News WRF

Albania keeps growing in view of the 2023 Worlds

The Albanian Rafting Federation organized the "2023 National Rafting Championship" in the city of Berat on March 29, 2023.

Competitors were sports teams from Berat, Përmeti, Skrapari, Dibra, Elbasan, Saranda.
The participating sports associations were Albania Rafting Group, Black Drin Adventure, Albania Rafting - Vjosa, Albanian Sport & Tourismem Elbasan.

This championship shows that the sport of rafting has spread almost all over Albania where there are rivers suitable for this sport. It comes after the training for guides of the special rafting specialty that the Albanian Rafting Federation developed with applicants from all over Albania on the Osum river and in the river Vjosa in Permet.

The downriver winners are listed as follows:
In third place the team of Bistrica with the result 12 min and 23 seconds, in second place the team of Vjosa 11 minutes and 17 minutes and in first place Osumi 10 minutes and 44 seconds with captain Murat Mamurani.
The winning team will represent Albania in the 2023 World Rafting Championship that will take place in Valtellina, Italy on June 26 to July 2, 2023.

The president of the Albanian Rafting Federation Zamo Spathara emphasized to the participants that this truck showed an increase in the technical quality of the guides and an increase in the number of participants.

5 teams means 5 rivers where rafting takes place all year round, 5 consolidated realities, 5 defenders and promoters of rivers and water tourism activities.

The special feature of this training is that it was attended by citizens from Austria, Croatia and Hungary who practiced rafting in the Albanian rivers together with our trainers and guides.

Spathara adds that: "The future goal of the Albanian Rafting Federation is to turn rafting into a mass sport by starting to become part of the school sports curriculum, especially in the cities and villages that have the river as part of their lives".

Andrea Gatti, external expert for professional training of Albanian Rafting guides since 2014, added:
"The potential of the Albanian rivers is unimaginable and the Albanians and future generations will live with the income from tourism. The championship is important as it is a workshop from a technical and safety point of view and an educational opportunity for young people".

This activity was supported by the Municipality of Berat, the World Rafting Federation, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, the Albanian Olympic Committee

Preview of the entry lists published for World Rafting Championships Valtellina23

Entry lists for the 2023 World Rafting Championships confirm that more than 90 Senior National Teams from 32 Countries will arrive to Italy for the global event from 26th June to 2nd July! More than 40 are already entered for the Men races, while more than 20 teams will be in action in the Women category. 23 teams have been registered for the mix and 7 for the Para-Rafting. But numbers could increase: other Federations are still organising their partecipation. The senior men’s podium finishers from the last edition in France 2021 will clash again as defending World champions from Italy. Brazil, Argentina, Japan, India, France, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Italy, Iran, Canada, Costa Rica, Slovakia, Morocco, Chile, Colombia and many others are ready to rumble!

The final start lists will be available on 15th April.

Taking place 26 June - 2 July 2023, the event is the main competition of the season.

The World Rafting Championships is held every two years and provides 5 action-packed days of intense competition, in a new semi artificial venue where fans can witness the raw athleticism and talent of many of the world’s best athletes at close range.

After the great show in France, WRF confirms that RX finals will be held on friday night, guaranteeing an electrifying atmosphere.

Also, today the event’s new brand mark has been revealed.

World Rafting showed confidence in the hosting city and in the LOC to host this prestigious global championships and in 100 days we - working alongside our partners - will give our best to deliver an event to remember. “We’re hyped for the season and looking forward to welcoming spectators, athletes and friends to Adda river”.

#Morocco

Intense beginning of the month guiding in Morocco

During the first 10 days of March the Fédération Royal Maroccaine de Rafting held a course of for river guides.

Two experienced guides cooperated with the local organisation: Mr Zach is an international rafting trainer and assessor from United Kingdom with over 30 seasons of experience working in outdoor adventure, and he is one of the instructors and founders of the Royal Moroccan Rafting Fédération;

Mr Alex Aitkin has been padding rivers for 40 years in 46 countries. He is member of the WRF training committee, a rescue 3 instructor and an expert advisor for the Royal Moroccan Rafting Fédération.

The courses were near the in cathédrale of Tilouguite, province of Azilal, translated from English to Arabic and berberian by Abdullah Yassine and Mr Mustapha Outili and Mustapha Amaguar kindly offered a complete accomodation.

