About us
First French training provider to be accredited Rescue3 and IRF (International Rafting Federation)
R3-France was created in 2017 and is authorised to organise and supervise Rescue3 and IRF (International Rafting Federation) courses.
The founding members of R3-France have been involved in the whitewater sports industry for more than 20 years and have developed a great deal of expertise in whitewater safety during their professional careers.
R3-France is a training center registered under the number 84730193073 with the prefect of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region (this registration is not equivalent to state approval). As such, our training courses can be financed by the various professional training funding organisations (AGEFICE, AGEFOS, FIF PL, etc.).
Disability status
R3-France is available to adapt its training courses and make them accessible to people with disabilities.
If the nature of your disability is compatible with your choice of training, or if you need a specific adaptation, contact us to study together the possibilities of adaptation that would suit you.
The team R3 France
The founding members of R3-France have been involved in whitewater organisations for over 20 years
Every year, R3-France instructors continue to work on whitewater rescue techniques to keep their skills up to date and at the forefront of innovations in rescue techniques.
R3-France has established its base camp in the Tarentaise Valley in the Savoie. Welcome to our training centre located on the banks of the Isère, a river regulated by hydro-electric dams which offers an ideal training ground for all whitewater rescue techniques.
R3-France also travels throughout France: our teams can come to your site to meet your specific requirements and constraints.
The founding members of R3-France have been involved in the whitewater sports industry for more than 20 years and have developed a great deal of expertise in whitewater safety during their professional careers.
R3-France is a training centre registered under the number 84730193073 with the prefect of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region (this registration is not equivalent to state approval). As such, our training courses can be financed by the various professional training funding organisations (AGEFICE, AGEFOS, etc.). IRF (International Rafting Federation) instructor.
R3-France is accredited by 2 internationally recognised organisations and offers training courses certified by these 2 organisations
Rescue3 Europe
Founded in 1979 in the United States, Rescue 3 was one of the first organisations to offer training in whitewater and flood zone rescue.
With more than 190,000 training courses throughout the world (32 countries), Rescue3 is at the forefront of innovation in whitewater and flood safety, with an innovative educational method based on practice and real scenarios.
R3-France is the first French “Rescue3 Provider” and is therefore accredited to supervise and offer all Rescue3 courses.
All Rescue3 training courses are valid for 3 years; after this period, it is necessary to retrain, either by taking part in a training course of the same level, or in a higher level course. This is one of the advantages of Rescue3 training, which offers continuous updating and improvement of the content of its training courses, as well as a progression in the learning possibilities.
International Rafting Federation ( IRF )
Created in 1997, the IRF aims, among other things, to establish international standards for safety in the supervision of rafting activities and to offer an internationally recognised certification for people wishing to work as rafting guides.
R3-France is the first French structure with “IRF Instructor” certified personnel and is therefore authorised to issue the following IRF certifications: River Guide class III and class IV, Trip-leader class III and class IV, Safety Kayaker class III and class IV.
Beyond the fact that these certifications open the possibility of working abroad in the numerous countries recognizing the IRF (much more than the national diplomas, in particular French which have a limited recognition abroad), these certifications also make it possible to open with the international community of the activity RAFTING, and not to remain on a vision and a French approach.
In the same way as for the Rescue3, the IRF certifications must be renewed every 3 years. To do so, it is sufficient to update one’s IRF membership fee and to prove that the holder has a professional activity as a River Guide. It is not necessary to participate in a new course, even if the IRF advises to participate at least once every 4 years in a course, in order to update expertise and competences.
R3-France, our credentials
They trusted us and participated in one of our training sessions.
Result indicator – Year 2023
Trainees trained
Total success rate
R3 France survey trainee satisfaction index
(since 10/08/21)
R3 France survey return rate
(since 10/08/21)
Emergency services (fire brigade, civil security, municipal police, etc.)
SDIS Charente
SDIS Haute-Savoie
White water sports companies (rafting, kayaking, hydrospeed, canyoning, etc.)
