Who we are
A good idea at the right time, and Swissraft was born.
1982
I presented my project to the Laax tourist office. The director at the time, Franco Palmy, thought it was a good idea. Thanks to him, this region of Graubünden and the Rhine became, and remains to this day, the mecca of rafting in Switzerland. I would make up to 4 descents a day, with my wife Charlotte at the wheel.
Over 1000 people in the first season with just one boat!
1983
I put forward the idea of sailing down the Rhine to the sea. This promotion would cover the customer sector of interest to Graubünden. Success was not long in coming.
More than 3000 people!
1984
We invest in the reception infrastructure and in equipment. The Obergoms tourist office in the Upper Valais contacts me to open a base on the Rhône between Oberwald and Glurigen. We also open a base on the Inn at Scuol in the lower Engadin.
Over 8,000 people!
1985
This is a pivotal year in which we need to structure ourselves and think about new products. We are launching rafting days with picnics at all three bases.
Over 15,000 people!
1986
Daniel Peyer, base manager at Eurotrek in 1984 and 1985, joins us. I know he’s a good man, having observed him in previous seasons. A merciless battle loomed on the horizon against this unique competition. With my new lieutenant, we decided to set up a base in Saanen on the Sarine and Simme rivers, straddling the Pays d’Enhaut and the Bernese Oberland.
Over 20,000 people!
1987
We move up a gear. Euroraft is created, with branches in France (Franceraft) and Austria (Austriaraft). We are the first in Switzerland to launch mountain bike excursions.
More than 25,000 people!
1988
We’re organizing the first “Rafting Grand Prix” in Switzerland.
Swissraft represents a major infrastructure that can’t be sustained year-round with just five months of operation. So we have to produce all year round. Daniel Peyer leaves to scout Costa Rica after his season in the Pays d’Enhaut. This is also the year we launch Switzerland’s first “whitewater swimming” or Hydrospeed.
Over 35,000 people!
1989
European television stations are increasingly interested in us, without us having to contact them. We shot two or three reports a year until 1992. We also make three-dimensional films for specialized cinemas.
This year, we decide to take the plunge and invest in Costa Rica with the creation of a rafting company “Aventuras Naturales”, the opening of a hotel “Fleur de Lys” in San José and the construction of a lodge “Le Pacuare Lodge” in the middle of the jungle on the banks of the Pacuare River. Daniel Peyer becomes our partner for the rafting and lodge operation.
More than 40,000 people!
1990-1992
Growth continues at a much slower pace as the competition grows like mushrooms. As a technical advisor for many years at Zodiac and Aris, both tire manufacturers, I put my experience to good use in producing our own rafts, first in Switzerland and then in France. We have the advantage of having complete control over the manufacturing process, and of being able to tailor-make our own products. This experience will serve us well in the future in our choice of equipment and in the demands we place on manufacturers.
In 1990, I created the aerial department, offering tandem paragliding and helicopter flights. The same year, Charlotte opened a riding school at Trin Mulin. In 1991, a new activity was added to the aerial department: hot-air balloon flights. In 1992, we opened a ski school.
During this period, we are the target of lobbies from anglers, hunters and other conservationists. We are present on almost every river suitable for rafting. We’re a success, and that’s a nuisance. Trial after trial, we win the right to practice our profession.
We stabilize at around 100,000 people in Europe, all activities included, during these two years.
1993
The economic crisis begins to make itself felt in Switzerland. We decide to part company with the Goms base, which is not profitable enough. The year is marked by a terrible accident on the Inn in the lower Engadin. Nine German tourists organizing a private rafting trip drowned when they jumped over a dam that was closed to navigation. The Graubünden navigation department asks me to design appropriate signage for the river. It would take three years to revive rafting in the Engadin.
In my search for new sites and activities, I discovered the Viamala Gorge by chance. I decided to dive into the bowels of the gorge to discover the most spectacular things Mother Nature has to offer. Canyoning, which is now gaining ground in France, was born in Graubünden in the spring of 1993.
28,000 people in Switzerland!
1994
It’s our turn to be struck by tragedy. We have our first accident in the Viamala canyon. At no time did the investigation question the competence of our guides. The press, which has always been kind to us, makes no attempt to explain the inexplicable. It’s about the tragic fate of Sylvie (25) who slipped where she shouldn’t have. In two years, more than 3,000 people had taken the same path.
We can never totally eliminate the risk factor. Some people worked on themselves, as I did. Others, perhaps because they never thought about the accident, gave up their profession after the tragedy.
We are approaching the critical threshold of 20,000 people below which we must not go!
1995
We expand our aerial department by opening a hang-gliding school. For reasons linked to the difficulty of regularly controlling our products abroad, we decide to separate from the companies Franceraft and Austriaraft.
More than 21,000 people!
1996-1997
One of our sponsors asks us to set up a base in Ticino. The bungy is launched in Ticino on the site of the Verzasca dam, thanks to the release of the 1995 film “James Bond 007Goldeneye”, and in Valais on the Niouc site near Sierre. We also open a base in Küblis on the banks of the Landquart.
1998
Products are being studied for winter.
22,000 people!
1999
The terrible canyoning accident on July 27 in the Bernese Oberland puts all Swiss canyoning companies at risk. The Sled Dogs product is successfully launched in winter.
23,000 people!
2000
Following a natural change in the bed of the Landquart, we decided to close the Küblis base, as the river presented uncontrollable dangers.
22,000 people!
2001
We’re opening a new base in Interlaken to try and win over some of the foreign customers who flock to this region. Since 2001, Swissraft has been the first company in Switzerland to be awarded the “Safety in Adventures” label.
23,000 people!
2002-2005
Sales are growing steadily at around 4% a year. The riding school of Charlotte Chézière (co-founder of Swissraft) is integrated into the company.
2006
A serious accident occurred on April 30 at 11:00 a.m. during a carriage ride with a spirited young horse, and caused the unthinkable. The diagnosis was clear: Charlotte was quadriplegic and would remain paralyzed from head to toe for the rest of her life.
2007
But that was without counting on Charlotte’s willpower and patience. One year after her accident, Charlotte is walking again on crutches! She gave herself two years to lower her wheelchair into the cellar.
2008
Our reservation center has been completely computerized and upgraded. We now have over 27,000 customers.
PS:
I almost forgot! Charlotte is riding again!
2009
Despite all the pessimistic economic forecasts of which experts and the media have the secret, Swissraft can look forward to closing the year with an increase in sales. Many thanks to our loyal customers and to all those who wanted to discover our company and share an adventure with us. We look forward to seeing you next year.
2010-2011
We are seeing a stagnation in bookings for canyoning, especially in Ticino; this is partly due to the weather, which was not exceptional during the summer of 2011.
Thanks to our Swiss customers, who are well informed about the competence and reliability of the companies operating in this field, particularly in Interlaken, we are delighted to report a marked increase in rafting activity on the Lütschine in the Bernese Oberland and the Vispa in Valais.
I also have the personal pleasure of sharing with you, from May to October, tandem paragliding flights from Le Cimetta. Thermal flights of around 1 hour, overlooking the “Lac Majeure”, absolutely unforgettable according to the comments of passengers several months after their experience.
2012-2013
After many years of lobbying the Valais authorities, we have now obtained the necessary authorizations to be able to navigate the Souste – Sierre section, a sporting rafting course with plenty of action that will delight rafting fans. Winter demand for activities such as dog-sledding, igloo-building and other events, as well as paragliding, hot-air ballooning and helicopter flights, continues to grow steadily.