United States Rafting Association

The United States Rafting Association is the national governing body for whitewater raft racing in the United States, operating in alignment with the United Rafting Federation (URF). The USRA sanctions events at three tiers, each with its own pathway and requirements. Whether you are developing a new race, renewing a recurring event, or seeking championship status, the steps below outline how to engage with the USRA.

Sanctioning Tiers

Tier 1 — National Championship. The U.S. National Whitewater Raft Racing Championships and other championship-status events. Requires a fully executed Host Organization MOU between the USRA and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC). Carries national team qualification implications and championship certification.

Tier 2 — USRA-Sanctioned Event. Recurring or new races operated under USRA competition standards, eligible for inclusion in the USRA event calendar. Does not require the Championship MOU but must meet USRA rules, safety, insurance, and membership-verification standards.

Tier 3 — Listed / Affiliated Event. Community races and regional events listed on the USRA calendar for visibility and athlete pathway. Operated independently of the USRA sanctioning structure; the USRA provides promotional support and resource referrals only.

 

Pathway A — Proposing a New Event

If you are developing a new raft race and seeking USRA support or sanction, submit the following to info@usaraftassociation.com. The USRA will respond with a recommended sanctioning tier and next steps.

1. Contact name
2. Email address
3. Organization or LOC name (if applicable)
4. Proposed race date(s)
5. State
6. River and section (e.g., Burnt Ranch Gorge — Trinity River)
7. Class of difficulty
8. Land manager (USFS, BLM, state, private, etc.)
9. Permit status (held, in process, not started)
10. Expected turnout
11. Sanctioning tier of interest (Championship / Sanctioned / Listed)
12. Areas where USRA assistance is requested (insurance, permitting, officials, judging, website, sponsorship, other)
13. Anticipated obstacles or concerns

 

Pathway B — Submitting a Recurring or Existing Event for Sanction

To register an existing event for Tier 2 sanction or Tier 3 listing on the USRA calendar, submit the following to info@usaraftassociation.com.

1. Contact name and role
2. Email address
3. Organization name
4. Race name
5. Race date(s)
6. State
7. River and section
8. Class of difficulty
9. Low-water and high-water contingency plans
10. Eligible race craft (select all that apply): R2, R4, R6
11. Official event website
12. Proof of general liability insurance (carrier, limits, expiration)
13. Confirmation that participants will be required to sign the USRA Participation Waiver
14. Sanctioning tier requested (Sanctioned / Listed)
15. Website assistance requested (Y/N)

Upon review, the USRA will issue a sanctioning determination and provide the applicable rules package, waiver templates, and reporting requirements.

 

Pathway C — Hosting the U.S. National Whitewater Raft Racing Championships

Championship-status events are awarded annually to a Local Organizing Committee under a written Host Organization Memorandum of Understanding with the USRA. The MOU establishes a clear separation between USRA’s governance authority and the LOC’s operational role.

 

USRA Retains Exclusive Authority Over	LOC is Responsible For
Event sanctioning Competition rules and formats Judge and official approval Jury structure Scoring and penalties Protests and appeals Official results National team qualification implications Final championship status certification	Venue access and all required permits Local staffing and volunteer coordination Safety & Emergency Action Plan Course setup and teardown Cooperation with USRA-appointed officials Compliance with USRA competition standards Operational support for judging and scoring teams

 

Submission Requirements

To be considered as a Championship host, prospective LOCs must submit the following to info@usaraftassociation.com:

1. Organization name and authorized representative
2. Email address and phone
3. Proposed event year and dates
4. Venue, river, and section
5. Class of difficulty and course description
6. Land manager and permit status
7. Draft Safety & Emergency Action Plan outline
8. Proposed Safety Director and qualifications
9. Medical and EMS coverage plan
10. Insurance carrier and coverage limits (LOC must carry general liability appropriate to the event scale, with USRA named as additional insured where commercially reasonable)
11. Proposed registration fee within the USRA-set range of $250–$300 per team
12. Acknowledgment that $25 per registered athlete will be remitted to USRA within 30 days of event closeout
13. Acknowledgment that all athletes and coaches will be required to hold active ACA and USRA memberships at the time of registration, and that the LOC will verify and document membership status prior to accreditation
14. Acknowledgment that the event will be promoted as a USRA-sanctioned National Championship, with USRA logo and “Official Sanction” designation on all primary event materials
15. Confirmation of willingness to execute the USRA Host Organization MOU

The MOU applies to a single event year; renewal requires a separate written agreement. The USRA reserves the right to revoke sanction in the event of material breach.

 

What You Can Expect from the USRA

Across all tiers, the USRA provides rules and competition standards, sanctioning determinations, calendar listing, and connection to the selection pathway. For Championship and Sanctioned events, the USRA additionally provides judge and official approval, results certification, and assistance coordinating insurance, officials, and host-organization resources where requested.

Contact: info@usaraftassociation.com