Rafting

Rafting (English raft, raft ') is a in Central Europe since the mid-1980s have become popular recreational sport. At this water sport, a flow is traversed with a boat ( raft ). Usually, you're on whitewater higher levels of difficulty. Rafting is operated by commercial providers as a recreational sport. Some canoe sports clubs also offer rafting. There is also the rafting competitive sport. In rafting racing official world championships are held in the 6-series rafts published every two years since the founding of the International Rafting Federation (IRF ) in 1997. From 2010, the 4- rafts now follow in exchange for the 6 boats in even years, mainly on artificial whitewater facilities in order to prepare the way for the Olympic Games (Olympic class ). Hazards are the disciplines driving time (1-3 min), Parallel Sprint Head to Head (1-3 mins), Slalom with up to 14 gates (3-4 minutes) and the exit (20-60 minutes) by the rules the IRF. There are European and World Championship titles for each individual discipline, as well as for the overall standings.

Rafts there is usually 4 to 12 people. They are made of very durable, multi-layered rubberized fabrics with several independent air chambers. The length usually varies between 3.60 m and 5.80 m, the width between 1.60 m and 2.50 m. To differentiate between different boat shapes. In Europe, the symmetrical, controlled with the bladed paddle at the stern Raft is the most common. Other types are the asymmetrical, rudder -controlled raft and the symmetrical raft raft with central helm (English oars, belt '). Move forward with the bladed paddle rafts or Oars. A special form, the inflatable kayak ( ducky ) is driven by the double paddle and 2 Canadians he hose again with the bladed paddle forward.

Security

Thanks to the now quite sophisticated security measures of the predominantly commercial provider rafting has become a relatively safe pastime. Depending on the destination, there are some fairly rigid Sicherheitsmaßgaben public institutions for providers: This ranges from the audit requirement for business owners and boat operators on the regular decrease of the boats to clear rules in terms of the equipment to be carried. Rafting is when the usual safety rules are adhered to, are not above average dangerous sport.

In the past, there have been repeated accidents. It is generally advisable to address before posting a rafting trip with the safety concept of the provider. Nature and extent of equipment and qualification of the captain are the main characteristics here.

Criticism

Like all natural sports is rafting in the conflict between conservation and use of natural resources. In particular, between anglers and rafters, there was frequently in the past to problems, however, could be settled by compromise solutions such as restrictions on annual and daily Befahrung times mostly.

Differences, there have been some with private or organized in associations canoe athletes who feel disturbed in the exercise of freedom of their sport. Rafter generally use the same white-water bodies such as whitewater canoeists; the usual " rules" of whitewater kayakers (such as the " pitching " and wait to surf on waves) are of rafters but often not respected (mostly because they do not manage to stop the heavy raft, so an attempt is made over to paddle and so from the way to go). Also, simply because of their size, the collision form a greater risk with a raft for a canoeist if he would be crushed between rock and Raft, as a collision with another canoe. Where a collision with a kayak on top of the upper body can be very dangerous. In addition, the short and venal appeal of a commercial rafting trip the usual philosophy of whitewater canoeing contradicts. However, there are also many raft guides ( boat driver ) itself kayakers. But there are already many rafting customers have succumbed to the allure of the white water and have even started to canoe and kayak.

Some canoeists complain about rafting providers that dredging and blasting operations in riverbeds make in co-operation with municipalities and tourism associations, to eliminate security risks in the river. In fact, these measures have usually only short stock, since a riverbed is subject to constant changes and interventions are often zunichtegemacht with the next high water. To welcome structural changes would be dangerous artificial river engineering structures ( weirs ) to increase the safety of both kayakers as Rafter.

Rafting as an economic factor in many Alpine regions contributes to the further obstruction of rivers omitted for energy production and are thus retained even the Canoeing the rivers. Meanwhile, these natural landscapes are endangered, especially in Tirol by power plant projects.

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