World Rafting General Board

Pau, France - April 21, 2026 The new chapter for the rafting community 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...

The World Rafting Federation and the International Rafting Federation officially announce the convocation of the Constitutive and First Elective Congress of United Rafting, to be held on 21 April 2026 in Pau, France in accordance with the Statutes and the Transitional Provisions adopted following the unification process. This historic Congress...

Dear members of the rafting community worldwide - a thletes, coaches, team managers, officials, supporters and friends - As the year draws to a close, I wish to present a comprehensive reflection on the activities, achievements, and challenges that have characterized this season of the world rafting. The year 2025 has been one of significant...

The 2025 rafting season proved to be truly epic - a thrilling crescendo of adrenaline and strategy that saw athletes and teams challenge the planet's most iconic and wild rivers. As emphasized it wasn't just about being the strongest but about instilling in the sport that untamed spirit which defines the 2025 Rafting Team of the Year! The season...

The merger project between the International Rafting Federation (IRF) and the World Rafting Federation (WRF) marks the beginning of a new chapter for the world rafting community. The unified body envisions a thriving international movement where rafting stands as a symbol of unity, inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation. By establishing a...

In the heart of Solkan, where the emerald waters of the Soča River meet the dreams of the next generation rafters – a historic moment in rafting is taking place: the official announcement of the merger between the WRF and the IRF. A symbolic and strategic step toward: a stronger, united future for our sport. We sat down for a while with Danilo...

A significant milestone in the history of international rafting was reached on June 5th, 2025, in Istanbul, where Danilo Barmaz and Joseph Willis Jones — Presidents of the World Rafting Federation (WRF) and the International Rafting Federation (IRF), respectively — signed a Letter of Intent to SportAccord, applying for membership in the Alliance...

During the 2025 ECA Wildwater Canoeing European Championships in Mezzana, a cooperation agreement was signed with the European Canoe Association. The idea of cooperation between the World Rafting Federation and the European Canoe Association had been developing for some time. Following productive discussions in recent months, both organisations...

The wait is over—registrations are officially open for the upcoming World Rafting Championships, set to take place in two thrilling destinations: Slovenia for the Junior & U23 categories and Argentina for the Senior category! Teams from around the globe can now sign up through theFLOW platform, your gateway to participating in this exciting...

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...

The rafting world is buzzing with excitement: Austria has officially joined the World Rafting Federation (WRF). This membership not only recognizes another big step for the WRF community but also presents an extraordinary opportunity for the sport in the country.

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...

New year, new beginnings for the global rafting community! The Czech Republic (The Union of Boaters of The Czech Republic) has officially joined the World Rafting Federation (WRF), bringing a rich blend of river culture and enthusiasm to the already diverse mix of nations united by the sport of rafting. This new collaboration not only strengthens...

Following WRF guidelines set to better define the standards of river guiding worldwide, a new and comprehensive Training Programme has been launched for river guides and coaches in collaboration with National Federations.

The World Championships is always been one of the most exciting events in the world of rafting. It is a moment of great emotion, in which the best athletes of each nation compete for glory and fame. But the World Championship isn't just a competition, it's also an opportunity to get to know new countries, teams and friends. With each edition of...

The power of sport in promoting environmental sustainability and forest conservation is undoubtedly enormous. In recent years, more and more athletes, teams and sports organizations have joined the cause of OneTreePlanted, a non-profit organization dedicated to planting trees around the world to restore forests, protect wildlife and fight climate...

The most awaited appointment for rafting and extreme sport lovers is almost there: the WRF World Rafting Championships 2023, organized this time by the Italian Rafting Federation and the Adda Viva Indomita Valtellina River in Valtellina, in the heart of the beautiful Italian Alps. This year the competition will see about 450 athletes of the best...

We are thrilled to announce that we are offering two free spots for a rafting course in Villeneuve, Aosta, Italy. The course will take place from May 21st to May 27th, 2023. It’s organised by CRFCK - FFCK (Centre régional de formation au canoë-kayak - FFCK) and FIRaft (Italian Rafting Federation). We are inviting applications from individuals who...