24 rafters took part in the event, including 3 women, and the President El Mamoun expressed full satisfaction about the active participation.

The programme included the activity we should always take time for: cleaning the river and it's environment.

Furthermore the agonistic field is growing in Morocco: 2 male teams will compete at the world champs. See you in the river!

African Rafting Council: a new start

Earlier this month the African Rafting Council was elected and for the first time in history the continent has a shared river movement that can connect and develop every rafting reality in the different member nations.

The outcome of the meeting displays:

President: Belabbas El Mamoun (Morocco)

1st Vice President: Ady Fall (Senegal)

2nd Vice President: James Savage (Kenya)

Secretary: Salim Fari (Ghana)

Vice Secretary: Colline Kaboyo (Uganda)

Treasurer: Marewen Karengi (Tunisia)

Vice Treasurer: Aymen Chouiteh (Egypt)

Counselor: Kamal Sulley (Ghana)

Counselor: Christiana Ashley (Ghana)

Counselor: Nadia Ammar (Morocco)

Counselor: Rensen Mburu (Rwanda)

We asked a few questions to the newly elected President from Morocco, who is already President of Fédération Royale Marocaine de Canoe-Kayak:

“As President of the canoe federation I always gave importance to the outdoor sports. Through the synergies between WRF and Minister of Sport in Morocco we put together the experience in canoe agonistic discipline and the commercial rafting. Now we finally achieved the same result at Continental level thanks to the help of the other members of the council. We all agree on the fact that rafting has a lot to teach: from the team spirit to the respect for environment.”

Secretary Salim Fari Yakubu

"This is a call to duty and a test of my commitment. I pledge to work assiduously with other executives of CAR to push rafting to a reputable level by getting more countries on board” Secretary Salim Fari Yakubu said expressing his eagerness to commence office soon. He is the first Ghanaian to attain a position on the continental body.

WRF President Barmaz declares “It is another step forward for the rafting movement: every new viewpoint is a point of strength and WRF is proud and happy to see this team already working on point. The Board and the athletes can’t wait to meet at the upcoming World Champs in June”.

Se you all in the river!

Brazil, Chile and Colombia: RX decided the outcome of the Pan-Americano

Today RX has been the last discipline of the Pan-American Champs and many countries with a lot of river experience competed through the strategic gates for the first time: it has been demanding but satisfying.

On the first day of the event the qualification phase on the Arenera rapid at Puente Miranda decided the RX matches. In the men category Brazil won the last knock-out against Colombia 1 who got the overall second place: 272 points for Diego Arenas Duarte, Sebastian Chacon, Walter Gomez, Andres Moreno and Sebastian Rojas Sarmiento.

The Brazilians Alan Annibal Schmidt, Thiago Saldana Serra, William Ferraz, Thiago Diniz Barne Ganeo and Pedro Aversa got the overall gold, thanks to the second place in slalom and downriver. They celebrated 282 points after a challenging afternoon defined by the last red gate.

Third place for Antonio Guzman, Carlos Lobo, Jean Carlo Castillo, Jean Carlos Andrades and Eduard Erazo: Venezuela with 242 total points won the final B against Colombia 2.

The slalom winners of women of Chile 2 got the first place in RX that was enough to gain the champions’ title: Maritza Gajardo, Antonia Bande, Maria Jesus Inzunza, Paloma Molina and Valentina Aliagowon 290 points and the overall women.

The teammates from Chile 1, who won the downriver, finished with a second place in RX that confirmed the silver overall with 260 points in total for the Slalom winners Yisseth Moralez, Marina Saez, Magdalena Muaoz, Marlene Epulef and Tabata Araya Soto.

Winners of final B are Costa Rica 1 with 243 points Estercita M. S., Marianela Castro Arguedes, Citya Escobar Valverde, Camila Segura Castro and Johanna Rojas are third, in the RX and overall.

Mix category’s gold will stay at home: the local Colombia 1 got the best overall score: William Delgado, Yeison Rojas, Luswing Millan, Milagros Del Valle Morales and Milyei Nuaez are the PanAmerican mix champs with 292 points.

Chile 2 (Arantxa Bahamondez, Javiera Alfaro, Teresa Calvo, Amaru Parini Lavanchy and Camilo Soto) got the second place in RX and the overpalle silver.

Finally Colombia 2 won against Argentina and earned a third place thanks to Mayerli Gambo, Lorena Barragãin, Edison Olaya, Jhon Narvaez and David Gamboa.

