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IRF WRC 2011 is first Certified Carbon Neutral World Sports Event ever!
Posted: 29 Oct 2012 01:35 AM
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. Costa Rica raises the bar in global sustainable environmental initiatives once again. The World Rafting Championships (WRC), held October 4-11, 2011 in Costa Rica, is the first ever Certified Carbon Neutral world championship sporting event. EARTH University certified Costa Rica’s WRC as Carbon Neutral as a direct result of the leadership of the International Rafting Federation and Rios Tropicales , along with a team of Costa Rican host sponsors, communities, and organizations, including Turrialba Chamber of Tourism, and The Costa Rica Paddle and Adventure Association. The organizers of the 2011 WRC realized they could successfully deliver a first-ever Carbon Neutral event, with over 600 participating athletes from 35 countries in the host country Costa Rica. They contacted the . . . → Read More: IRF WRC 2011 is first Certified Carbon Neutral World Sports Event ever!
 Euro Cup R6 – final overall results!
Posted: 29 Oct 2012 01:33 AM
The Euro Cup R6 events have now concluded for the year, with the last event being Trnavka in Czech. Photo by Yanne Golev 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 men’s section with a good win in their home Euro Cup event and also at the BiH Euro Cup event. They were closely followed by another Croatian team, Delta-Sport-Split, making it a One-Two for Croatia! Third was Team Liman of Serbia. Team Adventure net of Bulgaria dominated the series by winning all the events and therefore achieving maximum points (2100). This is an excellent performance and shows great dedication in making the time and effort to Photo by Yanne Golev get to so many events. Bulgaria took second place . . . → Read More: Euro Cup R6 – final overall results!
Video action from Pre-Worlds in NZ
Posted: 26 Oct 2012 12:37 AM
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
One of the last wilderness frontiers of Europe – Iceland
Posted: 20 Oct 2012 10:56 PM
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 river names such as the Inn, Coruh, Ubaye . It is very rare you hear the name of the Austari Jökulsa mentioned. Rafting began on the East Glacial river in the mid 90s. As you can imagine setting up a rafting operation on a river in the North of Iceland was a mission in its self. Buying equipment, advertising and most of all training or hiring guides with suitable class 4-5 experience and knowledge was going to be an uphill struggle. Two local companies managed this and are still around today to bare the . . . → Read More: One of the last wilderness frontiers of Europe – Iceland
Close racing action finishes in New Zealand
Posted: 20 Oct 2012 10:55 PM
Three exciting days of white water rafting action ended on the Rangitaiki river, south of Rotorua, on Sunday afternoon. Photo Alan Ofsoski 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 Open Men’s competition. They took out the Sprint and Head 2 Head on the Kaituna and were second in the Slalom on the Tarawera in Kawerau on Saturday, behind local crew, Ghost Chips. With only 9 points separating the two teams the Downriver, a race of strength and stamina, on the Rangitaiki was crucial. In the end the professionalism of Team Teikei showed and they won in a time of 44.04.45 ahead of Ghost Chips in 45.11.65. Japan are the reigning world champions. Takuya Ikeda and Team Teikei (Yoshin Furukawa, Satoshi Koizumu, . . . → Read More: Close racing action finishes in New Zealand
Kiwis take surprise win in Slalom at Pre-Worlds
Posted: 19 Oct 2012 07:49 PM
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. Photo Alan Ofsoski This weekend’s event is a crucial event for the Kiwi crews. Selection for the 2013 IRF Rafting World Championships in Rotorua and Kawerau is up for grabs. Ghost Chips had a rough start to the event. In the Sprint on the Kaituna on Friday, crew member, Paul Roozendaal broke a paddle. A five-man Ghost Chips crew still managed 3rd behind the powerful Czech crew, Team Bestie. On Friday afternoon, they were 2nd in the Head 2 Head and moved up to second overall. Their excellent form continued into Saturday as they won the Slalom ahead of the classy Team Teikei squad from . . . → Read More: Kiwis take surprise win in Slalom at Pre-Worlds
Sprint and Head to Head at Okere Falls on the Kaituna
Posted: 19 Oct 2012 07:17 PM
By Sportscene 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 Head races. Local and international paddlers are taking part, including teams from the Czech Republic, Australia and Japan. It is an important weekend for the Kiwi crews. Up for grabs is selection for the New Zealand team for the IRF World Rafting World Championships in Rotorua and Kawerau from November 13 to 24, 2013. After the morning’s Sprint race, Team Teikei from Japan lead Open Men. Japan are the current World Champions, winning the title in Costa Rica. Taku Ikeda and his crew have already won selection for 2013 and are using the New Zealand Nationals . . . → Read More: Sprint and Head to Head at Okere Falls on the Kaituna
Day 1 at Pre-Worlds, NZ
Posted: 18 Oct 2012 10:44 PM
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 Head Open Men 1) Team Teikei Japan (JAP) 200 points 2) Ghost Chips (NZL) 176 points 3) Bestie Czech (CZE) 158 points 4) Team Doric Sydney (AUS) 144 points 5) Team Cairns (AUS) 138 points 6) OCP (NZL 132 points. Masters Men 1) Aotearoa Paddlers (NZL) 200 points 2) BTA (NZL) 176 Open Women 1) Okere Ladies 200 points. Overall (combined points from Sprint and Head 2 Head): Open Men 1) Team Teikei Japan 300 points 2) Ghost Chips 255 points 3) Bestie Czech 246 points 4) Doric Sydney 216 points 5) Cairns 207 points . . . → Read More: Day 1 at Pre-Worlds, NZ
Interview with Race Director Tim Marshall – Pre Worlds Rafting
Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:59 PM
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 right runs and the right level of water for the time trial, the head to head, slalom and the downriver. Essentially we have to make sure we have the right water, the right rapids and the right setups for each of the races. It all has to be right! Tim works with the New Zealand Rafting Association and one of his portfolios is Race Coordinator and Facilitator. His background in the Racing sector includes organising the three-day whitewater Bulla Fest at Murchison, one of the bigger whitewater festivals in New Zealand. Events include extreme kayaking, slalom . . . → Read More: Interview with Race Director Tim Marshall – Pre Worlds Rafting
Junior division added to IRF leagues
Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:50 PM
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 and combining this with the IRF’s aims to develop the youth sector, the IRF Sport & Competition Committee has now added a Junior league to their collection. Youth league = Under 19 (including the year they turn 19) Junior league = Under 23 (including the year they turn 23). These two leagues will hold their events together and so increase the number of teams that can attend these events. Having these two leagues and keeping the bottom end of the Junior league open will cater well for the countries who already have well developed youth sections as . . . → Read More: Junior division added to IRF leagues
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