WRF wins the Peace and Sport Awards 2021! In 2020, Peace and Sport was eager to reward individuals and organizations that have continued to use sport to serve communities and to promote peace through best practices in sport. Despite challenging times, sport remained essential to promote values such as respect, unity and solidarity. In 2021, Sport...

WRF has revealed the venues that will play host to the Rafting weekends during the 2023. Next year, the Senior World Championships will be held in Italy (Sondrio) and the registrations are already open. Massimo Desiati,President of the Sport Department: “ Following strong collaboration between the WRF and Pan-American Council, we are pleased to...

WRF recently had the honor to interview Professor Stephan Wassong . He is a German sport scientist and university lecturer. He studied sports science at the German Sport University of Cologne and at SUNY Cortland in New York state, completed his habilitation in the field of sports history and sports education. From 2007 to 2009 he was an...

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...

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)...

All the winners of World Rafting Awards 2021, including the Athletes of the Year 2021, will be crowned on 17 th February 2022 during a ceremony that will be broadcasted at 9:00 pm (CET) and hosted by Sandra Miličević. To keep up with the latest news about the World Rafting Awards, visit world rafting website and check out WRF accounts on Facebook...

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....

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...

UNIQUE AWARDS TO MARK A DIFFICULT YEAR OF SPORT World Rafting is delighted to announce the nominees for the World Rafting Athletes & Coach of the Year 2021. The World Rafting Awards will recognise athletes who have performed at the highest level across the year, taking into account not only the Senior World Championships, but also the national...

The entry of Switzerland in WRF has been an enormous result for our community, since they has a lot of river experience and is an active movement. President Angerlo Sanna , who cooperated from Switzerland in signing the WRF membership, answered three questions by the WRF. We are convinced that collaboration between small and large federations can...

The European project “Be Water”, a project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, has ended. The project had as partners the Alto Noce River Park (Italy), the Italian Rafting Federation, the Rafting Club "Gimpex Straza” (Slovenia) and the Kajak Kanu klub "Rastocki mlinari" (Croatia). The closing conference of the project on "...

Dear WRF Member and Friends, as the New Year rings in, it brings high hopes: a promise of a fresh start. To welcome the new year with great enthusiasm and happiness to look forward and welcome opportunities I would like to briefly highlight the World Rafting Federation achievements during 2021. Membership By now we have 38 Nations recognized from...

The seventh edition of the European Week of Sport is taking place from 23rd-30th September 2021. This year's theme highlights the power of physical activity to bring joy, build resilience and connect generations. For six years, the European Week of Sport has helped tackle the inactivity crisis by encouraging Europeans to embrace a healthy and...

World Rafting Federation and Global eSports Federation joined forces signing a membership last month. The GEF prioritizes the development of an inclusive, safe, healthy and sustainable Esports ecosystem with a particular focus on responsible gaming, holistic wellness, fair play, education and career pathways for players and athletes. Nowadays...

After a challenging and intense week of races, the award ceremony on the last day crowned the World Rafting Champions of the Women, Mix and Para Rafting categories. Italy 2, Women overall Champions With 292 points, scored with two golds in RX and Slalom and a silver in the Downriver, Italy 2 is the overall Champion of the Women category: Christa...

On 3rd July the last stage of the RX for Women, Mix and ParaRafting closed the race week and awarded the podiums with important points, that decided the overall results. In the Women category the four teams who made it to the semifinals, after the Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the knock out, were Turkey 2, Slovakia, Italy 1 and Italy 2 . Women, Italy 1,...

After the RX qualification on the first day of race and a challenging afternoon with a first phase of selection, the knock out phase 2 turned the lights on in the whitewater stadium on Durance river, France . 16 teams faced the whitewater course studying the opponents’ tactics and the couple of gates in strategic passages. RX night on Durance...

