This page wants to be a tourist informative guide so that you can smartly and consciously choose how and where realize your river excursions, whether rafting, hydrospeed, kayaking or canyoning, throughout Italy.
FOR AMATEURS AND PROFESSIONALS
Whether is your first experience or you are a river runner try to discover more rivers, this brief information could be useful in order to recognize which sports centers you have to contact for your new experiences and once there, what to check and what to demand for your safety. Hoping i twill be useful, we recommend that you use them.
WHAT DOES SAFETY MEAN TO US
Safety means to eliminate that activities and unexpected events threaten your safety during the river excursion. Now we are going to see what are the elements that guarantee your safety and that you should always verify when you go to an Italian rafting centre.
PRICE
It is important to know that offering adequate conditions with high-quality and safety service is expensive; many operators who offer low prices far below the market average, could also save on safety to bear the costs. From the tourist point of view every course seems the same and the route choice is often dictated by apparent savings. Savings do not mean quality, professionalism and safety. Always check compliance with all standards and safety requirements.
MEMBERSHIP OF A RECOGNIZED BODY
Federazione Italiana Rafting (F.I.Raft.), Unione italiana Sport Per tutti (UISP) and International Rafting Federation (IRF) are just some of the nationally and internationally recognized bodies that consider the judgment,the training and the award of qualifications and licences for rafting guides and teachers. Always check that the center you are contacting is recognized and registered with an official body.
TOURIST GUIDE WITH OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION
Guides professionalism is evaluated on preparation, ability, speed, relationship skills, endurance, and the ability to act and react under pressure. Verify that your group is led by a certified guide.
HOW MANY GUIDES?
For maximum security in all river descents (rafting, kayaking, canyoning), it is necessary that at least two guides are present in the river at the same time, leading two rafts or – with only one group – that there is at least a safety kayak. Even for canyoning or kayaking it is necessary that there are at least two tour leaders. Always check that the guides that lead your group are at least two.
PRE-ACTIVITY BRIEFING
It is the theoretical lesson that prepares the participants before the river descent. Thanks to the detailed explanation of the activity and the discussion with your questions, all information about the activity is provided:
-how to row;
-how to move in the river;
-how to deal with the different moments of rafting, kayaking and canyoning excursions;
-how to deal with unexpected problems.
Ensure that you center provides a briefing kept in the smallest details.
MATERIAL USED
The material used by the Center must be in good condition, intact and EC approved. Worn out or non-approved equipment is a risk factor during the descent and must be absolutely avoided. Always check that the material used by the Center has EC stamps and is in good condition.