Mikhail Kolchevnikov (RUS)

Mikhail Kolchevnikov founded a number of national rafting competitions in Russia and was also a pioneering river runner compiling an impressive list of first descents on Class V and VI Rivers.

In 1978 Mikhail Kolchevnikov initiated the first whitewater festival in Siberia called the Chuya Rally. Considered a landmark in the history of International competitive rafting and a worldwide whitewater landmark event as the beginning of Project RAFT, with the first Project RAFT event held on the Chuya River during the 1989 festival.

The World Rafting Championships has its origins in the international events of Project RAFT in which up to 50 teams competed in various disciplines including Slalom and Down River. This project was initiated by the Russian and American rafters to override the political animosity between the two nations and to let the sport of rafting join these like minded people. The events were held on the Chuya River, Siberia (1989), Nantahala River, USA (1990), Reventazón and Pacuare Rivers, Costa Rica (1991) and Coruh River, Turkey (1993). In 1994-1995, Project RAFT evolved into the Camel Whitewater Challenge, and ultimately the International Rafting Federation’s World Rafting Championships. In 2000 he co-founded Russian Cup Rafting Competition held annually on the Katun River. And in 2003, he founded the Majoy Rally, named after the continuous whitewater section of the Chuya River. This competition is held regularly and attracts only the most technically prepared whitewater enthusiasts.

In 1979 he was awarded the Master of Sport of USSR, awarded by the USSR Sport Committee, and in 2001 he was honored with a Master of Sport, awarded by the State Sport Committee of Russian Federation.