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The historical city of Konjic welcomes 30 rafting teams on Neretva river. The European Rafting Championships, that take place every two years, are ready to be held in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. The town, born on the shores of the clear blue waters of Neretva, is one of the oldest permanent settlements in Bosnia and Herzegovina, dating back almost 4,000 years.

This morning the 12 countries competing in the Champs paddled the first strokes during the official training, studying the lines and the water level of Neretva, surrounded by the green woods of Konjic.

 

Downriver section, official training

 

Tonight, in presence of the Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić and the Mayor Osman Ćatić, the Opening Ceremony officially started the event: 120 athletes paddled in the city center alongside the local rafters who carried the national flags; meanwhile Konjic people and tourists welcommed the teams who entered the stage directly from the river.

  

Teams paddling to the Opening Ceremony

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Türkiye and Ukraine are settled for three full days of competition for the title: Continental Champions.

Tomorrow at 14.00 the race will be on with the two manches of Slalom: stay tuned and enjoy the 2024 Euro Champs!

 

Opening ceremony in the heart of Konjic: Neretva

DOWNLOAD HERE THE EVENT MANUAL

 

Excitement is building in Konjic for the upcoming rafting competition, only one week left to the event which will feature athletes from around Europe on the majestic Neretva River. From June 10th to 15th, 2024, the city will host this prestigious event, with the Garden City Hotel Konjic ready to welcome participants and delegations. Check-in and accreditation will take place on June 10th from 08:00 to 15:00 at Trbića Polje, where access passes to restricted event areas will be distributed.

 

 

Competitions will be held on the Neretva River, with water temperatures ranging from 10 to 12°C. The downriver course is rated Class II+/III, while the RX qualification and slalom race sections reach Class III+. 

Each delegation will have access to the official "Aquadesign WRF Race Competition Raft" for navigating the river's rapids. Daily schedules will include official training sessions and crucial delegation head meetings for event coordination.

 

 

The grand finale on June 14th will feature award ceremonies followed by a closing ceremony and a thrilling party at the Garden City Hotel. June 15th will see the Business Regatta, offering a stylish conclusion to the event.

Konjic is set to host the Europe's top rafting athletes for an unforgettable experience filled with sport and adventure.

 

 

@worldrafting

The European Rafting Cup from June 7-9th in Užice, Serbia, concluded with an outstanding performance by team Koncar. Demonstrating exceptional skill and teamwork, Koncar secured first place by dominating all three disciplines: Downriver, Slalom, and RX. Their flawless performance earned them a perfect score of 300 points.

 

 

Following closely in second place was team Cetina Raft, who amassed a commendable 270 points. The competition for third place was intense, with SKRK Respect ultimately claiming the spot with 236 points.

 

 

As the European Rafting Cup wraps up, the focus now shifts to the European Rafting Championships, which kicked off today in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina. Teams and fans alike eagerly anticipate another thrilling display of rafting prowess. Stay tuned!

@worldrafting

The Olympic flame for Paris 2024 recently made a unique and thrilling passage through the Stade d'Eaux Vives in Pau - France, where just a few weeks earlier, the National Rafting Championships 2024 had taken place. These championships were instrumental in selecting teams for the major international events on the World Rafting Federation calendar like the European Rafting Championships later this June in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

 

 

The journey of the Olympic Flame began on dry land, but soon transitioned to a more adventurous mode of transport: rafting. Accompanied by members of the river community, some in canoes and others on hydrospeed boards, the flame made its descent down the canal. This extraordinary event was witnessed by packed stands of enthusiastic spectators.

 

 

Notably present was Tony Estanguet - three times European Champion, three times World Champion and three times Olympic Champion and now President of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee - who awaited the flame's arrival at the end of its descent. The French FFCK Canoe-Kayak Federation had chosen about twenty individuals for this honor, including the captain and vice-captain of the rafting team: Anne-Lise Bardet and Patrice Estanguet, both accomplished slalom athletes and Olympic medalists. Click here to see the VIDEO.

 

 

As the flame continued its journey, it was escorted under a guard of honor formed by paddles, a fitting tribute to the spirit of the sport and the Olympic Games. This memorable event showcased the unity and excitement of the sporting community as they celebrated the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.

 

@worldrafting

On 25th and 26th May Prague hosted the WRF Euro Rafting Cup in the challenging venue of Troja, on the Vtlava river. Slalom and RX took place in the Prague Canoeing Centre, one of the most frequently used venues for international canoe slalom competition since its foundation in 1983, including the 2013 ICF World Championships.

More than 50 R4 teams competed among the Czech gates, but the fast lines and the narrow eddies favoured the hosts in most of the podiums.

On the first day of competition 12 gates decided the SLALOM podiums, where the touches, especially on the fast red gates, changed the rankings between the two manches.

