subject: Britons Hoping To Lead The Pack In White Water Rafting [print this page] White water rafting in the UK might be more well-known as a classic stag weekend activity, but riding white water in an inflatable dinghy is much more than just a laugh on the water, its a proper white water sport with its own World Championship.
As it happens, us Brits are pretty good when it comes to white water rafting. Team GB won third place at the last world championships behind Brazil and Canada. The team is now in Costa Rica hoping for repeat of this success at the 2011 World White Water Rafting Championship.
Over 50 teams from around the world will be competing on the ferocious waters of the Pacuare river. This is all a far cry from the usual white water rafting experience we have in the UK. Current British team member Paskell Blackwell is more used to running the rapids at the Lee Valley White Water Centre in Hertfordshire, where he is the centres assistant manager.
Ahead of the championships, Blackwell commented: Were hoping for a top-ten finish. It is a very competitive white water rafting field and there is a very small margin to being on the podium and missing out
The venue, which has been selected to host white water events for the 2012 Olympic games, isnt just for the serious athletes. Centres like this all over the UK offer excellent white water rafting experiences for beginners, where no experience is necessary and rafters just need to be enthusiastic to conquer the torrents.
All tuition is included in these taster white water rafting experiences, as is all the kit needed to get out on the water. Online activity companies such as Intotheblue.co.uk sell white water rafting sessions for anything from one to eight (a full raft) at a wide choice of venues including naturally occurring rapids and manmade white water courses too.
Into the Blues marketing manager Rob Holmes commented: You dont have to be a World Championship standard white water rafter to enjoy the sport. All the centres we offer have top notch instructors who will lead you and your raft full down the rapids for maximum fun.
The white water rafting season in the UK usually runs from April to November at centres such as Nottingham or all year round at venues such as the River Tay in Scotland.