After the RX qualifications from yesterday the men category will finish the World Rafting Championship 2021 tonight. The knock out phase started this afternoon, without the 7 teams who got the best 7 times who will access directly to the phase 2 tonight at 21: Italy 1, Italy 2, Croatia 1, Chile 1, Russia, Turkey 1 and Argentina . Phase 1 saw 18...

EU Green Week just ended and WRF is happy to announce another step forward for the contribute that our movement is committed to giving to the protection of the global environment. On 3rd June Surfrider Foundation Europe organised an online conference bringing together representatives of water sports federations, athletes, researchers,...

We’re happy to announce that we’ve partnered with One Tree Planted to plant trees! The World Rafting Federation on the occasion of the WRF World Rafting and Para-Rafting Championships 2021 , from june 28th - is honored to support reforestation with One Tree Planted as part of our commitment to sustainability. 1 ATHLETE = 1 TREE 1 Athlete = 1...

We’re happy to announce that we’ve partnered with One Tree Planted to plant trees! The World Rafting Federation on the occasion of the WRF World Rafting and Para-Rafting Championships 2021 , from june 28th - is honored to support reforestation with One Tree Planted as part of our commitment to sustainability. 1 ATHLETE = 1 TREE 1 Athlete = 1...

FFCK is one of the biggest canoe federations worldwide and in 2017 officially welcomed the rafting sport under its umbrella, becoming a WRF member. Rafting in France is a historical discipline from the recreational and commercial point of view, but the first National Championship was held in 2019. Since then the agonistic field is exponentially...

The world is still struggling with the Covid-19 pandemic and most of us are still locked home thinking on how nice would be to do some rafting with our team, friends or family. Trying to give you some relief we decided to tiktok-ing a bit! Are you with us? We need your support! We will start posting videos from all over the world to give you the...

ICCE President John Bales and the Board of Directors welcome WRF as a new partner. The International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE) is a not-for-profit, global organisation established in 1997 with the mission of leading and developing sport coaching globally. ICCE operates in 50 countries believing that international collaboration and...

Following the project of the ICF International Canoe Federation we have created some games too for our younger rafters ! The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic were felt by all, but perhaps the most affected by the changes of this period were the kids. T his is the reason why - while we all wait to be able to go back to the river to have fun we can...

Francesco Ricci Bitti is a former tennis player, engineer and sports administrator from Bologna, Italy. He is President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) . He is also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission for Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, and held the same position for Rio...

Peace and Sport , the international organization based in Monaco which promotes peace using the power of sport, will join forces with the World Rafting Federation (WRF) to use rafting as a tool for social inclusion and overcoming differences . The World Rafting Federation is an Associate Member of the International Canoe Federation (ICF) who is...

On 20th-21st March 9 teams competed for the 2021 Croatian title at the Senior National Championship in Zagreb , Donja Dubrava village, organised by the Canoe Federation on Drava river. The overall podium reports the same results of every discipline, not without intense battles in evert field, and confirms the names for the World Rafting...

On 19th February WRF officially became a member of the International Fair Play Committee (CIFP), with the signature of the two presidents Mr Danilo Barmaz and Dr Jenő Kamut i. CIFP is supporting and promoting Fair Play worldwide since its foundation in Paris in 1963, by UNESCO, with a special emphasis on children, adolescents and those in charge...

A new partnership has been singed between WRF and Sport and Sustainability International (SandSi). SandSi is a not-for-profit international organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland, that leverages the power of sport to encourage mind and behaviour changes towards more responsible conduct, aligning with the Paris Agreement and the 17 Sustainable...

WRF Interview of the Month Ivo Ferriani is an IOC Executive Board Member since 2018, sport director, former professional bobsledder ( and former river guide ). He is the President of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) since 2010, IOC Member since 2016 and President of the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports...

January 27th 1945: the survivors of the Auschwitz extermination camp were freed from the horror of the holocaust, after 1.1 million people lost their lives in the camp's gas chambers or from starvation and disease. Memory that in recent times our world seems to have lost, showing a reality in which more and more walls are erected, in which the...

