certified guides, trip leaders, instructors & assessors The IRF regularly updates these lists of certified raft guides and instructors. All persons listed on the following links have met the minimum standards required to attain the IRF Guide Training & Education (GTE) Award for which they are listed.Further information on the GTE
- [Previous GTE Workshops / Assessments](https://internationalrafting.com/guiding/courses/courses-old/) - 2022: 09 - 13 Feb: IRF Guide/ Trip Leader/ Safety Kayaker. Level 2,3,4. Jatunyacu, Jondachi-Hollin, Misahualli, Tena, Ecuador. Assessor: Jim Coffey. Instructors: Francisco Echeverría, Santiago Canala, Jaime Dalgo, Philp Robinson, Dario Macas. Details. 14 - 17 Feb: Raft Guide +TL course and assessment. Miño River - Portugal. Level 2 and 3. Instructor: Eneko Yarza. Details.
- [Rafting Operator Accreditation](https://internationalrafting.com/guiding/roa/) - The Rafting Operator Accreditation (ROA) is a credential issued by the International Rafting Federation (IRF) to rafting operators that offer rafting guided or instructional services. The purpose of the system is to provide a means of recognising operators that meet or exceed internationally accepted safety, environmental, and quality standards. The process consists of a period
- [GTE Certification History and Development](https://internationalrafting.com/guiding/gte-system/) - GTE HISTORY & DEVELOPMENTTwo decades of experience and growth Welcome to the IRF Guide Training & Education (GTE) Award System IRF GTE history & development spans two decades whereby the system is the only globally recognised raft guide certification. The system was developed in response to the demands of rafting guides, river tour companies and
- [Renew](https://internationalrafting.com/guiding/renew/) - CERTIFICATE RENEWALHow to renew your IRF GTE certification How to renew your IRF GTE certificate: All certificates expire three (3) years after issue. Renewal requires proof that the renewal requirements listed in the GTE Award System have been satisfied, and payment of relevant renewal fee(s) has been made. Process to renew: Ensure GTE Admin always
- [Guiding](https://internationalrafting.com/guiding/) - GUIDE TRAINING & EDUCATIONThe only globally recognised raft guide certification The only globally recognised raft guiding certification The IRF Guide Training & Education (GTE) Award was created to provide commercial operators, industry organisations, national rafting federations, government regulators and other interested parties worldwide with a common standard for whitewater guiding professionals. To date, the IRF
- [Rafting Operator Accreditation (ROA)](https://internationalrafting.com/about/committees/rafting-operator-accreditation-roa/) - The remit of the Rafting Operator Accreditation (ROA) Committee is to manage the credential issued by the International Rafting Federation (IRF) to operators that offer rafting guided or instructional services.See more about the Rafting Operator Accreditation credential. Committee Members: Gabriel Cote-Valiquette (Chair) Mark Hirst Gaspar Goncz Jean Claude Razel Sebastian Larcher
- [History](https://internationalrafting.com/about/history/) - The International Rafting Federation (IRF) has a long and respected history from early international rafting events in the late 1980s through to the global organisation it is today. Recommended reading on the history of rafting itself is the Complete White Water Rafter by Jeff Bennett. Early inceptions 1989 – 1997 The first large scale international gathering of
- [Bylaws](https://internationalrafting.com/about/bylaws/) - Current Bylaws of the International Rafting Federation IRF ByLaws v4.1 – Dec 2021 as of December 2021IRF ByLawsVer4.1 – December 2021 with track changes (showing BOD changes)IRF Congress 2021 – Bylaw proposals summaryIRF Code of Ethical Conduct
- [Congress](https://internationalrafting.com/about/congress/) - Congress is held every two years Congress 2021 23 and 24 November, Virtual:AnnouncementAgendaProposed changes to BylawsCongress 2021 – MinutesReports:President’s ReportManagement Report from Secretary General2020 Financial Report2021 BudgetReports from Chairs of the following Committees:Sport & CompetitionGuide Training & EducationJudgesInternational RelationsMedia & MarketingRecreational RaftingSustainabilityAthletes CommissionBoard of Director nominations:President – Joseph Willis JonesSecretary General – Sue Liell-Cock1st Vice
- [World Rafting Championship History](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/wrchistory/) - WORLD RAFTING CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORYRaft racing since the 1980s Beginnings The IRF World Rafting Championship event has its origins in the international events of Project RAFT in which up to 50 raft teams of men and women competed in various disciplines including Slalom and Down River on the Chuya River, Siberia (1989), Nantahala River, USA (1990),