 

 

MEN

1 TR Hiko: Daněk Aleš, Havlíček Jan, Šťastný Jan, Vrzáň Jakub (02:03.76 )

2 TRZUBR: Hric Michal, Kabrhel Václav, Kristek Václav, Pospíšil Jaroslav (02:16.01)

3 RK Troja: Panenka Ondřej, Sehnal Štěpán, Tomek Lukáš, Urban Daniel (02:16.73)

 

WOMEN

1 RK Troja – Čoromoro: Bauerová Lenka, Fingrová Zdeňka, Kašparová Anna, Kocmanová Karolina (03:06.80)

2 Kočičky Letohrad: Pospíšilová Jitka, Šuttová Zita, Horová Klára, Valíková Radka (03:25.71)

3 MB Bohouš a jeho parta: Hajzlerová Petra, Háková Jitka, Irain Lernerová Terezi, Stonová Štěpánka (03:35.85)

 

MIX

1 Bohouš a jeho PRŠI: Hajzlerová Petra, Irain Jiří, Irain Lernerová Terezie, Šantora Jan (02:24.36 )

2 RK Troja Rumola: Fingrová Zdeňka, Kocmanová Karolina, Sehnal Štěpán, Tomek Lukáš (02:39.42)

3 Rafting team Verona ITA: Martini Maria, Schettino Giacomo, Liuzzo Luca, De Bon Giada (02:41.29)

 

U23 MEN

1 Youngster YES R4: Drastich Pavel, Raděj Tomáš, Ručka Vítězslav, Vyroubal Jakub (02:28.51)

2 TR HROM23: Němec Radek, Plášil Hynek, Šťastný Matěj, Veselý Ondřej (02:46.15)

3 RK Troja Junioři : Pátek Vítězslav, Pechač Jonáš, Rutar Martin, Urban Daniel (02:54.05)

 

U23 WOMEN

1 RK Troja Juniorky: Znamenáčková Kristýna, Hrdličková Sára, Machutová Iva, Žďárská Laura (03:57.94 )

2 Rafting Team Verona ITA: Becchelli Elisa, Martini Maria, Braggio Vittoria, De Bon Giada (05:09.33)

3 KV Viking Juniorky U23 A: Dlesková Kamila, Krejčíková Aneta, Lencová Natálie, Rampasová Evelin (06:17.53)

 

U19 MEN

1 RK Troja Junioři U19: Procházka Ondra, Malinský Petr, Slušný Vojtěch, Znamenáček Tomáš (02:26.63)

2 MOVIMENZO E NATURA A.S.D ITA: Lancellotti Matteo, Schettino Giacomo, Boscia Duccio, Liuzzo Luca (02:43.78)

3 LET-CI Letohrad: Fajt Tomáš, Chmelíček Antonín, Jakeš Jakub, Škarupa Šimon (02:55.36)

 

U19 WOMEN

1 ITALY 1 Femminile: Gazzola Alejandra, Liuzzo Giulia, Gambella Viola, Conti Alessandra (03:41.87)

2 KV Viking Juniorky: Dlesková Kamila, Krejčíková Aneta, Lencová Natálie, Rampasová Evelin (06:19.36)

3 LSGirls Letohrad: Bárnetová Žofie, Peteráčová Viola, Pomikálková Daniela, Stejskalová Johana (07:49.60)

 

RX on Sunday changed the dynamics in the venue. After a sprint in the RX qualification the knock out phase challenged the rafts with the strait flow that forced the teams to continuously study the lines of the opponents.

 

MEN

1 RK Troja: Panenka Ondřej, Sehnal Štěpán, Tomek Lukáš, Urban Daniel 

2  RaB klub Hodonín: Blanář Jindřich, Chrenka Vojtěch, Janošek Radek, Mar[nka Antonín 

3 LET-GUN Letohrad M: Marek Jan, Moravec Jakub, Pecháček Filip, Šlesingr Michael

 

WOMEN

1 RK Troja Juniorky: Znamenáčková Kristýna, Hrdličková Sára, Machutová Iva, Žďárská Laura 

2 RK Troja – Čoromoro: Auerová Lenka, Fingrová Zdeňka, Kašparová Anna, Kocmanová Karolina 

3 Kočičky Letohrad: Pospíšilová Jitka, Šuaová Zita, Horová Klára, Valíková Radka 

 

 MIX

1 RK Troja Rumola: Fingrová Zdeňka, Kocmanová Karolina, Sehnal Štěpán, Tomek Lukáš 

2 Italy 1 mix: Gazzola Alejandra, Morandi Dario, Liuzzo Giulia, Martini Zeno 

3 Rafting Team Verona (ITA) :  Martini Maria, Schettino Giacomo, Liuzzo Luca, De Bon Giada

 

The Canadian National Rafting Championships recently concluded on the Rouge River in Valleyfield, showcasing thrilling performances from 14 competing teams. The event featured intense competition across all the three categories: Men, Women and Mix.

In the men's category, the Petawawa Raft Team secured a decisive victory, claiming the top spot. They were followed by Canada Collectif in second place, and Haut-Canada rounding out the podium in third.

 

 

The women's category saw Bas Canada dominating the competition, taking first place. Mets ta bet à l'eau finished strong in second, with Kariboo capturing the third place.

The mixed teams displayed exceptional teamwork and skill, with Canada Collectif emerging victorious. Petawawa Raft Team added to their accolades with a second-place finish, while Equipe Jacques-Cartier took third.

 

 

These winning teams have earned the honor of representing Canada at the Pan American Rafting Championships in Pucon, Chile at the end of the year, where they will compete against the best teams from across the Americas.

The championships highlighted the dedication and prowess of Canadian rafters, setting a high standard for future competitions. Congratulations to all the teams for their outstanding performances and best of luck in Chile!

 

@worldrafting