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USRA 2026 National Rafting Championships

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UNITED STATES
RAFTING ASSOCIATION

2026 US Rafting Nationals

AUGUST 13–16, 2026  ·  NUGGET CAMPGROUND
R4 and R2 Configuration
NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION EVENT
Three days of racing. One goal: to win. One Team USA.
THE RACE
Classic Format — three disciplines:
SPRINTSLALOMMODIFIED RX / H2H

South Fork American River · Chili Bar Dam – Nugget Campground

WHO CAN RACE

All athletes must hold an ACA membership (or event membership) to race. International teams are welcome but are not eligible for the national title and will race in a separate modified RX (head-to-head) event.

ENTRY

$275 per team.Sign up early and get $25 off — use code EARLY25 at checkout by July 15.

THREE EVENTS · ONE GOAL · ONE TEAM
usaraftassociation.com · presented with SOTAR

USRA 2026 US Rafting Championships Boat Configuration

Raft racing classes are named for the number of paddlers in the boat. The 2026 Nationals run two crew configurations. Identical SOTAR rafts are provided for R4 racing; R2 athletes supply or borrow their own boat.

R4

Four-paddler crew
SOTAR — official rafts
  • 4 paddlers — two on each side
  • All four paddle; the crew steers together (no separate guide)
  • Used for Sprint, Slalom & Head-to-Head
  • Identical SOTAR rafts provided by the event
  • Team of 4 + 1 reserve

R2

Two-paddler crew
  • 2 paddlers — one on each side
  • Smaller, more agile boat; more technical to drive
  • Athletes supply or borrow their own boat — not provided
  • Run as its own division at Nationals
  • Team of 2 + 1 reserve

R4 crews race identical SOTAR rafts provided by the event, so results come down to the crew — not the boat. R2 athletes must supply or borrow their own boat for the race.