- [Certified Judges](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/judging/judges/) - IRF Judge certifications IRF certified judges are awarded their qualifications in accordance with IRF Raft Race Rules. The IRF Judge Certification is the only internationally recognised raft race judge qualification. As such, only people listed below are authorised to judge at IRF raft race events.There are four types of IRF Judge certifications:Assistant JudgeGeneral JudgeChief JudgeJudge
- [Race Results](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/race-results/) - RACE RESULTSRaft racing for over 20 years Race results for all major IRF race events WRC 2022 ResultsMedia for each of these events can be found here.Results, media and details for recent races can be found here World ChampionshipsWRC 1998 / WRC 1999 / WRC 2000 / WRC 2001 / WRC 2003 / WRC 2005
- [Bidding for new events](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/bidding/) - Click here for a brochure outlining what it means to host an IRF World Rafting Championship (WRC) event!World Rafting Championship Host brochure The IRF is accepting bids for the following event:2025, 2026, 2027 Continental Championships – European, Pan American, Asian, Oceania2026, 2027, 2028 World Rafting Championships2025, 2026, 2027 World Rafting Cup Series IRF event bidding
- [Recreation](https://internationalrafting.com/recreation/) - RECREATIONAL RAFTINGRafting for all ages, abilities and adventures The Recreational Rafting Committee is tasked with advancing Article 5, Section 12 of the Bylaws:Encourage the development of recreational rafting as a contribution to a healthy lifestyle for all ages and abilities.Recreational Rafting is a water based activity available to everyone. We share many articles on our
- [Race Rules](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/race-rules/) - Current Race Rules (rescinds all other versions): IRF Race Rules 2024 (PDF) (MS Word versions available from IRF Administration)IRF Race Rules 2024 – with track changes (PDF) – details what changes were made to the 2023 Race RulesIRF Race Rules – March 2020 SERBIANIRF Race Rules Scoring System (points for each place in each discipline)IRF_H2H_Race_Order_Calculation Forms
- [Newsletter](https://internationalrafting.com/media/newsletter/) - Signup for newsletters: Our monthly newsletters feature all the news of the previous few weeks and insights into what’s coming up soon Previous newsletters: 2023 January 2023February and March 2023April 2023May 2023June 2023July 2023August 2023September 2023 2022 January 2022February 2022March 2022April 2022May 2022June 2022July 2022August 2022September 2022October 2022November 2022December 2022 2021 January 2021February 2021March 2021April
- [Euro Rafting Champs 2023 - Czechia](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/erc-2023-czechia/) - Dates: 21st - 27th August 2023 Location: Vltava River, The Czech Republic●Lipno nad Vltavou● České Vrbné● Vyšší Brod Organizers: The Union of Boaters of The Czech Republic Event Director: Race director: Safety Director: Judging, timing: Divisions: U19 and U23, Masters (40+), Open Categories: Men, Women Races: R4 / R6 Disciplines: Sprint, H2H, Slalom, Downriver Rivers: Vltava Entry Fee:
- [Recent raft races - media and details](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/recent-raft-races/) - Recent raft races - details, media and results Below are links to the most recent IRF sanctioned or supported raft race events. Once the events have taken place, results and links to related articles for the events can be found here. 2023 EC Čunovo, R4, Slovakia 2023 EC Čunovo Results EC Results so far 2023
- [Raft Racing Age Division](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/age-division/) - The below information is updated at the end of each year in preparation for the following year. Raft racing is 01 January to 31 December.These Age Divisions apply to all Category A and B (Worlds and Continental) level events. Category C & D events will usually follow the same criteria but may deviate so long
- [Contact](https://internationalrafting.com/contact/) - Contact us: Your name: Your email: Subject: Message Send Useful links: Privacy policyWebsite Terms of Service GTE enquiries: For questions about the Guide Training Scheme please direct your question to your Instructor who certified you.If you do not get your questions answered there then please contact:gte@internationalrafting.com Newsletter:
- [Event media and details](https://internationalrafting.com/media/event-media/) - Where to find event media: Links to photos and videos from all of our events can be found below. Additional photos and videos can be found on our social media channels:Youtube (@internationalrafting)Instagram (@worldraftingchamps)Facebook (@internationalrafting)Facebook (@IRFworldraftingchamps)Facebook (@IRFeuroraftingchamps)Full media packs, press releases and requests to be official media at our events should be directed to our media
- [Judging](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/judging/) - JUDGINGHonest and consistent raft race officials Raft race judging: Raft Race Judging is governed by the internationally accepted IRF Raft Race Rules. The Judges Committee oversees all aspects of raft race judging including templates, judge review, and race rules review.The Judges Committee is tasked with advancing Article 5, Section 6 and 8 of the Bylaws:…establish
