Governance · International / Oklahoma City, USA

The ICF Relaunches as Paddle Worldwide

Watch: the Paddle Worldwide reveal (opens in a new tab).

The International Canoe Federation has renamed itself Paddle Worldwide, revealing the new identity on 29 July at the 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Oklahoma City.

The name change closes out the federation’s two-year “Fit for Future” review and follows more than a century of governing the sport since 1924. Paddle Worldwide is built as an open identity that continental associations, national federations, clubs and event organisers can adopt alongside their own branding. The new look leads with orange and black, a shift from the ICF’s long-standing blue.

The federation says the rename covers every level of the sport, from a first stroke on flat water to Olympic finals, and spans all ten disciplines it governs, including marathon, sprint, slalom, ocean racing and SUP.

Sea Kayaking · Expedition / Ireland

Mick O’Meara Claims a Faster Lap of Ireland

Waterford paddler Mick O’Meara circumnavigated Ireland by sea kayak in 20 days in July 2026, a new record.

O’Meara set the previous benchmark himself in 2015, completing the roughly 1,500 km solo, unsupported lap in 23 days. His 2026 run cuts three days off that mark. Separately, US paddlers Juliana Brotzman and Nate Gueltzau were also targeting the Ireland circumnavigation record this year, aiming for 15 to 22 days.

Surfski · SIP Series / KwaZulu-Natal

The Siyaphambili (SIP) winter surfski series wrapped its third and final long-course race on 25 July, raced under KZN Canoe Union sanction.

Results transcribed from the official SIP series results sheet circulated to clubs; not yet cross-checked against a public KNCU results page.

River · K2 Racing / Gauteng · Western Cape

Centurion’s 9 Miler Opens the Spring Push

Centurion Canoe Club ran its 9 Miler K2 race (K1s and K3s welcome) on Rietvlei Dam on Saturday 25 July, with PFDs compulsory and spot prizes for finishers.

Maties Canoeing’s Nekkies–Eilanda

The 27 km K2 B-grade race (K1s welcome) that was set for Nekkies Resort on Saturday 1 August has been cancelled. The club cited low water on the Breede, measured at 3.5 cumecs on the day.

The cancellation fits a dry pattern across the province. Cape Town International Airport recorded 14.4 mm of rain in July, its driest July in 68 years, and the South African Weather Service reported several parts of the southwestern Western Cape logging their lowest July rainfall on record. SAWS attributes the dry spell to a persistent Atlantic high-pressure system blocking cold fronts, and forecasters are watching a strengthening El Niño for its effect on the region’s rivers and dams through the rest of the season.

River · Schools / KwaZulu-Natal

KZN’s Winter River Programme Opens

The KwaZulu-Natal Canoe Union’s August river programme centres on Winterton. Michaelhouse hosts the Tugela 20’s KZN Schools K1 River Champs over 8 and 9 August on the Tugela River below the Spionkop Dam wall, with senior, junior and Guppy entry categories. The KZN Guppy League runs its Race 6 over the same weekend and course. Umzinyathi Canoe Club follows with its Chris van den Berg Memorial, the union’s season opener on the Upper Umgeni, on 16 August.

Accommodation and catering for the Tugela weekend runs through eMseni Camp (Marlene, 083 255 7399); race queries go to Stuart Robertson at Michaelhouse (083 253 0195).

Surfski · Entries / Eastern Cape

Blue Water Canoe Club’s Breakfast Series returns to the Gamtoos Ferry Hotel for four Sunday mornings, 9, 16, 23 and 30 August, starting at 08:30 with long and short courses, breakfast rolls included and a series entry discount. The series is supported by Rack & Paddle, Vaikobi, Wolff & Johnstone and Würth.

Pete Marlin Surfski Race organisers have set 21 September as the deadline for a free custom 2026 race shirt with entry. The East London race doubles as the SA Ocean Paddling Championships for S1 and S2, singles on 31 October and doubles on 1 November, with more than R140,000 in total prize money across the age groups. Sponsors include PW Harvey & Co, Fenn, Euro Steel and Seymour Properties.

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