Madeira set to welcome paddlers as entries open for the 2024 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing world championship

2024 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championship in Madeira

The picturesque island of Madeira, Portugal, is preparing to host the International Canoe Federation's Canoe Ocean Racing world championship this October. Online registration is now open, with a deadline of September 24 for entries. This marks the eighth edition of the championship and the first time Madeira will serve as host. The main competition runs from October 4 to 6, following a short race on October 3.

Competition categories and defending champions

World titles will be contested in senior men's and women's single surfski, as well as the mixed open double surfski. Junior, under-23, and masters categories are also available. Australian athletes Cory Hill and Jemma Smith are the reigning men's and women's single surfski champions from 2023, with Smith aiming for a third consecutive win and Hill for his fourth overall title.

The course and organizational insights

Races will take place along Madeira's southern coast on a challenging downwind course, ranging from 20 to 29 kilometers. The Host Organising Committee, a collaboration between the Portuguese Canoeing Federation (FPC) and the Regional Association of Madeira, is overseeing the event.

FPC President Vitor Felix highlighted Madeira's "spectacular coastline and varied ocean conditions" as an ideal setting, emphasizing the organizers' extensive experience in hosting major championships. Colin Simpkins, Chair of the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing Committee, praised Madeira as a "fantastic destination for racing," noting the organizers' flexibility with routes to ensure optimal downwind conditions. He also acknowledged the Portuguese Canoe Federation's significant experience, having hosted three world championships, and expressed his anticipation for a "terrific competition."

[go to the magazine: paddleworldwide]

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