ICF Canoe Ocean Racing Committee activities Q2 2026

The second quarter of 2026 was an important one for Canoe Ocean Racing. After months of preparation, we began to see that work come to life. The World Series got underway on the water, our governance proposals moved through to the Board of Directors, and we made good progress on the foundations for the years ahead, including the Talent Identification Programme and the 2027 calendar. 

World Series Debuts in Madeira 

The new ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Series began with the World Cup in Madeira, Portugal. The organisation was excellent, and it was good to return to the host of the 2024 World Championships - proof that building legacy is an important goal for Canoe Ocean Racing. It was a strong start, with a competitive field of athletes and a useful first opportunity to see the new race formats in action. The feedback from athletes was very positive, and Madeira has given the rest of the Series a good benchmark to build from. 

Governance: Board of Directors and Road to Congress 

I represented the Committee at the ICF Board of Directors meeting in Budapest and presented our proposed rule changes ahead of Congress. I am pleased to say that all of the proposals were approved by both the Sport Commission and the Board of Directors. The next step is Congress in Oklahoma City this July, where we hope to take them through to final approval. 

During the same period, I also had several working meetings with the organisers of our World Championships and World Cups. These discussions helped us align expectations and work through the practical details ahead of the main part of the season. 

Bulletins launched for Worlds and World Cups 

We also released the official Bulletins for the World Championships in Spain, as well as for the World Cups in Tahiti, Brazil and La Réunion. This gives National Federations and athletes the key information they need to plan for the rest of the season. 

Sponsorship: Peisheng joins the family 

Our sponsorship base is continuing to grow. Peisheng has joined Vaikobi as a partner for both the World Series and the Talent Identification Programme, adding further support to the international circuit we are building for Canoe Ocean Racing. 

Talent Identification Programme officially launched 

The Talent Identification Programme (TIP) was officially launched this quarter. We are now waiting for National Federations to submit their athlete proposals, and we look forward to seeing the first group of athletes come together in the coming months. 

Looking Ahead 

Our work continues beyond this quarter and across the rest of 2026: World Cup #2 in Tahiti and World Cup #3 in Brazil, plus the Asian and European Continental Championships, follow in Q3, with the World Championships in Vila Joiosa and World Cup 4 in La Réunion both on the calendar for Q4.  

At the same time, we have already started shaping the 2027 calendar, with clear interest in seeing the World Series continue and grow.

Marian Sarbu, Chair of the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing Committee