European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 15, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Italy for is rafting Union /4 packed raft mates its Way Down a Mountain in the dolomites. Now rafting hitting the slopes the new fashioned Way for is rafting Union the same kind of raft used in White water rafting with an extra layer of rubber Are used in Snow rafting. By a King Cruger Northern Italy Bureau it s Likely that you be never heard of it but Snow rafting May soon be coming to a Mountain near you. Snow rafting has been in existence for Only about three years but now looks set to take off in popularity. Snow rafting is kind of a stepchild of inner tube sledding. However whereas inner tube sledding was inherently dangerous because the tubes could hot be steered or stopped Snow rafters Are in charge of their Craft. They have to be because the rafts can nit 70 Miles per hour while hurtling Down a Mountainside. Toni peer one of Snow rafting s pioneers recently spent the Day spreading the word about the sport while attending Winter expo a Daylong fair organized by outdoor recreation at Aviano a Italy. During the summer peer s company rafting Union runs various adventure holidays including White water rafting from its base at Sand in Laufers near the austrian Border in Northern Italy in Winter rafting Union in association with the nearby resort of a is offers a number of adventure activities such As ice climbing and Snow rafting. Gais located in the dolomites about three Miles from the Large ski circus known As the Kro Platz aggressively markets itself. One Way it does is by offering free ice climbing sledding and Snow rafting sessions to anyone booking a one night stay in any of its 50 hotels and  inflatable rafts the same kind used in White water rafting but with an extra layer of rubber added to the Bottoms Are used in Snow rafting. The rafts can take As Many As six passengers. Each raft has a Crew of two professionals. One crewman sits in the raft s Stern and steers the boat others tips How to Book outdoor recreation at Aviano a Italy can arrange for hotel booking and Snow rafting at Gais. Call outdoor recreation at Dan 632-7633. How to get there Gais is located to the East of the Brenner pass Highway and North of the City of Brunicon. For More information Contact the tourist office by phoning 0474/504-220. Its address is association a Turi Stica 1-39030 Gais Alto adige. J. Kin Cruger by dragging a paddle through the Snow. The other crewman known As the brakeman rides in the raft s Bow and does t do much of anything until the time comes to Stop the raft stopping rafts used to be a big problem until peer s company came up with the idea of having the brakeman toss a knotted rope Over the Bow. The rope secured to Metal rings on die raft s Side slides under the raft and then digs into the Snow quickly bringing the raft to a halt. Using the knotted rope we can bring the raft to a halt from 40 Miles per hour in just 15 seconds peer said. More than 2,000 people went Snow rafting at Gais last Winter. Most of them according to peer were skiers wanting to Snow raft As an acres ski activity. Peer s company Sticks lighted candles in the Snow so that Snow rafting can be enjoyed on Winter evenings. Snow rafts frequently Fly 20 feet in the air after coming Over the top of a bump. The atmosphere is probably better at night because you can t see the bumps coming peer said. Most Snow raft runs Are 300 to 400 Yards Long. Although peer says his company can arrange for clients to make runs of More than one  dangerous is Snow rafting not very peer said but warns that people with bad backs should probably not attempt it. 10 stripes Magazine december is 1994