The new chapter of global rafting began today in Pau, in the French Pyrenees, where the first Elective Congress of United Rafting officially took place.
The Congress marked the formal unification of the World Rafting Federation (WRF) and the International Rafting Federation (IRF) into a single governing body for the sport. With this step, United Rafting aims to strengthen governance, improve coordination, and build a more sustainable and inclusive future for the worldwide rafting community.
Following the opening remarks from WRF President Danilo Barmaz and IRF President Joseph Willis Jones, a message from ICF President Thomas Konietzko was shared highlighting the importance of unity within the wider paddlesport family and expressing a strong willingness to collaborate moving forward. A total of 56 National Federations were entitled to vote at the Congress.
The leadership elected for the 2026–2028 cycle is:
President: Danilo Barmaz
Treasurer: Blerina Ago
Board Members: William Kariuki Mwangi, Hadi Seyed Ghaziasgar, Gurkan Kose, Boris Purjakov
Continental Council representatives were also elected:
Asian Continental Council: Shigeto Asano, Gautam Raj Sudip, Yaser Alkatheeri
European Continental Council: Anne-Lise Bardet, Zdenka Fingrova, Emilia Kirilova Peneva
American Continental Council: Alba Luz Salazar Galan, Aaron Tippett
African Continental Council: Mohamuud Said Mohane, Mohsen Takrouni
