👤 About me

Hi, I’m Raúl Ferra, the coach behind RF-COACH.

For over a decade, I have dedicated my professional career to high-performance orienteering, helping athletes progress towards their goals, from national-level development to international championships.

One of the most important chapters of my career has been serving as Head Coach of Halden SK for seven seasons, from 2020 to 2026. Working with one of the world’s most prestigious orienteering clubs, within a highly international environment, has allowed me to combine tradition, innovation, and an individualized approach to long-term performance.

Beyond club coaching, my work continues through RF-COACH, where I provide personal coaching to athletes from different countries, as well as through the organization of international training camps and events with Sun-O and Maximus.

But my journey began long before that.

I discovered orienteering at the age of nine, and it has been part of my life ever since. My journey has taken me from local races in Spain to coaching athletes at World Championships. Along the way, I have worked as a physical education teacher, Spanish national team coach, sports director, club head coach, event organizer, and personal coach to athletes around the world.

🎓 Education & Coaching Qualifications

I hold a Master’s-level university degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, with a specialization in Endurance Sports Coaching, as well as a postgraduate teaching qualification that enabled me to work as a Physical Education teacher in high schools. I am also qualified at the highest coaching level in Spanish orienteering and hold an advanced course-setting qualification.

My academic background is complemented by more than a decade of experience in high-performance coaching and eight years of teaching Physical Education. This combination has shaped an approach based not only on sports science and performance analysis, but also on communication, education and long-term athlete development.

I continue to develop my knowledge through practical experience, professional collaboration and the ongoing study of training methodology, endurance performance and orienteering technique.

💼 Professional experience

  • Founder and personal coach at RF-COACH (2022 – present), guiding athletes from different countries through an individualized, science-based coaching approach.
  • Head Coach – Halden SK (2020 – 2026), leading and developing athletes within one of the strongest and most international orienteering environments in the world. During this period, the club achieved major successes in international relays, including third place in the women’s Tiomila and also at 25-Manna, as well as Norwegian Championship titles at both senior and junior levels.
  • Technical director and manager – Maximus & Sun-O (2019 – present), launching the international event Maximus O Meeting (7 editions so far), and arranging training camps in Madrid, Alicante, Barbate, and more, with Maximus and Sun-O.
  • National Team Coach and Sports Director – Spanish Orienteering Federation (2016 – 2019), working with both junior and senior elite athletes.
  • Physical Education Teacher (2008 – 2016) in public schools, combining educational work with competitive coaching.

🏆 Awards and Recognition

  • Course setter of the Course of the Year (2024), awarded by World of O for the middle-distance course I designed for the Maximus O Meeting.
  • Coach of the Year in Norway (2023), awarded by the Norwegian Orienteering Federation (an award that can only be won once).
  • Coach of the Year in Lorca (all sports) (2023), recognizing my work as Head Coach and Technical Director of Halden SK and Director of the Maximus Winter O-Camp.

💬 My Philosophy

Coaching isn’t just about planning workouts. It’s about building trust, empowering athletes with knowledge, and adapting the process to each individual. I care deeply about long-term development, not just results. That means refining technique, managing training loads wisely, strengthening the mental game, and celebrating every small victory along the way.

With RF-COACH, my mission is simple:
👉 Help athletes train smarter, race sharper, and grow with confidence.

Let’s train together and make every step count.

Connect with Me

If you’re interested in top-tier orienteering training, or professional guidance, feel free to reach out. Let’s navigate the path to success together!