- [World Rafting Champs 2013 - New Zealand](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/wrc-2013-newzealand/) - Official website Official facebook page Dates: Youth and Junior: 13 - 17 November 2013 Open and Masters: 18 - 24 Nov 2013 Location: Rotorua, New Zealand Y/J - Sprint, H2H and Slalom on Tarawera River Y/J - Downriver O/M - Sprint and H2H on the Kaituna River O/M - Slalom on Tarawera River O/M -
- [Euro Rafting Champs 2018 - Slovakia](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/erc-2018-slovakia/) - ⇒ Key Information ⇒ Results KEY INFORMATION: Dates: 2 - 7 July 2018. River/ course: Cunovo Cities: Bratislava, Slovakia Links: Official Facebook page Organisers Event Facebook page Categories: Men and Women Divisions: Open; Masters (40+); Under 19; Under 23 Rafts: R4 Organisation hosting event: Pantheon Foundation Contact details: Michal Černý (Event Director) Adam Morbacher (Assistant, Media) RESULTS: Sprint: Open_men; Open_women; Masters_women; Masters_men
- [Online Judges Workshop - 8, 9, 10 April](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/judging/judging-resources/online-judges-course-8910-april/) - Become an IRF Race Judge!Details of WorkshopDates: 8, 9, 10 April 2022Time: 10:00 - 13:00 UTCCost $30 (includes cost of IRF Individual Membership fee for one year)Register: Form to registerCertification on completion: IRF Assistant Judge (Race Rules state Assistant Judges "can judge at C or D Level Events. At A or B Level Events, an
- [Para Raft Racing](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/para-rafting/) - PARA RAFT RACINGInternationally recognised race classifications Introduction to Para Raft Racing The IRF recognises the needto make raft racing available to as wide a number of people as possible.Therefore a Para Rafting Committee was appointed in October 2020 to direct and approve the process of finalising the Rules, Codes and Classification Systems for Para Raft
- [World Rafting Champs 2009 - Bosnia & Herzegovina](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/wrc-2009-bosniaherzegovina/) - Dates: 17 - 24 May 2009; Location: Banja Luka; Hosting Organization: RK "Kanyon" Event Director: Aleksandar Pastir RESULTS River Vrbas River with the Downriver being held on the Tara River. River Vrbas is fast mountain river, with several white water sections and pool drops. Length that is used for rafting is 31km. (from dam to
- [Euro Rafting Champs 2019 - Bosnia & Herzegovina](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/erc2019-banjaluka/) - In July 2019, we return to the stunning gorges of the River Vrbas in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Vrbas is a fast mountain river, with several white water sections and pool drops. The length used for rafting is 31km (from dam to downtown). The Vrbas winds through two canyons: Canyon Tijesno (5km) and
- [World Rafting Champs 2011 - Costa Rica](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/wrc-2011-costarica/) - The 2011 World Rafting Championship is being held on the Pacuare River in Costa Rica from 4 to 11 October 2011. Dates: 4 - 11 Oct 2011 Youth WRC: 12 - 16 Oct; Age 16 - 21 Location: Pacuare River, nearest town is Turrialba Organisation hosting event: The Turrialba Chamber of Tourism and the Asoc. Aventura
- [Euro Rafting Champs 2017 - Georgia](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/erc-2017-georgia/) - Date: 22 - 28 May 2017 River: Mtkvari River Nearest city: Borjomi River Class: Sprint, H2H, Slalom, Youth Downriver will be on the Class 3 section as per the Euro Cup. Open and Masters Downriver will be on the upper section which includes Class 4/5 Divisions: U19 and U23, Masters (40+), Open Categories: Men, Women Disciplines: Sprint, H2H, Slalom,
- [Euro Rafting Champs 2016 - Slovenia](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/erc-2016-slovenia/) - Date: 16. - 22. May 2016 Location: Straža, Slovenia and Tacen Artificial Course (Ljubljana), Slovenia Organizers: Slovenian Rafting Federation, Municipality of Straža and Rafting club Gimpex Straža Event Director: Andrej Petkovič Race director: Simon Bobnar Safety Director: Aljoša Horvat Judging, timing, antidoping: Uroš Lovrenčič Divisions: U19 and U23, Masters (40+), Open Categories: Men, Women Races: R4 / Sprint
- [World Rafting Champs 2015 - Indonesia](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/wrc-2015-indonesia/) - ⇒ Key Information and results ⇒ Team/participants information ⇒ Judging ⇒ Media including press releases ⇒ Congress ⇒ GT&E ⇒ Pre-event KEY INFORMATION: Dates: 29 Nov - 8 Dec 2015 Location: Citarik River, Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia Official Facebook page Official organiser's website: www.FAJI.org Categories: Men Women Divisions: Open Masters
- [World Rafting Champs 2016 - UAE](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/wrc-2016-uae/) - ⇒ Key Information and results ⇒ Team/participants information ⇒ Judging ⇒ Media including press releases ⇒ Congress ⇒ GT&E ⇒ Pre-event KEY INFORMATION: Dates: 31 Oct - 5 Nov Location: Wadi Adventures, Al Ain, UAE. Categories: Men & Women Divisions: Open, Masters (40+), Under 19, Under 23 Rafts: R4 Organisation hosting event: Wadi Adventures Official Event