Now we are going to celebrate at the closing ceremony!

Preview of the WRF World Rafting Championships 2023

26th June – 2nd July 2023

Dear Sport friends,

on behalf of the Italian Rafting Federation and Adda Viva Valtellina SSD, it is my pleasure to extend a warm invitation to your National teams to participate in the upcoming World Rafting Championships, which will be held in Valtellina, Italy from June 26th to July 2nd.

This prestigious event will bring together the world's top rafting teams to compete in various categories, including men's and women's rafting, as well as sprint and slalom competitions.

As the host nation, we are particularly excited to showcase our passion for RX, slalom and downriver events. We are also proud to feature the para-rafting category, which is an important aspect of our championship and underscores our commitment to inclusivity and diversity in the sport of rafting.

The championship promises to be an exciting display of athleticism, teamwork, and passion for the sport of rafting. The Valtellina region, with its stunning natural beauty and adventurous spirit, is the perfect setting for this competition. We are confident that your team will enjoy the warm hospitality of our community and the challenging rapids of the Adda River.

We would be honored to have your team participate and compete alongside the best in the world, including in the para-rafting category. Your presence would not only contribute to the success of the championship but also provide an opportunity for cultural exchange and the strengthening of international ties.

With this Bulletin we will provide you with additional information on the championship, including travel and accommodation details.

We look forward to welcoming you and your team to Valtellina for the World Rafting Championships.

Sincerely,

Benedetto Del Zoppo
President

Valtellina is a breathtaking valley located in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. The valley is surrounded by the stunning Italian Alps, and is known for its beautiful mountain scenery, rich cultural heritage, and delicious cuisine.

The climate in Valtellina during the end of June and early July is generally warm and sunny, with average temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit (around 16-30°C).

The weather during this time of year is usually dry and pleasant, making it an ideal time to explore the beautiful outdoors of Valtellina. Valtellina is a true paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, with countless activities to enjoy including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and of course, rafting. The Adda River, which winds through Valtellina, is one of the best rivers in Italy for rafting and kayaking. The challenging rapids and beautiful scenery make it a perfect location for the World Rafting Championships. In addition to the outdoor activities, Valtellina also boasts a rich cultural heritage.

The valley is dotted with charming medieval towns, historic castles, and beautiful churches. Visitors can explore the historic town of Sondrio, stroll through the picturesque streets of Tirano, or visit the beautiful Abbey of San Pietro in Valle.

Foodies will also love Valtellina's culinary scene, which is known for its delicious wines, cheeses, and cured meats. The valley is particularly famous for its Valtellina wines, including the popular red wine called Valtellina Superiore. Other local specialties include pizzoccheri, a type of buckwheat pasta, and bresaola, a type of air-dried beef.

Overall, Valtellina is a stunning region that offers something for everyone. We are confident that visitors to the World Rafting Championships will fall in love with the beautiful scenery, rich cultural heritage, and warm hospitality of this unique part of Italy.

INFORMATION

Download Bulletin 1

Download Bulletin 2

Media Tool Kit

OFFICIAL PROGRAMME

Big water alert: Volqueta and Derrumbe rapids define the downriver

Last night heavy rain strongly increased the water level and the put-in of women and mix teams has been moved after the two 4 level rapids that are in the first km. The men paddled the 8 km downriver that required the combination of fast paddling in the slow parts and clean technique in the long demanding rapids.

Venezuela - Derrumbe rapid

The best absolute time was earned by Venezuela: Antonio Guzman, Carlos Lobo, Jean Carlo Castillo, Jean Carlos Andrades and Eduard Erazo got a well deserved downriver gold in the men category at their first WRF competition with 35:32.44, 5 seconds ahead of Brazil who got the second place. Finally third place to the Slalom winners of Colombia 1.

In the women category the 80 golden points go to Chile 1: Yisseth Moralez, Marina Saez, Magdalena Muaoz, Marlene Epulef and Tabata Araya Soto closed with 21:00.16.

With a gap of 15 seconds Magdalena Alonso, Virginia Gisela Dubosca Carra, Camila Gonzalez Guzman and Agustina Micaela Magnaterra (Argentina) got the second place, followed by Chile 2 one second later that decided their third place.

Mix category has been taken by Chile 2: Arantxa Bahamondez, Javiera Alfaro, Teresa Calvo, Amaru Parini Lavanchy and Camilo Soto with 20:14.87.

