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.

The races were held on the Trnávka artificial Slalom Course in Želiv, Czech Rep. This course is rated Class 4 and so is not intended for beginners.

Continue reading...

“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 been patronized by the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, Special Olympics, Sportaccord and GAISF.

Continue reading...

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 industry to open up and for the tourists out there to know that #SafeTravels is an option now.

Opening up travel and tourism

The travel and tourism industry supports the livelihoods of millions and contributes to sustainable economic growth around the world.

Continue reading...

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 therein lies the problem of rafting in 2020. Social distancing requirements around the globe have meant it’s difficult (or sometimes impossible) to fit so many people in a raft and remain compliant with local government or health rules.

Continue reading...

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 that they have an up-to-date First Aid qualification that includes CPR.

In this day and age we usually applaud courses that are run online, as reducing the need for travel is good for the environment.

Continue reading...

“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.

Over two weeks, 50 participants from six countries passed together through extreme rapids on the rivers, rescuing team members from the water, conquering mountain passes, singing campfire songs by guitar, steam bathing and swimming in the cold river waters of the Altai mountains.

Continue reading...

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 be used as a quick reference or even for a first-time rafter wanting to understand the “lingo”. Links contained within are to various other articles and reference sources on our site.

Continue reading...

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 Soča – by Lilla Süveges

This year is a bit different. All competitions have been cancelled and we could not go for training abroad either.

Continue reading...

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 and is organised by Федерация Рафтинга России / Russian Rafting Federation.

Professional rafters and amateurs came from Belarus, Abkhazia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Ukraine and Latvia to exchange their rafting and cultural experience and paddle in the whitewater of Altay rivers.

Continue reading...