Published on August 19th, 2025 | by Kayak Session
The European Whitewater School does Lower Rauma
The EWWS project began five years ago, during the darkest days of the Covid shutdown. The vision was clear: to offer talented teenagers from Europe and beyond an environment where they could thrive, push their limits alongside other young rippers, and train under the supervision of legendary figures of the sport. A kayak school that embraces a holistic vision, where the various whitewater disciplines are seen as parts of a whole—steep creeking, big-water river running, hole freestyle, big-wave surfing—and recognizes that the very best athletes in our sport have always been versatile, combining aspects of each discipline to create the modern paddling style. Today, steeze and downriver freestyle have become cornerstones of the sport and the most exciting new realms of whitewater kayaking.
Since its inception, EWWS has enjoyed increasing popularity among young paddlers across Europe thanks to its unique approach, epic destinations, and incredible roster of coaches and athletes. Over the last five years, more than 200 teenage paddlers and 20 coaches from around the world have taken part in this amazing and ever-growing project. Out of all the camps the school organizes, one stands out as the highlight of every season: the annual trip to Norway.
Many factors combine to make the Norway camp so special. First, it is one of the camps with the highest participation, creating a vibrant and buzzing atmosphere at the base camp in Sjoa Rafting. The standard of both participants and coaches is always incredibly high. And of course, when you mix that with the world-class whitewater Norway has to offer, the combination is explosive.
In 2025, the level was higher than ever before, giving the coaching team the confidence to push further than they had ever dared. The ultimate test for the most advanced teenage paddlers of EWWS was none other than the infamous lower section of the Rauma River. By all accounts, this is one of the most legendary and beautiful stretches of whitewater on the planet: an incredible playground loved by the sport’s top guns and a true challenge for any Class V paddler.
After reviewing the lines of the section and carefully monitoring the paddlers’ skills over ten days, the coaches decided to take the leap and bring a small group to the Lower Rauma. The plan was for the coaches to run the entire section, while the teens would only attempt rapids 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8, portaging the rest without question or complaint. The prospect of combining bushwhacking with kayaking didn’t put anyone off, and the plan worked wonders. Everyone had clean lines on rapids 1 and 2. The teens portaged 3 and 4, giving the coaches time to enjoy some of the biggest rapids the Rauma has to offer, before regrouping below. In the end, only one of the teens ran rapid 7, nailing a great line, while the other two wisely chose to portage—exactly the kind of responsible decision-making the coaches were hoping to see.
For more info about the EWWS, visit: europeanwhitewaterschool.com
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