On October 10–11, 2026, the Basum Tso International Rafting Open — part of the 2026 Nyingchi Namcha Barwa Highland Sports Games and the first China Whitewater SUP Championship — was held at Basum Tso Lake in Nyingchi, Tibet, China. The event was jointly organized by the Water Sports Administration Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Tibet Autonomous Region Sports Bureau and the Nyingchi Municipal People’s Government, drawing 48 teams and 192 athletes from 15 countries.
Freesun whitewater rafts carried the competitors through the sprint and slalom courses, while Freesun inflatable rescue boats patrolled the course throughout both race days, keeping the event safe from start to finish.
Photo: 2026 Basum Tso International Rafting Open
A True High-Altitude Test
Basum Tso sits about 3,480 meters above sea level. Racing here means cold glacial water, intense plateau UV and fast, technical whitewater — conditions that leave no room for unreliable equipment. Every raft and rescue boat on the water was built with reinforced PVC, multi-chamber independent air compartments and heat-welded seams, the same construction we ship to dealers and rescue teams worldwide.
Photo: 2026 Basum Tso International Rafting Open
Rescue crews ran the course on Freesun rescue boats powered by outboard motors, positioned along the rapids for instant response. Between races, the same boats ferried photographers and race officials along the shoreline.
Photo: 2026 Basum Tso International Rafting Open
Rafts Built for Competition and Rescue Alike
The rafts used at Basum Tso are part of the Freesun RY-P Series — CE-certified inflatable rafts from 2.9 to 5.5 meters, for 4 to 16 persons, with removable drop-stitch floors for a rigid standing deck. The same platform serves commercial rafting operators, rental fleets and professional rescue teams.
Freesun inflatable rescue boats are standard equipment for water rescue, firefighting and flood response units across China — the same boats we previously delivered for emergency flood relief operations in Guangxi.
A Milestone for Chinese Whitewater
This was the first professional whitewater SUP event ever held in China, and one of the highest-altitude international rafting competitions in the world. Seeing boats built in our Weihai factory carry international athletes to the podium on a Tibetan plateau lake is exactly what the Freesun brand stands for.
Photo: 2026 Basum Tso International Rafting Open
About Freesun Boat
Founded in 2004 in Weihai, Shandong, Weihai Ruiyang Boat Development Co., Ltd. manufactures CE-certified inflatable rafts, RIBs, kayaks, paddle boards and rescue boats under the FREESUN brand, exporting to 40+ countries. OEM/ODM inquiries welcome — all boats ship FOB Qingdao.
Contact us for wholesale pricing and container quotes.
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Post time: 10-28-2026