Another step towards a greener future has been taken by the WRF, by signing a membership with Green Sport Alliance (GSA). Earlier this month the WRF board announced that it was happily joining GSA, the environmentally-focused trade organisation that convenes stakeholders from around the sporting world to promote healthy, sustainable communities....

After the long wait due to the coronavirus pandemic, 2021 is finally here and so it's the sport calendar . Keeping our eyes on the WRF World Rafting and Para-Rafting Championships 2021 - scheduled in France starting on June 28th, every nation now is working, following all the safety protocols, organizing national races where possible. Despite the...

WRF is glad to announce that the Organising Committee has released details of the 2021 WRF World Rafting Championships, hosted in L’Argentière-Pays des Ecrins, France, from June 28 to July 3 . The first official bulletin is now online, and can be read here .

Dear Presidents, Athletes, Guides, Coaches, Technicians and Rafting lovers, we are close to the end of this tough year that changed and is still changing our society due to the Covid-19 outbreak. I hope all of you can consider it a challenge and that 2021 will bring us out, overcoming this awful human and economic situation. First of all I would...

WRF is honored and proud to announce that on Wednesday 29/07, Thursday 30/07, Friday 31/07, Saturday 1/08 and Sunday 2/08/2020 will take place the 1st worldwide conference from the World Rafting Federation about training for River Guide and Coach, in l’Argentière la Bessée in France and on the Dora Baltea river in Italy. This conference is an...

Welcome on board to 5 countries who signed as new members of WRF : the Real Federación Española de Piragüismo , the Slovenian Rafting Federation , the Federación Venezolana de Canotaje , the Pakistan Canoe & Kayak Federation and the Federació Andorrana de Canoe-caiac i Esports d'Aigües Braves are now planning and looking forward to the debut of...

On 19th April the CESA (Chinese Extreme Sports Association) has received in its headquarter in Beijing the WRF Delegation. The meeting between the CESA President , Mr. Wang Xuan , and the WRF President , Mr. Danilo Barmaz , assisted by their respective Secretary General, Ms. Han Jiling and Mr. Matteo Benciolini, held in the CESA headquarter in...

For the first time in ten years the Bulgarian Rafting Federation has a new chairman. His name is Tsvetan Petrov , chief international rafting judge, civil aviation pilot and Airbus 320 crew commander. His experience in rafting began about twenty years ago when he went on a student brigade in Alaska. There, in the world’s Mecca of Rafting - the...

Welcome on board! The membership application of the " Federation Tunisienne de canoe kayak " and " Ghana Rowing and Canoeing Association " have been approved by the Executive Board: Tunisia and Ghana become official members of World Rafting Federation.

The new Rafting Simulator is ready: it can be used for special, strength and general physical training in rafting and other kinds of paddling! Benefits 1. Muscles works the same like on real raft. The seating on the Simulator is absolutely identic seating on the raft. 2. Variable intensity for rafting. 3. Simulator has a machine and a...

Time Trial is the largest manufacturer of inflatable products for sports and outdoor activities in Russia for over 18 years and from 2019 this Russian affirmed brand becomes the Official Partner of World Rafting Federation: it will provide the main WRF competitions with the official rafts. Only the shipping cost shall be borne by the local...

On 8th March 2019 the International Federation for Sport Officials (IFSO) was created in The Hague (Netherlands). The first general assembly took place at the Peace Palace, the headquarters of the International Court of Justice. The World Rafting Federation, represented by President Danilo Barmaz, was present as a founding member. In 1987 the...

On 12th May 2019 France will hold the first National Championship of Rafting: L'Argentière-La Bessée will host professional athletes and beginner rafters (who will be guided by a stag trainer) who will compete in the middle of the Alps in the southeastern France for the first time in the history of French Rafting, in order to win the National...