23 seconds later Colombia 1 stopped the chronometer, followed by Argentina with 21:06.48: Melani Ailen Kindenet, Julieta Ana Beatriz Vilte, Arian Torres, Tomas Capelar Ferrer and Ignacio Julian Bravo.

Tomorrow is the last race day and RX is going to define the PanAmericano: Rio Fonce is more than listo!

WRF announces venues for Rafting events across 2023 season

WRF has revealed the venues that will play host to the Rafting weekends during the 2023.

Next year, the Senior World Championships will be held in Italy (Sondrio) and the registrations are already open.

Massimo Desiati,President of the Sport Department: “Following strong collaboration between the WRF and Pan-American Council, we are pleased to reveal two great events in Pan-America for the 2023 season. World Cup will be held in Aluminé, Argentina (1-5 november) and Costa Rica will host the first Pan-American Cup (11-15 May). We look forward to this exciting sport year”.

The European calendar confirms the weekend in Serbia and announces an exciting competition in Val Di Sole with the ICF collaboration.

The calendar will be updated constantly.

Read the full 2023 Sport Calendar

Gates and buenas ondas: narrow lines in the Slalom Day

First day of competition was the literal definition of slalom!

The RX qualification inaugurated the race weekend with a fast sprint on the slalom course. Best time (91.77) was scored by the home team of Colombia 3 in the men category. William Fernando Sarmiento, Diego Tapias, Diego Mejia, Jorge Gomez and Sebastian Rojas will face Brasil, with the 5th time (94.15), in the knock out. Second time for Colombia 1 by Diego Arenas Duarte, Sebastian Chacon, Walter Gomez, Andres Moreno and Sebastian Rojas Sarmiento (93.42) and third time for Chile 2 by Daniel Reyes, David Reyes, Gabriel Espinos, Benjamin Benavides and Claudino Sanmartin (93.72).

In the same section the gates were moved designing a demanding path: the most difficult passage seemed not to be among the eddies, trying to chase the upstream gates, but rather the 4, 5 and 6 green gates. The entrance in this chicacan from the downstream 3 was fundamental and selected the teams who could do the left-right-left in the following rapid.

First 100 points in the men category, with the gold in the slalom, go to Colombia 1: Diego Arenas Duarte, Sebastian Chacon, Walter Gomez, Andres Moreno and Sebastian Rojas Sarmiento run 2 clean lines with no penalties (128.74).

90 points for Brasil in the second place: Pedro Aversa, Thiago Saldanha Serra, William Ferraz and Thiago Diniz Barne Ganeo (129.72 in the first run, they got a 50 penalty in the second that costed a lot).

Slalom men bronze for Argentina 1of Matias Maximiliano Cordero, Denis Orlando Gelves, Mauro Solano, Juan Martin Martinez: 80 points with 131.02 in the first run. Many teams changed tactics in the second manche but got penalties: the river is faster that it

First two steps of the women podium taken by Chile: gold for Chile 2 with a clean first run for (156.03) Maritza Gajardo, Antonia Bande, Maria Jesus Inzunza, Paloma Molina and Valentina Aliago.

Silver for Chile 1, again with no penalties in the first attempt: 164.03 for Yisseth Moralez, Marina Saez, Magdalena Muaoz, Marlene Epulef and Tabata Araya Soto.

Women bronze to Colombia 1 with the best time with one penalty in the second run: 212.22 for Dayana Bayona, Paola Sanchez, Milyei Nuãez and Milagros de Valle Morales.

William Delgado, Luswing Millan, Yayson Rojas, Milyei Nuãez and Milagros de Valle Morales earned a Colombian gold also in the Mix category: with a touch on the 2 green gate they got a good time of 145.11.

Silver for Chile 2 with best manche in the first clean run: 164.30 for Arantxa Bahamondez, Javiera Alfaro, Teresa Calvo, Amaru Parini Lavanchy and Camilo Soto.

Bronze to Colombia 2: 203.34 due to one missed gate for Mayerli Gamboa, Lorena Barragãin, Edison Olaya, Jhon Narvaez and David Gamboa.

The course was the definition of slalom itself! Many different strategies available depending on the strength and technique required the perfect coordination between the front and the back athletes, that always had to paddle together, especially backwards, to change direction.

Now it’s downriver time!