Welcome back to the river rafters! Training day in Bulgaria at the first Euro Cup opens the 2022 season.

After several abundant snowfall last winter on Vitosha mountains, first snow started melting and is now allowing a great water level for the competition in Kresna Gorge.
Struma river welcomed the athletes for the training this afternoon: they started with the slalom, scouting and paddling the rapids that will host the slalom and the RX tomorrow, and after the gates they paddled the 5 km section of the downriver that will be on Sunday, the last and decisive discipline.

Race days: 26th-27th March

Around 40 athletes will compete tomorrow in women, men, mix and Para-Rafting categories.

The race will official begin tomorrow at 10.00 am, local time zone: good luck rafters! The season is finally begins!

15 teams arrived in Arunachal, at Pasighat in East Siang district, in the Noth-East of India, to take part in the 15th edition of National Rafting Championship of India from 4th to 6th March.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the event, in presence of Sports Minister Mama Natung, Health Minister Alo Libang, MP Tapir Gao and MLA Zingnu Namchoom. The autorities outlined that Siang river is the identity of Adi tribe, and they thanked the community for their wholehearted support in conducting the national level event.

WRF President Danilo Barmaz was there: "First and foremost I would like to thank the president of the Indian Rafting Foundation Mr Shaukat Sikand for the hospitality and the effort he is making in the developement of our sport in the country. Congratulations for bringing 4 women teams, 5 men teams and 6 mix teams: I can't wait to see these inspiring athletes at international races!"

The three Indian Army teams leaded the three disciplines of the men categories gaining all the podium:

Indian Army team B (300 points), Indian Army team A (270 points), Indian Army team C (240 points).

In the women category BSF team won with 300 points, stopping the chronometer of the downriver at 32:57.62, almost 4 minutes before the second team (36:30.89). Overall silver to Karnataka with 248 points. Bronze medal to Uttarakhand with 244 points.

Mix teams competed in the RX discipline: gold to BSF-B team, second place for Uttarakhand-B and third place for BSF-A.

The Board of Directors discussed again today the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian government and the government of Belarus, deciding to suspend from competing at any event the Russian and Belarus Federations until further notice.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Board of Directors met to discuss the sanctions for Russia and Belarus. The IOC recommends “International Sports Federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions” in order “to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants”, therefore the following measures will be taken until further notice:  

“We condemn war in all its forms and aim to support the Ukrainian rafting community in any way we can; our focus remains the wellbeing of our athletes”, says the Board. “Sport has the power to unite the world. We must use our position to send a strong message of peace”.

The ICF Congress was held from 3rd to 7th November 2021 in Rome, Italy. On the other side of the elections the meeting has been an opportunity to discover new realities and create new sinergies. In those days the WRF President and Secretary fist met and made contact with the Nigerian Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing Federation.

Croatia was supposed to host the first international competition of the WRF season in the breathtaking spot of Slunj, 18th-21st March.

The race has been suspended due to low rainfall and snowfall during the winter season: Slunjčica river has no minimum water level to paddle.

There is the chance to pospone the event in the first weeks of April, depending on the weather conditions.

Hoping to see you all paddling soon, WRF confirms the Euro Cup in Bulgaria: 25th-28th March.

WRF is proud to announce the new partnership agreement with Aquadesign, becoming the latest addition to the prestigious group of Official WRF Partners.As Official WRF Partner, Aquadesign will be present at and involved in all World Rafting main events including the 2022 Junior & U23 World Championships in Zubin Potok, Kosovo (25-31 July 2022) and the 2023 Senior World Championships in Valtellina, Italy (26 June - 2 July 2023).

WE ARE VERY PROUD AND EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE SIGNATURE OF OUR NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH AQUADESIGN. AQUADESIGN IS A GLOBAL LEADER IN OUR SECTOR AND IT IS CURRENTLY ONE OF THE STRONGEST TEAM IN THE WORLD WHICH MAKES THIS PARTNERSHIP A PERFECT FIT. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP AND TO SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL FEDERATIONS IN THEIR FUTURE SUCCESSES THANKS TO THIS AGREEMENT. 

DANILO BARMAZ , WRF PRESIDENT

Aquadesign was one of the official partners of the 2021 Senior World Championships held in L-Argentière-la-béssée in France

As part of the agreement, Aquadesign will provide with new rafts to WRF, manufactured according to WRF Sport Rules.

The  special price for the "race raft" by Aquadesign is 920,00 Euro (+VAT): orders can be made by contacting

For Aquadesign this important partnership will allow a strategic expansion of its brand recognition internationally by organisation with the world’s top rafting events that are followed by significant global audiences.

On 13rd January the President of the Comité Olimpico Peruano, Dr Renzo Vitto Fabrizio Manyar Velazco certified that "the Peruvian Canoeing Federation is the representative of the rafting discipline in the country as a national sports representative for the fulfillment of the international agreements assumed between the International Canoeing federation and the World Rafting Federation.

In addition the President of the Peruvian Canoeing Federation, Sr. Jorge Tàvara Mariàtegui certified the full membership with WRF, taking the opportunity to express "my special consideration and esteem".

Whitewater rafting on Rio Chili

The incredible variety of freshwater Perù varies from the enormous drainage basin of the Amazon river and the whitewater rivers like Rio Chili and Urubamba that, flowing from the Andes Mountains towards the Pacific Ocean, create a natural paradise for rafting.

"I am honored to welcome this beautiful country in our community and I lood forward to develop positive sinergies with this amazing rafting reality." WRF President declared.

Rio Urubamba, that runs through the Sacred Valley of Incas