Raft racing is an internationally recognized competitive sport, for which the United States Rafting Association serves as the national governing body.
In competitive raft racing teams paddle rafts through rivers or whitewater courses. The sport requires significant teamwork and tests speed, endurance, and accuracy.
Raft Racing includes four disciplines:
1. Sprint (100 Points)
- Short distance through a rapid
- Time trial
2. Head-to-Head (250 Points)
- Two rafts race side by side
- Knockout/elimination format
3. Slalom (350 Points)
- Teams navigate through gates (upstream & downstream)
- Penalties for touching or missing gates
- Penalty adjusted Time Trial (best of two runs)
4. Downriver (350 Points)
- Teams run several miles of rapids and flatwater
- Can be run as a time trial or in a regatta format
Categories by Team Type
- Gender – Men / Women / Mixed
- Age – U19 / U23 / Open / Masters
Categories by Boat Size
- R2 – 2 paddlers (not a typical format in international raft racing)
- R4 – 4 paddlers
- R6 – 6 paddlers