- [World Rafting Champs 2019 - Australia](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/wrc-2019-australia/) - ⇒ Key Information and results ⇒ Team/participants information ⇒ Judging ⇒ Media including press releases ⇒ Congress ⇒ GT&E ⇒ Pre-event 2018 KEY INFORMATION: Dates: 13 - 20 May 2019 River: Tully River Location: Tully, Queensland, Australia Categories: Men and Women Divisions: Open; Masters (40+); Under 19; Under 23 Rafts: R6 Organisation hosting event: Australian Rafting Federation Contact
- [Privacy](https://internationalrafting.com/contact/privacy/) - Your privacy is very important to us and we believe that you should always keep the control over your personal information. This privacy policy informs you about how we access and use the information related to your use of the services offered on the www.internationalrafting.com website and on the other digital properties managed by the
- [Terms of Service Agreement](https://internationalrafting.com/contact/terms-of-service/) - Welcome to the International Rafting Federation website What is internationalrafting.com and who are we?The internationalrafting.com website is the official website of the International Rafting Federation (the “IRF”). It is managed and operated by the IRF under the direction of the IRF Executive Committee and the IRF Board of Directors.The mission of the IRF, according to the IRF
- [Judging Resources](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/judging/judging-resources/) - Judging Resources provided below are used by IRF certified judges. If you prefer to work in excel sheets please contact IRF Admin for the excel versions. Race documents for Judges and event organisers: Judges Handbook: reference workbook used by new Jury members and for reference at IRF events, particularly IRF WRC. Organisers should read this
- [Zambezi - Batoka Dam](https://internationalrafting.com/zambezi-batoka-dam/) - Latest info: Facebook page: Save The Zambezi River RE: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Proposed Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme (Zambia and Zimbabwe) on the Zambezi River: Invitation to Focus Group Meeting (March 2020) There is an invitation to comment on the Draft ESIAs and to attend the open house meeting for the Proposed
- [IRF Forums](https://internationalrafting.com/forums/) - Log in or Register Log out Lost Password? If you have any problems please contact IRF Admin [bbp-forum-index]
- [Tour Operators](https://internationalrafting.com/recreation/tour-operators/) - Tour Operators whose guides are ALL IRF certified: White Water Training Centre - world wide Europe Adventure Net - Bulgaria Tara-Raft - BiH Lapin Koskikoulu - Finland Viking Rafting - Iceland International WhiteWaterSchool - Netherlands and France Outdoor Events - Romania Ace Adventure - Scotland Alternatif Outdoor Specialists - Turkey Llangollen - UK Cardiff International White Water - UK South America
- [World Rafting Champs 2017 - Japan](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/wrc-2017-japan/) - ⇒ Key Information and results ⇒ Team/participants information ⇒ Judging ⇒ Media including press releases ⇒ Congress ⇒ GT&E ⇒ Pre-event 2016 KEY INFORMATION: Dates: 2 - 9 October 2017 Location: Yoshino River (Koboke section), Miyoshi city, Tokushima Prefecture. Official Facebook page Official organiser's website: WRC-2017Japan.com Categories: Men and Women Divisions: Open; Masters (40+); Under
- [World Rafting Champs 2018 - Argentina](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/wrc-2018-argentina/) - ⇒ Key Information and results ⇒ Team/participants information ⇒ Judging ⇒ Media including press releases ⇒ Congress (next Congress 2019) ⇒ GT&E ⇒ Pre-event 2017 KEY INFORMATION: Dates: 4 - 10 Nov 2018 River: Aluminé and Ruca Choroy Rivers Town: Villa Pehuenia, Patagonia Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/IRFWorldRaftingChamps Instagram: www.instagram.com/internationalrafting Twitter: twitter.com/intraftfed Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/internationalrafting Event website:
- [World Rafting Champs 2014 - Brazil](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/wrc-2014-brazil/) - Information about the event: Dates: 8 - 19 Oct 2014 Location: Foz de Iguaçu City, Brasil Rafts: R4 Organisation hosting event: Brazilian Canoe Confederation, Itaipu Binacional Race and Event Director: Andre Behs Safety Director: Massimo Desiati Deadline entry dates: 1 September 2014 Entry fee: US$ 100 per person for entire event. See info letter as to what this covers
- [Pan American Champs 2012 - Canada](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/pan-american-champs-canada/) - The Canadian Rafting Committee in association with the Québec white water canoe/kayak federation is pleased to invite all teams at the 2012 Québec World Cup in the beautiful province of Québec. Canada is well known for its world class rivers and the province of Québec is one of the best places to paddle. The Sprint, H2H and Slalom
