ICF Canoe Freestyle Committee activities Q3 2025

Centre of Excellence

In July, we announced that Colombus in the United States will stage our World Cup in 2028 and World Championships in 2029. It has also become our Centre of Excellence. This initiative will provide a blueprint for other Centres of Excellence around the world. It’s a win for Canoe Freestyle and kayaking, in general, offering more young people the chance to experience our sport and supporting Columbus’s year-round paddle sport commitment. The Canoe Freestyle Committee will work closely with partners to ensure its success.”

Exciting 2026 season ahead

Following our challenging but ultimately successful World Championships in Plattling, Germany, we set our sights on next year. After a few hiccups and false starts we are now well into our discussions, which hopefully should lead to three World Cups in June 2026.  As soon as we have our World Cup events nailed down, we will make sure we get details out so that people can make plans.

Committee undergoing review

Individually, our Committee members have been as busy as ever taking on such tasks as reviewing our technical delivery guides. This is being done in an attempt to make it easier for event organisers to bid for competitions, restructuring our Rules Working Group to make it more representative of all our stakeholders, and putting together a programme of judging seminars to train and accredit our International Technical Officers. We started work on our development plan and reviewed our risk management processes.

Success on the water

There were two Euro Cups held, one in Millau, France and the other in Nottingham, Great Britain.  Gavin Barker and Ottilie Robinson Shaw took the titles on home waters in Nottingham. Tom Dolle and Robinson Shaw took top spots in Millau. Last weekend saw the USA National Championships staged at the Nantahala Outdoor Center where Abby Holcombe took the ladies gold and Dane Jackson took the men’s crown.

By Terry Best, Chair of the ICF Canoe Freestyle Committee