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Newsletter - Feb 2013
Read our website in your own language!
Posted: 13 Feb 2013 09:15 PM

We have added a translate option to our website (see right hand side column “Translate this page”).

Now you can read our web in your own language. Its fairly good with the more common languages and is continually improving. This option will work on all our web pages. It won’t work on pdfs or other embedded files though.

Spread the word to your members and friends so that everyone can now keep up with the rafting news from around the world.


    
9 months to go to 2013 World Rafting Champs!!!
Posted: 13 Feb 2013 01:22 AM

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 National Selections should all be well into their training programs and planning processes.

Those teams who still need to win their National Selections to be able to enter – good luck and paddle hard!


    
Which teams are you sending to WRC 2013?
Posted: 10 Feb 2013 06:46 PM

Even if you have to answer “maybe” PLEASE let us know which teams you are hoping to send to the 2013 World Rafting Champs in New Zealand in November! Every “yes”, “no” and “maybe” will help us with our planning for this event and the better we can plan the better the event will be for you!

So please complete this survey for us:


    
Clean lines on throwbags
Posted: 10 Feb 2013 06:11 PM

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 of the mostly British companies in removing plastic handles from the rope end of their throwbags. Why should they? The customer can always remove it themselves if they want to, right? In our experience very few people make the effort to change a product to make it better, expecting the manufacturer to have done this already.

What are the advantages of a “clean line” on a throwbag?

Safety: a knot or plastic handle on a floating rope can get caught between rocks much more easily than a . . . → Read More: Clean lines on throwbags
    
Race Rules – Race Classification: A level
Posted: 06 Feb 2013 06:25 PM

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 and Youth) and each of those divisions have 2 categories (men and women). Their rules are:

they are held in R4 (4-man rafts) and R6 (6-man rafts) in alternating years. 2013 is R6; counties entering must be up to date members of the IRF – this means all membership paperwork is to be in order and all fees are to be paid up; these teams are to be selected through fair and credible selections – this means that the event must be open for all possible teams to enter, the event must be announced . . . → Read More: Race Rules – Race Classification: A level
    
Breaking news re World Rafting Champs 2014 and 2015!
Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:17 PM

We are very pleased to announce a change in location for the World Champs in 2014 and the location of the 2015 World Champs!

Itaipu Canal, Brasil

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 the event are 4 – 7 September 2014 (was 29 – 31 August). Pre-event dates to be held in 2013 will be announced shortly.

2015 World Rafting Champs will be held on the Citarik River near the town of Sukabumi in West Java, Indonesia. Dates for the event will be late November/ early Dec 2015 with the Pre-event dates about the same in 2014.

We had received two excellent bids from these two countries for the 2014 WRC and the IRF S&C Com was very hard pressed to make a choice and, in fact, . . . → Read More: Breaking news re World Rafting Champs 2014 and 2015!
    

Article 2 on river safety – Team Strategy
Posted: 27 Jan 2013 08:22 PM

Here we introduce you to R3 Rescue for River Runners‘ video series.

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 runners and people who want to run bigger and harder rivers as well as the necessary skills for rescue in event that something goes wrong.

This episode is called Team Strategy – smart teamwork and preparedness makes everyone safer on the river.

Getting Started is Episode 1 in the series and covers equipment – making sure you have the right equipment before you even start. Along the way through this series you will learn how to use all this equipment and maybe learn some neat tricks and tips as well as best practise.

Over the coming weeks we will bring you more of their series as well . . . → Read More: Article 2 on river safety – Team Strategy
    

Results of Ergometer Competition held in Serbia
Posted: 27 Jan 2013 05:50 PM

 ”First National Championship on rafting ergometers in the world… 19 teams… Serbian Rafting Federation and Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Belgrade Serbia” – Zeljko Rajkovic

This is a brand new concept and we look forward to the future of this. Results and more information can be found on the Rafting Federation of Serbia’s webpage


    
The Midnight Sun Rafting Euro Cup (June 14th – 15th)- Finland
Posted: 26 Jan 2013 10:39 PM

The Rafting tournament is a two day event, which gives you the possibility to experience the beauty of northern summer and nightless nights!

Venue: River Raudanjoki (Vikaköngäs falls) in Rovaniemi, Grade 2 and River Tornio (Kukkolankoski falls) in Tornio, Grade3

COMPETITION INFORMATION AND SCHEDULE

The competition is open to all teams which comply with the competition rules. CATEGORIES   Men R6 , Women R6 and Company teams (5-8 persons)

Schedule:

FRIDAY  June 14th Vikaköngäs  Rovaniemi ( in the Arctic Circle)

12:00 Free practice, equipment check 17:30 Captain meeting 18:00 Slalom 1st round 19:00 Slalom 2nd round 21:00 End of first day

Nightless night and time to go Tornionjoki river..

SATURDAY June 15th 2013 Torniojoki / Torne river Kukkola 

10:00 Free practice Kukkolankoski -raft 11:30 Captain meeting 12:00 Sprint Kukkolankoski -raft 14:00 H2H Kukkolankoski -raft 16:00 Downriver race 18:00 Sauna 19:30 The prize-giving ceremony

Final Registration: May 24th 2013.  Entries: 200€ per . . . → Read More: The Midnight Sun Rafting Euro Cup (June 14th – 15th)- Finland
    

Meet the “Ark Sharks” team from the USA
Posted: 20 Jan 2013 10:22 PM

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 time working the Arkansas River, hence the name Ark Sharks. When not working they like to play on the river with kayaks, canoes, SUPing, anything river related.

But how they got started, how they train, what their goals are … John Anicito will introduce us to that:

“The Ark Sharks started paddling in December of 2009, in preparation for the US Rafting Association National Championship which selects a team to represent the US at the WRC. As a first year team we placed 2nd, and we quickly realized that to paddle against the best in . . . → Read More: Meet the “Ark Sharks” team from the USA
    

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