Rios Tropicales To Sponsor 2011 World Rafting Championships in Costa Rica
Rios Tropicales has agreed to be lead sponsor of the 2011 World Rafting Championships
Press Release (PressBurner) Mar 18, 2009 - San José, Costa Rica – Rios Tropicales, ranked the #5 rafting company in the world by National Geographic Adventure Magazine, has agreed to be lead sponsor of the 2011 World Rafting Championships, to be held in Costa Rica on the Rio General.
“As the largest and oldest rafting company in Costa Rica, it makes sense for us to lead our country’s hosting of the 2011 World Rafting Championships.” Says Rafael Gallo, co-founder of Rios Tropicales.
Rios Tropicales has achieved international renown in the rafting world. Led by expert paddler Rafael Gallo, who wrote the 1988 classic “The Rivers of Costa Rica”, Rios Tropicales has participated in international rafting competitions since they began as Project RAFT in 1989. Mr. Gallo, through Rios Tropicales and its sister non-profit organization Rios Tropicales Foundation, has long been at the forefront of efforts to promote rafting, protection of rivers, and international sustainable adventure development through international competition.
The World Rafting Championships developed out of Project RAFT, an international competition and bridge-building event which drew 50 international teams from 1989-1993. In 1998 the International Rafting Federation took over the event, turning it into the World Rafting Championships. Races have been held throughout the world in past years, including the US, Costa Rica, Siberia, South Africa, and South Korea, among others. The 2011 World Rafting Championships will take place on the Rio General, in the San Isidro Valley, Costa Rica, in September of 2011. The World Rafting Championship competitions consist of 3 disciplines – Sprint, Slalom and Downriver. The points earned in each discipline are added to determine the Overall winner and final positions. Each team has 6 members with the option to have a reserve.
About The International Rafting Federation
The International Rafting Federation (IRF) is an assembly of national associations and organizations with the goal of harmoniously developing, organizing and assuring rafting's future and that of international competition.
