Go Paddling

Marathon paddling isn’t just for the elite. Anyone with an interest in fitness and paddling can successfully take up the sport. In Canada there are groups of marathon paddlers throughout the country training on nearby streams, creeks, rivers and lakes. There are wide array of races nationally and internationally at both the recreational and high performance levels.

Many of those interested in marathon canoeing have some paddling experience and come from another discipline. For others paddling is completely new and they’re just looking for a new challenge.

Classic Style

The classic style of marathon canoeing is a great way to stay active and is particularly popular amongst adults. Some may start with recreational canoeing moving up to competition boats. People often start with a shorter, local races and work their way up to the big multi-day stage races. With experience, paddlers refine their technique to become efficient and able to sustain technique over longer and longer distances. Racing skills are refined by working on elements like tactics, portaging, recovery strategies and nutrition. Many marathon paddlers participate in a variety of other endurance sports like running or cross-country skiing as they love being outdoors and challenging themselves physically.

Marathon races can be found across Canada – often tied to canoe routes paddled by the voyageur explorer as they opened up our great country. Races vary in distance from several hours up to several days. Canada is home to one of the most prestigious marathon races in North America, La Classique de Shawinigan, as well as what is billed as the longest race in the World, the Yukon River Quest. Raced along the same route travelled by the gold seekers the Great Klondike Gold Rush, the Quest follows the Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson City. Local races reflect the local history including races in 6-10 person north canoes and voyageur boats.

International Style

International Canoe Federation style races use similar equipment and many of the same elements as sprint paddling. For this reason many paddlers in this class come from a sprint background and cater their training to longer distances. Every year a Canadian Team competes at World Championships in early fall. The team is comprised of marathon paddlers as young as 15 all the way up to masters athletes in their 70s. The team is selected based on specified criteria usually involving an application process in the spring and trials at National Championships for events for classes where there is more interest than available entries.

To find marathon paddling opportunities, contact your provincial paddling association or see events calendar.

Compete at ICF Marathon World Championships

Go Paddling

Find a canoe polo team or club near you and let the fun begin. Some polo clubs are independent while others are affiliates of sprint, whitewater or multidisciplinary paddling clubs.

The initial boat skills needed for polo are taught in a pool or on a lake. The new paddler learns the basic skills of wet exits, rolls, paddle strokes, edging and controlling the boat. From there the paddler will learn hand rolls, the rules of canoe polo, specific plays and tactics. With time they will develop enhanced team work skills and learn to play a specific position, plan an attack or defend their end.

Competitive canoe polo players train as part of a team with the guidance of a coach and compete in regular games – often as part of a league. They may even try out for the National Team and endeavor to represent Canada Internationally at World Championships or the World Games.

Canoe polo is an ideal sport for anyone looking to have as part of a recreational or competitive team. The game is ideally suited for year-round paddling with its ability to be played in a pool and outdoors.

Go Paddling

Seeing a top freestyle paddler pull off an extreme flip may leave you saying “I want to do that.” If you have limited paddling experience the wave may seem too steep to know where to start. Freestyle paddling is actually very accessible and there are communities of enthusiasts throughout the country. The best way to find a group of enthusiasts is through a whitewater club.

Learning any type of whitewater paddling starts out on flatwater generally in a plastic playboat. This can take place in a pool or on a lake as the new paddler learns the basic skills of wet exits, rolls, paddle strokes, edging and controlling the boat.

Freestyle paddlers usually start out playboating on river runs or at a particular standing wave. Most river runs have a few key surfing areas where paddlers tend to stop and play for a while. Aspiring freestyle paddlers tend to stop even longer than usual. They master the art of surfing waves and holes and then take it to the next level by starting to incorporate a few tricks into the mix. With experience they make their way up to surf even bigger waves and expand their repertoire of tricks.

Most freestyle paddlers work on their tricks on flatwater in the pool as well as on the whitewater. At the competitive level, athletes work with coaches and learn to link moves to put together an impressive routine for competition.

To launch your freestyle fantasies simply find a whitewater club, take up play boating, meet some freestyle enthusiasts and master your surfing moves.

Canoe Kayak Canada Events Calendar

North American Events Calendar

Go Paddling

Wildwater is a fun and adventurous sport to get you out on the river. Lots of whitewater clubs in Canada have a group of wildwater enthusiasts. You won’t find many clubs devoted exclusively to wildwater and the wildwater clubs that do exist are usually informal groups who arrange to meet up for river runs. There are a series of races each year and some races, including National Championships, are tied in with slalom.

The big boats used in wildwater make it an accessible onboard to river paddling. Learning whitewater paddling starts out on flatwater generally in a plastic playboat. This can take place in a pool or on a lake as the new paddler learns the basic skills of wet exits, rolls, paddle strokes, edging and controlling the boat.

Wildwater paddlers are gradually immersed into whitewater and learn to read the river by identifying whitewater features like holes, waves, eddies and eddy lines. They learn to navigate a basic course in a controlled manner and progressively find faster lines and move up to more challenging whitewater.

Find a whitewater club near you and link up with wildwater enthusiasts to make your first splash. Pretty soon you’ll be racing down the river and having a blast.

