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As Spring flows start to give our rivers a fresh beginning, so is the USRA putting a fresh spin on its guiding values.  Today is an exciting time for our organization’s future as we proudly announce our New Values Statement.  This document will guide the organizational culture of the USRA in the upcoming years.  USRA Values Statement Environmental Stewardship: We protect the watersheds in which we operate, promoting responsible practices that minimize our impact on ecosystems and waterways. Safety: We prioritize the safety and well being of all participants, ensuring that raft racing is conducted with high standards of safety…

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The USRA is the governing body for whitewater raft racing in the United States. The USRAworks with the International Rafting Federation and other national governing bodies throughoutthe world to make sure the United States is represented in international competition. The USRAalso strives to promote the sport of raft racing in the United States from a local level to a nationallevel. Teams selected through the National Championship Series represent the United States ininternational competition. The USRA continually strives to grow the sport within the USA and isa non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Due to attrition, we currently have several positions open at the USRA that…

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It was with great sadness we had to cancel our National Championships scheduled for September 2022 on the South Fork of the American River in California, because of smoke from a nearby major wildfire.  No out of state teams had the ability to reschedule for this fall, so the soonest is seems we can hope for a National event will be Spring of 2023. We are hoping to have a smaller Regional event on the South Fork of the American in October 2022 for local teams. For 2023, the USRA BOD is actively seeking bids from potential race directors to…

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There are a lot of possible ways to frame your practices. You are training for 4 very different events that require their own skills. Here are some sample work outs you can use or key off to make your own team work out. Sprint Practices 1. Intensity laps warm ups 2.5 min x 9- rest 2.5 min after each paddle starts, practice the pace at which you will start a race. Repeat a certain number of strokes for up to 10 times. 2.  tabatas with an increase in intensity in last 5 seconds 30s paddle, 10 s rest,30 s paddle,10s…

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National and International Raft races limit teams to 5 or 7 team members/paddlers that are able to compete on one team. This number is based on whether the World Rafting Championship is a 4 or 6 person competition. Even in local races, there’s only a certain amount of spaces in a boat. Often times, teams might be “full” already when you contact them to join. Don’t be discouraged. Start another team! With all of the athletic talent and access to bodies of water in the US – natural whitewater or man made (such as, OKC, Charlotte), there’s a place for…

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2019 saw entries from all categories at the US Nationals held in Salida and Buena Vista, Colorado on the Arkansas River.  The Under 19 women’s category contained two well matched and trained teams. The ladies battled fiercely throughout the competition with the Dandy Lions team captained by Lori Cassidy finally taking the title with a downriver win that saw both teams leading at different times throughout the race.    Internationally, there are four categories for whitewater raft racing athletes to compete in.   Those categories are under 19, under 23, open and masters. The Dandy Lion team met and started training…

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Raft racing, through the International Rafting Federation, is as much about promoting awareness about the value of wild rivers all over the world, as it is about competition.” Sue Norman, Coach California Development Team The 2019 r4 competition saw two under 19 team’s fiercely battling on the river and displaying incredible sportmanship off.  This expansion of raft racing in the US has a lot to do with Sue Norman and the families of Califoria’s first youth team.    Sue Norman is no stranger to competition. She was on the women’s USA team from 1989-2000 where she, along with her teammates, grabbed…

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Jon, “Shaggy” McLaughlin had a strong history of paddling whitewater.   Over time, though, a shift had caused him to fear one of his greatest loves: the river.  His friends would call him to go paddling and he would turn them down.   He said, “My confidence was low, like ‘in the basement’ low. I didn’t know where this fear was coming from…to be afraid of something I loved so much. The river. …It was upsetting…”  One fateful day, Andy Baxter, a member of the US men’s Masters team, contacted Shaggy about filling a spot on the team. That phone call…

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