what is rafting

Rafting is a recreational outdoor activity that involves navigating a river or other body of water using an inflatable raft. It is often done on whitewater or different degrees of rough water, and can be considered an extreme sport on certain sections of rivers. Rafting can be fatal, and typical injuries include trauma from striking an object, traumatic stress from the interaction of the paddler’s positioning and equipment and the force of the water, overuse injuries, submersion/environmental injuries, and non-environmental injuries due to undisclosed medical conditions (such as heart problems) . Rafting is also a competitive sport practiced around the world, which culminates in a world rafting championship event between the participating nations. The International Rafting Federation oversees all aspects of the sport. The vessel used for rafting can vary greatly from a typical inflated boat or raft to a catamaran-style pontoon boat, and other flotation devices including hard-shell kayaks, inflatable kayaks, and canoes are also typically grouped under the broader term of whitewater rafting. Commercial rafting includes hiring a trained river guide to support and lead your river trips.