This summer, two rafting teams from the Roaring Fork Valley will hit the whitewater of Bosnia to compete as Team USA for 2024’s World Rafting Championship (WRC). Local teams Riff Raft Racing and Rapid Fire Racing will compete with rafters from across the globe during the event, hosted by the International Rafting Federation (IRF) on the Vrbas (pronounced verb-ahss) River, from May 28 to June 2.
“We’re super stoked to be representing the U.S.” said Riff Raft captain Conrad Niven. “It’s a pretty wild thing and we’re hyped on it.”
Candidates for the WRC are selected during the U.S. Rafting Association National Championships, held in 2023 on the Arkansas River near Canon City. Riff Raft secured their spot to compete in Bosnia after taking first in the men’s open, and Rapid Fire took second to the Red Ladies in the women’s open.
After the Red Ladies decided on taking a little break and abstaining from the WRC, Rapid Fire was asked if they’d like to represent the United States in Bosnia.
“It happened very quickly, and it was kind of a rally decision where we all came together and asked, ‘Hey, do we want to do this?’” explained Rapid Fire team captain Bean Hancock. “Everyone said ‘Absolutely, 100%! It sounds like a life-changing opportunity that we simply cannot pass up.’”
This is the first world championship for both teams and is the first time rafting in that part of the world for each of the paddlers. The race represents a big milestone for both of the newly formed teams.
While many of the teammates on Rapid Fire have been racing for several years, the team only formally came together less than a year ago. Similarly, Riff Raft has been an established racing team for just two years, but the crew has been informally boating together for around four. Many other teams around the world, on the other hand, have been boating together for decades.
Other international teams also have a leg up in terms of training conditions. While some countries have runnable whitewater flows year-round, Riff Raft and Rapid Fire have to do a good amount of their winter training in the gym or paddling in the Snowmass Rec Center’s pool.
However, both teams will have some time to warm up on actual whitewater before the worldwide competition. They’re each heading to Nationals on the Clackamas River in Oregon, May 17-19. The teams will have a few practice days built into their schedule to familiarize themselves with the Vrbas’s best lines, and also to explore a new part of the world.
While the IRF organizes the event, it’s up to the rafters to cough up the dough for airfare and accommodations. Rapid Fire and Riff Raft have hosted some fun fundraising events in Snowmass and Aspen this spring, but are still on the lookout for partnership opportunities with local businesses.
“We’re really grateful to the community. We’ve got such a great community of whitewater people in the Valley, and everyone’s really stoked on it and psyched to help us out,” said Niven.
Rapid Fire is working with local schools to get female students on the river to learn about conservation, outdoor career paths and to show them that, though the sport is male-dominated, the water is for everyone.
“Women are allowed to take up space in this community,” said Hancock. “And it’s a really wonderful thing when we do and we can achieve amazing and outstanding things — like representing your country in a world championship.”
Both teams are planning on throwing another fundraiser in June after returning from the WRC to celebrate the milestone, share about their experience with some photos and footage and hopefully show off a few medals. Those event details are still to be determined.
For more information on Rift Raft, visit www.riffraftracing.com; as for Rapid Fire, visit www.rapidfireracing.squarespace.com