- [World Rafting Champs 2012 - Czechia](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/wrc-2012-czechia/) - The 2012 Youth & Masters World Rafting Championship is being held in the Czech Republic from the 23 - 27 August 2012. The top youth men's and top youth women's teams and top Masters teams from each member federation are invited to this event. Check with your national rafting federation for your own selection race
- [World Rafting Champs 2010 - Netherlands](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/wrc-2010-netherlands/) - The 2010 Teva World Rafting Championships was a great success. The IRF R4 format worked and we are already organising and looking forward to the 2012 R4 World Championships. RESULTS Youth Open Men Open Women DAILY REPORTS Youth Sprint report July 17 report PRE-WORLDS RESULTS: men's overall women's overall
- [Euro Rafting Champs 2020 - Czechia](https://internationalrafting.com/racing/events/erc-2020-czechia/) - CANCELLED We head back to the Czech Republic for the 2020 European Rafting Championships. The two locations are the artificial course Roudnice on the Labe River for the Sprint, H2H and Slalom, and to the exciting Devil's Stream for the Downriver. Details: Date: 8 - 13 June 2020 Location: Roudnice and Lipno, Czech Republic Organiser:

## Products

- [GTE Instructor Training Course 2025](https://internationalrafting.com/asp-products/gte-instructor-training-course-2025/) - The GTE Instructor Training Course is available to anyone with a current or recent GTE Trip Leader certificate (or about to complete a Trip Leader assessment). The €590 EUR registration fee covers all administration, training, education, rafts, paddles, river shuttles, accommodation, and lunches each day. Attendees are responsible for their own personal river gear (PFD,
- [GTE Instructor update 2025](https://internationalrafting.com/asp-products/gte-instructor-update-2025/) - Registration fee for the 2025 GTE Instructor update including optional extras for accommodation and Rescue3 update
- [ROA Assessment Fee](https://internationalrafting.com/asp-products/roa-assessment-fee/) - Assessment Fee for IRF Rafting Operator Accreditation (ROA)
- [GTE Conference 2024 registration fee](https://internationalrafting.com/asp-products/gte-conference-2024-registration-fee/) - Payment of this fee is for participant registration at the GTE Instructor Conference 2024 - Sarapiqui river, Costa Rica 🇨🇷 Optional extra: 4 nights bed & breakfast Not included: Accommodation, breakfasts, evening meals, personal and safety equipment, airport transfers, insurances
- [GTE Custom Payment](https://internationalrafting.com/asp-products/gte-custom/) - Use this option to make a custom GTE payment to the IRF. Minimum payment is $0.50 USD
- [GTE renewal](https://internationalrafting.com/asp-products/gte-renewal/) - IRF GTE renewal fee for an IRF GTE Raft Guide or Trip Leader
- [ROA Application Fee](https://internationalrafting.com/asp-products/roa-application-fee/) - Application Fee for IRF Rafting Operator Accreditation (ROA)
- [Individual Membership](https://internationalrafting.com/asp-products/individual-membership/)
- [Test WRC registration fee](https://internationalrafting.com/asp-products/test-wrc-registration-fee/)
- [Sustainability in Rafting Webinar - 24 May 2021](https://internationalrafting.com/asp-products/sustainability-webinar-20210524/)

## Categories

- [Racing](https://internationalrafting.com/category/racing/) - All aspects of raft racing. Includes news about upcoming and past events, host organisers, host cities, sponsors and team engagement.
- [Teams](https://internationalrafting.com/category/raft-teams/) - Introductions, overviews and catchups with raft race teams from around the world
- [Guide / Safety](https://internationalrafting.com/category/guide-safety/) - Raft guide / safety articles. Includes IRF GTE workshops, river safety links and references, and raft guiding related articles
- [Race Rules](https://internationalrafting.com/category/race-rules/) - Notices and information pertaining to the official IRF Race Rules
- [Tour rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/category/tour-rafting/) - Rafting as a recreational or touring activity. White water, flat water, exploration, family and adventure rafting.
- [Sustainability](https://internationalrafting.com/category/sustainability/) - The sustainability of rafting. Measuring rafting as a sustainable activity. Includes the conservation, protection and sustainable management of all aspects of rafting; and, links for sustainability projects.
- [IRF](https://internationalrafting.com/category/irf/) - The growth, development and general news about the International Rafting Federation (IRF)
- [Development](https://internationalrafting.com/category/development/) - The development of rafting as a sport and recreational activity. Includes history, partnerships, projects and future plans.
- [Para Rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/category/pararafting/) - Pararafting is rafting for people with disabilities. It also covers rafting for those who may be more disadvantaged than others. Rafting is a great way to get people with disabilities out and enjoying some thrills and fresh air.
