Summit - Joe Rafa

Pioneering the accreditation of recreational rafting operators

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 raft guiding from around the globe proved the perfect presentation pad for the IRF’s Recreational Operators Accreditation. So at the conclusion of the inaugural IRF World White Water Rafting Summit, President of the IRF Joe Willis Jones and Honorary IRF President Rafael Gallo proudly announced that Costa Rica will be the pilot nation for the IRF ROA implementation.

Several years of planning and hard work have culminated in the program that has now been presented for commercial operators to be reviewed and assessed under the IRF system in order to be able to demonstrate their compliance with the IRF’s Guide Training & Education scheme for rafting operators. The system will allow accredited providers to be listed on the IRF website and media channels and also to self promote themselves as rafting operators who meet the highest standards globally recognised.

Costa Rica Sports Association for Adventure and Paddling (ADAR) have committed to leading Costa Rica’s drive for safety management and delivering the highest global standards of raft guiding by all commercial operators in the country. ADAR will work closely with the IRF’s over the coming 12-18 months to pilot the accreditation system in preparedness for rollout to all nations.

Stay tuned for updates over the coming months for how the implementation and pilot are progressing and how you can get involved and ready for the full implementation.

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