Madeira welcomes elite paddlers for ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Series debut

Madeira hosts elite ocean racing series opener

The picturesque island of Madeira, Portugal, is poised to welcome a formidable lineup of athletes for the inaugural stage of the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Canoe Ocean Racing World Series. This highly anticipated event marks the beginning of the global competition, drawing top talent from across the world.

Among the prominent figures set to compete are South Africa's Kira Bester, the current world champion, and Germany's Gordan Harbrecht, who secured a world gold medal earlier in 2024. Both elite paddlers will be aiming for a strong start to their competitive year, especially as this location will also host the 2024 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships.

The roster of accomplished athletes also features Great Britain's Rosemary Edwards, who holds the U23 women’s world champion title and a senior world bronze medal. Local fans will undoubtedly be cheering for Portugal's own Bernardo Pereira, the reigning U23 men’s world champion and a senior world bronze medallist. Pereira leads a robust contingent of Portuguese competitors eager to leverage their home advantage.

Event Schedule Highlights

• On Friday, the competition commences with races for men's and women's surfski singles, alongside various junior categories.
• The event culminates on Saturday, featuring the mixed surfski double and the men’s junior SS2 races.

In a joint statement, Ricardo Machado, President of the Portuguese Canoeing Federation, and Viriato Timoteo, President of the Madeira Regional Canoeing Association, conveyed their excitement for the event. They highlighted Madeira's suitability as a venue, praising its impressive coastline and challenging ocean conditions as ideal for such an international competition. The presidents emphasized that their organizations' combined experience in staging major European and world events...

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