KT Smith in World Rafting Championships

KT Smith, an instructor for NOLS and WMI, is in Banja Luka, Bosnia for the 2009 World Rafting Championships. She is a member of the US Women’s Whitewater Raft team, sitting “back left” on the six person raft.

There are three events to the championships:

The sprint is an elimination race in which pairs of teams race down a section of powerful rapids.

The slalom demands a high level of technique and teamwork to negotiate the rafts through 12 downriver and upriver gates in powerful rapids.

The downriver race is close to an hour of racing along of a section of continuous and
powerful rapids. Technical ability and endurance are essential elements
to ensuring a good position.

KT has taught many NOLS students the finer points of whitewater travel on the Whitewater River Expedition, and Rock and River courses. KT also instructs a wide range of courses for WMI, from the Wilderness First Responder course to the W-EMT.

Check out the US Whitewater Raft Team page and blog. Go USA!