- [Anti Doping](https://internationalrafting.com/category/anti-doping/)
- [Youth](https://internationalrafting.com/category/youth/)

## Tags

- [White Water Rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/white-water-rafting/)
- [WRC](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/wrc/)
- [Racing](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/racing/)
- [Slalom](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/slalom/)
- [New Zealand](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/new-zealand/)
- [Argentina](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/argentina/)
- [Judging](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/judging/)
- [certification](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/certifcation/)
- [Workshop](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/workshop/)
- [Serbia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/serbia/)
- [Slovenia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/slovenia/)
- [H2H](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/h2h/)
- [Spain](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/spain/)
- [Netherlands](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/netherlands/)
- [Downriver](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/downriver/)
- [Bosnia & Herzegovina](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/bih/)
- [Colombia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/colombia/)
- [South Africa](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/south-africa/)
- [Pre Worlds](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/pre-worlds/)
- [Croatia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/croatia/)
- [Brazil](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/brazil/)
- [Bulgaria](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/bulgaria/)
- [Australia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/australia/)
- [Chile](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/chile/)
- [France](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/france/)
- [Russia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/russia/)
- [Euro](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/euro/)
- [R6](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/r6/)
- [Ecuador](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/ecuador/)
- [China](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/china/)
- [Guide](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/guide/)
- [Championship](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/championship/)
- [Norway](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/norway/)
- [Vrbas](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/vrbas/)
- [Austria](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/austria/)
- [Italy](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/italy/)
- [Denmark](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/denmark/)
- [USA](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/usa/)
- [Iran](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/iran/)
- [Masters](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/masters/)
- [Slovakia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/slovakia/)
- [Čunovo](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/cunovo/)
- [Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/atta/)
- [Tourism](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/tourism/)
- [Adventure](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/adventure/)
- [Indonesia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/indonesia/)
- [Banja Luka](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/banja-luka/)
- [Zambezi](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/zambezi/)
- [Costa Rica](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/costa-rica/)
- [R4](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/r4/)
- [IRF](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/irf/)
- [Tully](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/tully/)
- [Brotas](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/brotas/)
- [Japan](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/japan/)
- [Kazakhstan](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/kazakhstan/)
- [India](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/india/)
- [Siberia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/siberia/)
- [Ukraine](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/ukraine/)
- [UAE](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/uae/)
- [Aluminé](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/alumine/)
- [Romania](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/romania/)
- [Wadi Adventure](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/wadi/)
- [Georgia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/georgia/)
- [#irfwrc](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/irfwrc/)
- [Germany](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/germany/)
- [Hungary](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/hungary/)
- [Rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rafting/)
- [Ziyuan](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/ziyuan/)
- [Wupai](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/wupai/)
- [Festival](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/festival/)
- [ERC](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/erc/)
- [Finland](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/finland/)
- [Morocco](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/morocco/)
- [Youth (U19)](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/u19/)
- [Junior (U23)](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/u23/)
- [Open](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/open/)
- [Mexico](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/mexico/)
- [#AreYouReady](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/areyouready/)
- [Nepal](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/nepal/)
- [Lapin Koskikoulu](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/lapin-koskikoulu/)
- [#raftersareawesome](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/raftersareawesome/)
- [Tour Rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/tour-rafting/)
- [Rafting Magazine](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rafting-magazine/)
- [World Cup](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/wc/)
- [Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP)](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/sup/)
- [Tibet](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/tibet/)
- [World Rafting Federation (WRF)](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/wrf/)
- [International Canoe Federation (ICF)](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/icf/)
- [International Olympic Committee (IOC)](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/ioc/)
- [GAISF](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/gaisf/)
- [SportAccord](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/sportaccord/)
- [International Surf Association (ISA)](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/isa/)
- [International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF)](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/idbf/)
- [Pakistan](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/pakistan/)
- [River Family](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/river-family/)
- [Project RAFT](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/project-raft/)
- [Camel White Water Challenge](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/camel-white-water-challenge/)
- [Rafting Spirit Award](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rafting-spirit-award/)
- [GTE](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/gte/)
- [Nile River Festival](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/nile-river-festival/)
- [FARC](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/farc/)
- [United Nations](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/united-nations/)
- [World Paddle Awards](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/wpa/)
- [Czechia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/czechia/)
- [Turkey](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/turkey/)
- [Uganda](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/uganda/)
- [Euro Cup](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/euro-cup/)
- [Switzerland](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/switzerland/)
- [oneworld](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/oneworld/)
- [Lee Valley White Water Centre (LVWWC)](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/lvwwc/)
- [World White Water Rafting Summit](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/world-white-water-rafting-summit/)
- [Olympics](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/olympics/)
- [#StrongerTogether](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/strongertogether/)
- [International Rivers](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/international-rivers/)
- [#OneWorldOneRiverOneFamily](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/oneworldoneriveronefamily/)
- [Observer Status](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/observer-status/)
- [Greece](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/greece/)
- [Montenegro](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/montenegro/)
