A message from the President of the World Rafting Federation: Danilo Barmaz:
''Dear Rafters and WRF Community,
as usual, at the end of the year, I am presenting the annual report, a step that I believe is crucial and important to ensure that everyone is updated and feels included in the progress we've made as a team. 2024 has been a important year for the WRF. Thanks to the constant growth of our sporting events, there have been significant developments that will have an impact on our future. The great work of these years is giving great results, certifying that we are a trustable, positive and fast growing community in the sport environment.
The main news is the negotiations between IRF and WRF to reunite the two Rafting Federations in a unique sport body. In Lausanne, at the end of May 2024, we had the first meeting at SportAccord headquarters. In the two days of meetings, IRF's President Mr Joe Willis and myself started to open a round table concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the unification, under the supervision of Davide Delfini whom I thank for his availability. The work continued with a series of online meetings and at this moment our General Secretary, Mr. Matteo Benciolini, and Mr Eric Boudreau (IRF Vice President) are developing a road map for the future unification. I believe that we are on the right track.
This was the year of the Olympics, and for this reason, we have moved the Junior & U23 World Championships to 2025. We must highlight the great success of canoeing in the Olympics and the important support and collaboration we receive from our friends at the ICF, with whom the synergy continues to strengthen.
The 2024 was the year of the Continental championships which were great! They certified the growth of our National Federations and consequently of the WRF! The athletes are increasing, the youth athletes are growing, the National Federations are more and more. We are increasing the number of event managers and technicians and, last but not least, the numbers of the national and international judges are growing.
Europeans hold the championships in Konjic - Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thank you Mr. Samir Krivic to have been organized a fantastic event in just a few months.
Asians hold the events in Shimla - India: it was set under the majestic Himalayas and Mr. Shaukat Sikand and The Indian Rafting Foundation organized a splendid event.
Pan-Americans games were held in Pucon - Chile: the largest event of the year, with more than 320 athletes from 10 nations competing in spectacular races, confirming the rafting importance in the American continent! We thank Mr. Cristian Huenchuleo and the Chilean Rafting Federation for the amazing work carried out despite thousand difficulties.
In addition to the positive competitive results, we have to take inspiration from these events to ensure that the problems that have faced are an opportunity for further improvements; something that the Continental councils and the commissions are already working on. The exponential growth of our races means that certain dynamics, previously marginal, can create issues and, consequently, it is necessary to be manage them in a rigorous and professional manner.
This year, I had the honor, as WRF President, to be a guest at the ICF congress that took place in Antalya in Turkey. It was the elective assembly and the main celebration for the 100 years of the constitution of the International Canoe Federation!
During the Assembly, we have seen the confirmation of the actual President Thomas Konietsko (congratulations for the excellent elective result). It was for us the opportunity to make ourselves known by the ICF community, involving new Nations and opening various discussion tables for new members.
One of the main discussion topic was the idea of planning the organization of joint eventsunder the main idea of "paddle product" increasing the attractive for public administrations and sponsors. To certify this spirit of collaboration, in July in Solkan - Slovenia, the ICF and WRF's the Rafting & Wildwater Canoeing Junior & 23 World Championships will take place together.
Also in this context, relations with the Turkish Federation have been consolidated and it was proposed that the event in Rize (Next Generation Cup) will be held also with a canoeing competition. I would like to thank the Turkish Federation President, Mr. Alper Cavit Kabakci, for his delightful hospitality and I would like to extend a big and sincere thank you to the rafting manager, Mr. Gurkan, for his kind welcome, for his expertise and for his the love he has for our sport!
Our training system is growing very well and even though there are a thousand difficulties, more and more National Federations are joining it.
We are making the training as an integral part of the federations, aligning it with the WRF training standards. This task is not obvious: change is never easy!
We believe that the training standards are serious and we want to remark the importance of the safety side of it, being sure that it can be a great financial resource for our National Federations.
We have taken part in various initiatives to protect rivers, signing collaborations with the top sports organisations in this sector. We have organized training courses around the world including the one in collaboration with the FFCK Training Center of L'Argentière-la-Bessée (CRFCK). Specifically, this one provided us free participation for 3/4 WRF technicians
Looking to the 2025, the sport calendar promises an incredible year! in addition to the Junior & Under 23 World Championships in Slovenia on our website you will find the list of all the events. The main event will be the 2025 Senior World Championships in Argentina! This World Championships that will take place in the beautiful Patagonia, one of the last natural paradise in the world. This championships will be held under a strong environmental sustainability framework in order to respect the natural environment.
I cannot conclude without a special mention to the Para-rafting activities held in 2024! Well, there are no words! When I see the para teams challenging each other I must admit that they reached a great competitive level el and it is an amazing spectacle. The best para teams are reaching results that would make them able to reach the top 10 positions inside the men's rankings!!
We have in front of us a brighter future for WRF!''
Danilo Barmaz
