World Rafting Championships Update

The World Rafting Championships that I was lucky enough to attend this past weekend in Costa Rica,  wrapped up the final day of competition on Monday with the long distance, Down River event. That final rafting discipline followed three other days of racing that featured sprints against the clock, head-to-head races, and a test of agility through a slalom course.

Heading into the final day, the championship was still up in the air, and there were several teams that had a legitimate chance to win the competition. In the end, it was the young team from Japan that not only won the Down River, but wrapped up the men's championship as well. They were followed in the point standings by the Czech Republic and Slovenian teams. For the ladies, it was just as good of a competition, although the standings at the top were revered. The Czech team took first place, with Japan coming in second, and the Netherlands claiming third. (Both the men's and women's American teams finished in seventh place overall.)

I've also uploaded some photos from the event so you can get an idea of what was happening there on the lovely Pacuare River near Turrialba, which is an outdoor/adventure sports playground in Costa Rica. You can check out my gallery of images by clicking here.

The WRC was definitely a lot of fun to attend, although it could benefit from a bit more organization. That said, considering the remote nature of the event, and the unpredictable conditions, I'd say the event organizers did a good job overall in keeping things running along as best they could.

Congrats to the winners of course, but to everyone who raced or put the event together. And thanks for hosting me while I was there!

Off To The Rafting World Championships in Costa Rica!

As I write this, I'm finishing up preparation to leave for Costa Rica today where I'll be attending the World Rafting Championship. The event kicked off this morning and races begin tomorrow, with teams from 35 different countries on hand to take part in a head-to-head competition that should be a lot of fun to watch.

The event is being held in Turrialba, which is widely considered one of the top rafting destinations in the world. I'm told that the town is nestled snugly into the jungle, and the nearby Pacuare River has Class IV+ rapids to run, which should provide the perfect setting for this competition, which will include sprint races, slaloms, and more.

I'll post updates and photos from the event when I get the chance, and share more thoughts on Costa Rica as an adventure destination as well. This is my first visit to the country, but I've heard great things, so I'm looking forward to checking it out for myself.

I'm only there for an extended weekend however, so regular postings will resume on Monday and if I have the opportunity, I'll post some images while I'm on site. It should be great fun and this will be my first stamp in my newly renewed passport! Yay!

First Descents of Costa Rican White Water Caught on Video

Awhile back, paddlers Chris Baer and Todd Wells traveled to Costa Rica to make the first descent on a couple of water falls along the Rio Chirripo Pacifico. The captured their results on video and compiled them together to share with us all. As usual with these kinds of great kayaking vids, there is plenty to enjoy, but you have to love the cockpit view caught on helmet cam that shows the drop over the falls. Crazy!



First Descents, Rio Chirripo Pacifico, Cateratas from Chris Baer on Vimeo.