- [Macedonia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/macedonia/)
- [Albania](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/albania/)
- [Malaysia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/malaysia/)
- [Rope](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rope/)
- [Rafting Operator Acceditation (ROA)](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/roa/)
- [#WhiteCard](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/whitecard/)
- [#SaveTourism](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/savetourism/)
- [Honorary President](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/honorary-president/)
- [Coronavirus (COVID-19)](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/covid19/)
- [World Health Organisation (WHO)](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/who/)
- [Project RAFA](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/project-rafa/)
- [Sustainability](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/sustainability/)
- [National Selection](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/national-selection/)
- [Kampar River Festival](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/kampar-river-festival/)
- [Dracula Race](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/dracula-race/)
- [Latvia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/latvia/)
- [United Kingdom](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/united-kingdom/)
- [The Great Karnali Quest](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/the-great-karnali-quest/)
- [Race Rules](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/race-rules/)
- [Division](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/division/)
- [Aquapac](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/aquapac/)
- [AIMS](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/aims/)
- [whitewater](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/whitewater/)
- [Quebec](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/quebec/)
- [Taureau](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/taureau/)
- [Jacques-Cartier River](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/jacques-cartier-river/)
- [Victoria Falls](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/victoria-falls/)
- [Batoka](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/batoka/)
- [Dam](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/dam/)
- [United Through Sport](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/united-through-sport/)
- [World](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/world/)
- [Partnership](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/partnership/)
- [Troja](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/troja/)
- [Trnávka](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/trnavka/)
- [Altai Mountains](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/altai-mountains/)
- [Rafting Adygheya](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rafting-adygheya/)
- [series](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/series/)
- [employment](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/employment/)
- [Raft](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/raft/)
- [Raft Guide](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/raft-guide/)
- [dictionary](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/dictionary/)
- [training](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/training/)
- [first aid](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/first-aid/)
- [Devil's Stream](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/devils-stream/)
- [Women of whitewater](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/women-of-whitewater/)
- [GB](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/gb/)
- [Athletes' Commission](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/athletes-commission/)
- [Safety](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/safety/)
- [Climate Action](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/climate-action/)
- [Climate Change](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/climate-change/)
- [Anti Doping](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/anti-doping/)
- [Congress](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/congress/)
- [WADA](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/wada/)
- [World Anti Doping Agency](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/world-anti-doping-agency/)
- [travel](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/travel/)
- [WTTC](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/wttc/)
- [Lim River](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/lim-river/)
- [Virtual Youth Festival](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/virtual-youth-festival/)
- [Soca](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/soca/)
- [Prijon Sports Centre](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/prijon-sports-centre/)
- [Ibar](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/ibar/)
- [Rafting Association of Serbia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rafting-association-of-serbia/)
- [Priboj](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/priboj/)
- [Lessons](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/lessons/)
- [Lim](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/lim/)
- [Access](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/access/)
- [River clean up](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/river-clean-up/)
- [United Through Sports](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/united-through-sports/)
- [Stronger Together](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/stronger-together/)
- [One Spirit One Heart](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/one-spirit-one-heart/)
- [Lipno](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/lipno/)
- [World Fair Play Awards](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/world-fair-play-awards/)
- [books](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/books/)
- [Colorado](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/colorado/)
- [Yangtze](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/yangtze/)
- [Amazon](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/amazon/)
- [Para Rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/pararafting/)
- [adaptive](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/adaptive/)
- [Rivers without Boundaries](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rivers-without-boundaries/)
- [Rivers4Recovery](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rivers4recovery/)
- [dams](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/dams/)
- [rights](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rights/)
- [UTS](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/uts/)
- [GTE Admin](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/gte-admin/)
- [WRC 2013](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/wrc-2013/)
- [Chuya River](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/chuya-river/)
- [world rafting championship](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/world-rafting-championship/)
- [#EcoRafting](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/ecorafting/)
- [Save the Zambezi](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/save-the-zambezi/)
- [Zambia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/zambia/)
- [Zimbabwe](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/zimbabwe/)
- [ITA](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/ita/)
- [SVOCR](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/svocr/)
- [Morava](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/morava/)
- [Czech](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/czech/)
- [Kamenice](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/kamenice/)
- [Orlice](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/orlice/)
- [Labe](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/labe/)
- [Roudnice](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/roudnice/)
- [Vltava](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/vltava/)
- [Conference](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/conference/)
- [Winter Rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/winter-rafting/)
- [#winterraftingphoto](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/winterraftingphoto/)
- [Mustang](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/mustang/)
- [Mustang Survival](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/mustang-survival/)
- [Scotland](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/scotland/)
- [FAQs](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/faqs/)
- [Jezza](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/jezza/)
- [Pura Vida](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/pura-vida/)
- [Leave No Trace](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/leave-no-trace/)
- [Leave Only Footprints](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/leave-only-footprints/)
- [Instructor](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/instructor/)
- [IPC](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/ipc/)
- [April6](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/april6/)
- [Rafael Gallo](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rafael-gallo/)