President's annual report: Happy New Rafting Year It is with great pleasure that I write to all of you and wish you a wonderful 2019. 2018 is getting to an end and we will all carry with us all the memories of this historical year: a year that saw our birth and our steady growth; a year that, beside all successes, is the first step of a new era...

WRF announces that in December 2018 the Iraqi Canoe Federation (I.C.C.F.) sent the WRF membership application. According to the Cooperative Agreement between ICF and WRF, WRF approved the application of the Iraqi Canoe Federation: I.C.C.F. is officially a Member of the World Rafting Federation. "I hope to work well together to develop my national...

In early December 2018, Boris Purjakov , Vice-President of the WRF and chairman of the Serbian Rafting Federation, met with representatives of the Bulgarian rafting clubs in Sofia. He discussed the legal issues surrounding the inauguration of the newly elected BRF leadership and shared the latest developments in the WRF. After the meeting,...

XXXVII ICF ORDINARY CONGRESS Budapest – Hungary 2018 On 30th April 2018 WRF has been recognised by the the International Canoe Federation and, as an Associate Member, has been invited to the biennial ICF Ordinary Congress that took place in Budapest (Hungary) on 23rd-24th November 2018. The WRF delegation was composed by Mr. Danilo Barmaz (WRF...

During the ICF Congress 2018 in Budapest Mr. Danilo Barmaz, President of the WRF, and Mr. Jean Zoungrana, President of the Fédération Francaise de Canoe Kayak signed the the Memorandum of Understanding: WRF and FFCK will cooperate through a common line towards programs and activities with the aim of enlarging the number of people practicing the...

The Fédération Française de Canoë-Kayak (FFCK), one of the most important Kayak Federation in the world, has become a Member of the World Rafting Federation. The application shall be ratified by the Executive Board during the next U23 & Junior World Championships in Aosta/Ivrea, Italy. "The France's membership is a great news for all the WRF...

On July 21, 2018 the Rafting World Championships in the Junior and U23 categories. The Junior&U23 R4 World Championships will take place in Chavonne (Aosta) and Ivrea , a Piemontese town famous for its traditional orange feast and known also by itsriver Dora Baltea, which crosses along the city and which will be the watercourse where the world...

The International Canoe Federation (ICF) continues to expand its portfolio of disciplines. It has just signed an agreement with the World Rafting Federation to jointly promote future activities, with a view to rafting being included in future multi-sport events. Read the full article on the World Games Official web site . Brian Salmon for The...

WRF ACROSS THE GLOBE - SPANISH El 2 de mayo 2018 la Federación Chilena de Rafting ha sido reconocida por el Instituto Nacional del Deporte de Chile, cumpliendo así sus aspiraciones de convertirse en Full Member de la World Rafting Federation. Hemos hablado de esto con el Presidente de la Federación Cristian Huenchuleo Ramirez. Huenchuleo es...

Today, April 27th Danilo Barmaz, President of the World Rafting Federation signed the Co-operative Agreement with the International Canoe Federation (ICF). The signature happened at the ICF headquarter in Lausanne, Switzerland, in presence of the WRF and ICF Secretary Generals, Matteo Benciolini and Simon Toulson. This is the turning point in the...

The first session of this season, has left us a very clear concept of Rafting for this community; a meeting between friends. The competition took part last Saturday and Sunday, with new innovations and rules. Cited Nikica Sminderovac: “We are very happy and we do our best to improve this event next year” “Everyone was glad to be present at this...

On Friday, January 26 , 2018, representatives from 15 different countries (3 continent) reunited in Belgrade, Serbia, to sign the official act that created the new world governing body for sport rafting, the World Rafting Federation (WRF). In presence of Mr. Ivo Ferriani, IOC member and President of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton...

The creation of a new federation that binds all rafting nations together for the same cause just happenned this Friday 26th and Saturday 27th of January in Belgrade, Serbia. The first World Rafting Federation (WRF) congress is taking place here and reunites more than 15 countries from all around the world. Thanks to the creation of this new...