Words:
Shannon Farley

Photos:
Peter Tranter,
Adventure Photography,
Costa Rica
http://raftingpictures.
com/indexesp.html

In a bold move to unite the rafting industry in Costa Rica and worldwide in stronger safety measures and environmental protection, more than 200 people from over 20 nations joined together at the first-ever World White Water Rafting Summit of the International Rafting Federation (IRF) in Costa Rica.

The WWWR Summit 2019
Costa Rica

Focusing on the theme ‘Risk management for a prosperous future’, the World White Water Rafting Summit convened at the Costa Rica Convention Center and the Pacuare River.

Rafting leaders from around the world and more than 200 national and international participants attended the summit with the objective of exchanging knowledge about risks and safety and how to manage them to guarantee a successful future of rafting; about environmental risks that threaten rivers, like dams and climate change; rafting guide and commercial operator accreditation; the importance of wilderness emergency and first aid training; difficult topics like drugs and alcohol among guides and clients, and overcoming language barriers with international tourists; the role of river guides in being changemakers; and how to be good river stewards.

“This Summit is important for the international rafting industry because we are discussing and sharing information on issues such as risk management, safety, environmental conservation for rivers, the importance of clean water, reforestation, as well as training, education and certification of guides,” said Rafael Gallo, IRF Honorary President and event organizer.

The summit, which was held under the auspices of the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT), presented Costa Rica as a pioneer destination in rafting and at the forefront of adventure tourism.“Rafting in Costa Rica enjoys international prestige as a sport and adventure tourism attraction. Costa Rica has been participating in world events since 1989 and has been the host of IRF World Rafting Championships three times. But it is not a risk-free activity, so ICT is pleased that this World White Water Rafting Summit focused on risk management in our country. We strongly support it as a symbol of our institutional commitment for a safe tourism destination,” said María Amalia Revelo, Minister of Tourism in Costa Rica.

Presenters from 10 nations, including New Zealand, Finland, Mexico, United States, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica and the United Kingdom, led engaging and interactive sessions during two days of the Summit. Notable experts included Joe Willis Jones, President of the IRF; Costa Rica’s Minister of Environment and Energy Carlos Manuel Rodríguez; Ian Ponce, representative of the UN Climate Change Commission; Rafael Gallo, IRF Honorary President; and Monti Aguirre, Latin America Program Coordinator for International Rivers.

Given this first event’s huge success, the IRF plans to now hold World White Water Rafting Summits every two years in different locations around the world. Since Costa Rica is leading the way on the initiative, the next Summit in 2021 will again be held in Costa Rica, said Gallo.

Gallo added, “We must shorten the distance between each encounter. Between 1995 and 2015 there have been no worldwide rafting exchanges, and now we achieved it. At the close of this first Summit, we feel very satisfied because we met our goals; and we see the necessity to meet every two years going forward.”

The World White Water Rafting Summit closed in a huge finale on Oct. 11 with a massive symbolic rafting trip, entitled ‘One River, One World, One Family’, of more than 200 people on the renowned Pacuare River. The historic rafting trip united for the first time 16 rafting companies from Costa Rica, with 57 guides and 150 paddlers in 37 rafts and 12 kayaks, to send a message in favour of river conservation.

“The message we want to send with this first massive river navigation is that rafting can be done with passion, safety, and at the same time show that we can take care of the environment and have clean and free-flowing rivers,” said Rafael Gallo. “Rivers are the world’s arteries, and with this event we exemplify the symbolism that to move forward – to navigate – you have to work as a team.”

At the end of the big day, the Costa Rica National Alliance of Rivers and Watersheds presented the first edition of the ‘Rafael Gallo Palomo, Safeguarding the Future of our Rivers’ award to the environmental organization Río Urbano (Urban Rivers) that is working to clean and protect rivers in the country’s capital region. The award pays homage to Rafael Gallo, pioneer in rafting and river conservation in Costa Rica, and is intended to recognize and stimulate environmental improvement for rivers and water sources around the country.

Within the framework of the World White Water Rafting Summit, the International Rafting Federation (IRF) announced that Costa Rica will be the country with which it starts its pilot program to accredit commercial rafting operators. Thus far, the IRF has focused on the accreditation and certification of guides; however, it has a pilot plan ready so that rafting operators can undertake an evaluation that allows them to be accredited.
The pilot scheme will be trialled with assistance from the Costa Rica Sports Association for Adventure and Paddling (ADAR) over the coming 12 to 18 months with a full report at the next White Water Rafting Summit.

During the close of the conference portion of the IRF’s Summit on Oct. 10, leading global rivers campaign organization International Rivers and the IRF signed an historic Memorandum Of Understanding to bring together the common goals of both organizations to work together for the benefit of all rivers and waterways across the globe.
“Since the founding of both the International Rafting Federation and International Rivers, we have both been committed to the responsible stewardship and protection of the planet’s rivers. Today, we formally declare our commitment to working together in all ways possible toward this common goal.”