- [Governance](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/governance/)
- [Tara](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/tara/)
- [Knot](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/knot/)
- [Prusik](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/prusik/)
- [Prusik knot](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/prusik-knot/)
- [webinar](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/webinar/)
- [rivers](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rivers/)
- [Bosnia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/bosnia/)
- [Nehoiu](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/nehoiu/)
- [Buzau](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/buzau/)
- [Pollino](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/pollino/)
- [Lao](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/lao/)
- [Chuya](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/chuya/)
- [Altai](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/altai/)
- [IF Forum](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/if-forum/)
- [inclusive](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/inclusive/)
- [accessible](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/accessible/)
- [World Oceans Day](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/world-oceans-day/)
- [Belaya](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/belaya/)
- [ARF](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/arf/)
- [Women](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/women/)
- [Sustainable Development](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/sustainable-development/)
- [Rohozec Cup](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rohozec-cup/)
- [HATEOA](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/hateoa/)
- [Republika Srpska](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/republika-srpska/)
- [Whitewater Guide](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/whitewater-guide/)
- [Inline Raft](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/inline-raft/)
- [Sport and Sustainability International](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/sport-and-sustainability-international/)
- [Una](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/una/)
- [GTE Committee](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/gte-committee/)
- [Awards](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/awards/)
- [White Water of Siberia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/white-water-of-siberia/)
- [Montengegro](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/montengegro/)
- [Drina](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/drina/)
- [Mendoza](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/mendoza/)
- [Atuel](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/atuel/)
- [de la plata](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/de-la-plata/)
- [Buenos Aires](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/buenos-aires/)
- [APTAE](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/aptae/)
- [associate](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/associate/)
- [RAFA](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rafa/)
- [Rivers And Forests Alliance](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rivers-and-forests-alliance/)
- [Vjosa](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/vjosa/)
- [Age](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/age/)
- [#RiverFamily](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/riverfamily/)
- [Trn](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/trn/)
- [Katun](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/katun/)
- [youth](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/youth/)
- [Cornisa](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/cornisa/)
- [Aqua Park](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/aqua-park/)
- [Botoșani](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/botosani/)
- [Professional Rafting Association](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/professional-rafting-association/)
- [San Rafael](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/san-rafael/)
- [International Whitewater Hall of Fame](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/international-whitewater-hall-of-fame/)
- [Herzegovina](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/herzegovina/)
- [ARK Inflatables](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/ark-inflatables/)
- [auction](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/auction/)
- [pack raft](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/pack-raft/)
- [Race to Zero](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/race-to-zero/)
- [Equity](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/equity/)
- [virtual](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/virtual/)
- [host](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/host/)
- [Saudi Arabia](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/saudi-arabia/)
- [Mountain Sports Sustainability Pledge](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/mountain-sports-sustainability-pledge/)
- [Assessor](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/assessor/)
- [WRC 2022](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/wrc-2022/)
- [Year in review](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/year-in-review/)
- [President](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/president/)
- [2021](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/2021/)
- [British Rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/british-rafting/)
- [Royal Gorge](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/royal-gorge/)
- [Cañon City](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/canon-city/)
- [BOD](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/bod/)
- [interview](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/interview/)
- [Bosnia and Herzegovina](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/bosnia-and-herzegovina/)
- [Board of Directors](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/board-of-directors/)
- [Honorary Member](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/honorary-member/)
- [Grand Canyon](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/grand-canyon/)
- [rescue](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rescue/)
- [International Rafting Federation](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/international-rafting-federation/)
- [Canada](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/canada/)
- [Kyiv](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/kyiv/)
- [Comisa](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/comisa/)
- [Rafting Operator Accreditation](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rafting-operator-accreditation/)
- [CIWW](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/ciww/)
- [Wales](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/wales/)
- [Cardiff](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/cardiff/)
- [Remando por la paz](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/remando-por-la-paz/)
- [Pacuare](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/pacuare/)
- [IRF rafting](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/irf-rafting/)
- [Dajak](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/dajak/)
- [AUS](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/aus/)
- [Crocs](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/crocs/)
- [Rastocki Mlinari](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rastocki-mlinari/)
- [Slunj](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/slunj/)
- [Play Fair](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/play-fair/)
- [clean sport](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/clean-sport/)
- [Foca](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/foca/)
- [Bratislava](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/bratislava/)
- [Almaty](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/almaty/)
- [Koksu](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/koksu/)
- [Regatta](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/regatta/)
- [#raftingfamily](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/raftingfamily/)
- [#erc2023](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/erc2023/)
- [#weareirf](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/weareirf/)
- [#rafterfamily](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/rafterfamily/)
- [#onespiriteoneheart](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/onespiriteoneheart/)
- [#riverguardians](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/riverguardians/)
- [25th](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/25th/)
- [Birthday](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/birthday/)
- [#whitewaterrafting](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/whitewaterrafting/)
- [#raftquide](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/raftquide/)
- [#wildalpen23](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/wildalpen23/)
- [Struma](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/struma/)
- [Basque](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/basque/)
- [GRB](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/grb/)
- [Black Sea](https://internationalrafting.com/tag/black-sea/)