Contents

Dean Gardiner

Dean Gardiner is a towering figure in the world of ocean racing, often cited as one of the greatest downwind paddlers in history. An Australian pioneer, he transformed surfski from a niche discipline into a professional global sport. >>

Gábor Rakonczay

Gábor Rakonczay is a prominent Hungarian extreme athlete and two-time Guinness World Record holder. In March 2025, he completed his final major solo expedition, a trans-Atlantic crossing that marked the end of an 18-year career in extreme sports. >>

Georgia Laird

Georgia Laird is a powerhouse of Australian ocean racing, recognized for her elite technical skill and her ability to consistently challenge the world’s best on the international stage. >>

Gordan Harbrecht

Gordan Harbrecht (often called "Flash Gordan" by the paddling community) is a historic figure in surfski. He is the man who finally broke the "Southern Hemisphere Wall"—the decade-long dominance of Australians and South Africans in the sport. >>

Gorge Downwind Champs (Oregon, USA)

While newer than Molokai or Cape Point, the Gorge has instantly become a modern classic. Held on the Columbia River, the race relies on a unique wind-against-current phenomenon. The opposing forces stack the river into endless, deep, surfable waves. It is practically a week-long festival of downwind paddling that culminates in a highly competitive race. >>

Grant Kenny

Grant Kenny is an Australian sporting icon who, like Dean Gardiner, is a titan of the surfski and ocean racing world. While Gardiner is the king of the "Channel of Bones" (Molokai), Grant Kenny is often credited with bringing the sport of Ironman and surfski racing into the professional era and mainstream consciousness. >>

Hank McGregor

Hank McGregor is widely considered the most versatile and dominant paddler of the modern era. While Dean Gardiner ruled the 90s and Grant Kenny brought the sport to the mainstream, McGregor, a South African powerhouse, redefined what it means to be a "complete" paddler by dominating both flatwater marathons and extreme ocean downwind racing simultaneously. >>

Hayley Nixon

Hayley Nixon is a titan of the modern era, famously known for her meteoric rise from world-class rowing to becoming the 2017 ICF Ocean Racing World Champion. >>

Hector Henot

Hector Henot is a rising superstar in the French "paddling dynasty" and currently one of the strongest ocean racers in Europe. As of 2026, he has stepped out of the shadow of his older brother, Valentin, to become a major force on the international podium. >>

ICF Ocean Racing Coaching Manual: A Strategic Framework for Surfski Instruction

Prepared by world champion Dawid Mocke for the International Canoe Federation, this manual identifies the core skills, safety standards, and coaching pillars essential for the global development of surfski ocean racing. >>