Canoe Kayak Canada Events Calendar

North American Events Calendar

Go Paddling

Slalom runs through a club system in Canada. Most clubs offer introductory paddling courses in addition to programming for those who do the sport on a regular basis at the recreational or competitive level.

Learning whitewater paddling starts out on flatwater generally in a plastic playboat. This can take place in a pool or on a lake as the new paddler learns the basic skills of wet exits, rolls, paddle strokes, edging and controlling the boat.

Slalom paddlers are gradually immersed into whitewater and learn to read the river by identifying whitewater features like holes, waves, eddies and eddy lines. They learn to navigate the slalom course in a controlled manner and train to find faster and tighter lines. As they become more competitive they develop pacing skills, improve precision and refine race strategies. At higher levels athletes focus on their race tactics by incorporating elements like mental preparation and strength conditioning into their training programs.

Slalom is a fun and challenging sport for anyone who wants to navigate whitewater with both grace and power. To try slalom paddling, find a club near you and sign up for a program.

Canoe Kayak Canada Events Calendar

North American Events Calendar

Go Paddling

Many sprint and multidisciplinary paddling clubs offer dragonboat programming. For some clubs dragonboating is part of their core programming and dragonboat paddlers are full members. Other clubs may offer programs on a more casual basis including once a week drop in sessions. Dragonboat is a very accessible sport and you don’t need any paddling or athletic experience to try it out.

You’ll learn to paddle with a crew and the basics of technique. You’ll also practice a few drills and get a great workout. More competitive crews train together on a regular basis and supplement their programs with dry-land training.

To compete for the Canadian team at the ICF Dragonboat World Championships, athletes must complete specified fitness testing over the winter and submit their results along with video of them paddling.

Dragonboat is a fun team sport and in addition to meeting new people, you’ll also improve your fitness and health. To start dragonboating simply find a club near you.

Go Paddling

Whether you’re looking for something fun to do in the summer or are an aspiring World Champion, CanoeKayak Canada’s member clubs offer a variety of programs for all skill levels and age groups.

How to get started

Never paddled before? If you live in Canada, it’s about time to make your way to a nearby club and get involved in a uniquely Canadian sport. The fun you’ll have splashing around and learning new skills will surely inspire you to continue fulfilling your fitness goals while making new friends and enjoying the outdoors. It might even inspire you to pursue the sport on a competitive basis.

Kids programs

CanoeKayak Canada’s CanoeKids program get kids active and on the water. Learn the fundamental skills of paddling and safe boating skills while enjoying the summer at your local paddling club. It’s the first step to a lifelong interest in paddling and healthy living. What better way to spend summer vacation?

Be the best in the World

CanoeKayak has strong roots in Canada and it is fitting that we’ve experienced such phenomenal success on the World stage. If you’re interested in high performance sport, we’ve got the coaching, programming and infrastructure across the country to enable athletes to excel to the highest level. Since 1936, Canada has won 24 Olympic medals in sprint. If it’s your dream is to increase that number, then we’ve got programs for you. Training groups bust it out early before school and after. Join a group of motivated teammates in pursuit of making the transition from Junior to National Team athlete to the World podium.

Be part of a team

CanoeKayak offers a unique blend of individual and team sport. Out on the water in a single boat you can enjoy a refreshing sense of mental solitude. While training in crew boats or in a group alongside your fellow training partners, you have the chance to push one another in an inspiring and cohesive environment. The war canoe is the apex of team events in which fifteen paddlers join together.

A sport for families

It’s not just part of our tagline, it’s a reality of our sport and we’re really proud of it. Just count the number of siblings on National Teams or the generations of families that have grown up at the canoe club. The many families who make the Canadian Sprint CanoeKayak Championships their summer vacation will tell you there is no better family photo than one with a few medals.

You’re never too old to paddle

The many adults who make the annual trek to the Canadian Master’s Championships and enjoy paddling – some of them into their 70s and 80s – are testament to this statement. Enrolling your kids in CanoeKayak doesn’t mean you have to sit on the sidelines watching. Masters groups paddle at clubs across the country several morning or evenings a week. It’s a great way to say in shape while being social. And if you want sometime to relax on the sidelines before or after practice, the lakefront isn’t a bad place to do that either.

A sport for all

Anyone who has experienced the joy of paddling would surely agree that it is something to be made accessible to everyone. CanoeKayak Canada has been a leader on the global stage in creating opportunities for people with disabilities. Paracanoe programs offer persons with disabilities the opportunity to pursue sport to the highest level. Paracanoe will make its debut on the 2016 Paralympic program. Athletes compete in different categories based on the ability they have in their legs, trunk and arms. The fact you don’t need to be able to run or walk makes this an ideal sport for people with limited use of their lower body. Many clubs also specialize in PaddleALL programs for persons with intellectual disabilities. These programs allow persons with disabilities to enjoy paddling, learn new skills, have influential role models and gain self-confidence in the true spirit of the sport.

Long-Term Athlete Development

CanoeKayak Canada has a Long-Term Athlete Development Model that follows Canadian Sport for Life’s framework. Appropriate phases of development are defined for specific age groups based on science and research. By aligning programming with CS4L’s strategy to improve the quality of sport in Canada, CanoeKayak Canada is increasing participation in sport and creating a pathway for athletes to reach their fullest potential.