Canoe · Surfski · Ocean · Sprint · SUP · 23 – 30 August 2026
Hartley 15th. Lovemore 10th.
SA K2 Champs move to Liebenbergsvlei.
Bridgitte Hartley placed 15th and Hamish Lovemore 10th in the 1000m K1 at the Canoe Sprint World Championships in Poznań. At home, low water in the Breede River sent the SA K2 River Champs to Liebenbergsvlei on 12 and 13 September, and Dabulamanzi Canoe Club ran its first 24 hour Backwater Ultra.
Sprint World Championships
Sprint · International / Poznań, Poland
Hartley 15th and Lovemore 10th in the 1000m K1
Three South Africans were named ahead of the Canoe Sprint World Championships in Poznań, raced from 26 to 30 August. Bridgitte Hartley finished 15th in the world in the 1000m K1 on day three. Hamish Lovemore finished 10th in the same event on day four.
Points from this regatta carry a 1.5x multiplier in the qualification standings, and the team cards carried the #Road2LA tag. Hartley and Lovemore were entered for the 1000m and 5000m K1. Esti Olivier was entered for the 200m and 500m K1.
Day three produced a B final and a C final for the team. Day four was described by the team as a mixed bag on the water, with Lovemore’s 10th the standout. Racing finished on 30 August.
Placings come from Team South Africa’s daily roundups in Poznań. Official ICF sheets carry the times for each final.
SA K2 and K3 River Champs
River · Marathon / Free State
Low water on the Breede sends the K2 title to Liebenbergsvlei
The PSA Marathon Technical Committee decided, and the Board approved, that the SA K2 River Champs will be hosted by Liebenbergsvlei. The announcement gave low water in the Breede River as the reason.
Three races now run over the weekend of 12 and 13 September. SA K2 Champs on the Saturday, SA K3 Champs on the Sunday, and the LBV Clean Water Challenge for anyone doing both days in the same boat. Saturday starts at 10:30 and Sunday at 08:00, over 32km per day, graded B, running from Reitz Waterworks to Zorgvliet.
Entries have reopened. Paddlers entering both days in the same boat are entered automatically into whichever SA champs applies, and the organisers asked people not to pay twice. Entering different boats on the two days means entering Saturday and Sunday separately, at half the fee each.
| SA medalsPSA CATEGORIES, EACH DAY | Both days |
| SA River Kings and QueensPAIR FINISHING HIGHEST OVERALL IN K2 AND K3 | Overall |
| LBV prizesOVERALL · LADIES · MIXED · JUNIOR · BALLIE 40+ · SUPER-BALLIE 70+ · NOVICE · LUCKY DRAW | Both days |
Dabs Backwater Ultra
River · Ultra distance / Gauteng
Twenty five finishers in the first running
Dabulamanzi Canoe Club ran its first Backwater Ultra over the weekend of 21 and 22 August. The 24 hour race started at 5:00 PM on the Friday and finished at 5:00 PM on the Saturday. Paddlers had to cover roughly 6.7km every hour to stay in it. A 12 hour option ran alongside.
Thirteen paddlers completed the full 24 hours for 100 miles. Twelve completed the 12 hour race for 50 miles. Ryno Armdoff was the oldest finisher and Nhlamulo Mahwayi the youngest.
| Luke Salmon | Nic Notten | MJ Robb |
| Rob Crichton | Ryan Rodda | Tyde Malherbe |
| Matt Fenn | Josh Fenn | Sibusiso Zulu |
| Benji Mtonintshi | TK | Ryno Armdoff |
| Nhlamulo Mahwayi |
| Dan McLachlan | Richard Cook | Karen Field |
| Renschi van Zyl | Emma Hatfield | Gareth Barberton |
| Wayne Jacobs | Thabani Msia | Colin Wilson |
| Matthew Cockram | Pierro Ioppo | Kyle Armdoff |
Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club singled out three of its 24 hour finishers, Nhlamulo Mahwayi, Benjamin Mntonintshi and Ryno Armdorf. Nkosi Mzolo paddled 18 hours without having trained for the distance.
Two surnames appear with different spellings between the finishers list and the club post, Armdoff and Armdorf, Mtonintshi and Mntonintshi. Corrections to news@sapaddling.co.za.
Fish River Canoe Marathon
River · Marathon / Eastern Cape
Six weeks out, and a two day dress rehearsal first
The 2026 Fish River Canoe Marathon and SA K1 Champs run on 2 and 3 October at Cradock. Entries are open on the PSA portal at paddler.paddlesportsa.com.
Fish River Canoe Club has put the Pre-Fish on 19 and 20 September, two weeks ahead of the race. Day one runs Grassridge to Knutsford over 48km, starting at 11:00 with registration from 09:00, or Saltpans to Knutsford over 20km. Day two runs Knutsford to Town over 36km from 08:00, or Baroda to Town over 27km. The first 50 entries get a cap.
European Ocean Racing Championship
Surfski · Ocean / Brittany, France
Race one goes to Rosie Edwards and Bernardo Pereira
The 2026 Paddle Europe European Ocean Racing Championship opened on the Finistère coast in Brittany with an SS1 race, plus an invited OC1 category that carried no European title.
| 1 | Rosie EdwardsGBR · U23 |
| 2 | Judit VergèsESP · SENIOR |
| 3 | Chloe BunnettESP · SENIOR |
| 1 | Bernardo PereiraPOR · U23 |
| 2 | Pierre VilellaFRA · SENIOR |
| 3 | Walter BouzanESP · SENIOR |
| 1 | Constança FrazãoPOR |
| 2 | Andrea Colmard JiménezESP |
| 3 | Katie Luen-TwiningGBR |
Rosie Edwards and Bernardo Pereira also took the U23 titles. In the invited OC1 category Louka Brard won the men’s race and Sylvie Marin the women’s. Replay and full results are on Total Paddler.
No South African paddlers finished on a race one podium.
IVF Va’a World Sprints
Va’a · International / Singapore
Tahiti finish on 87 medals
The IVF World Sprint Championships closed at Marina Bay in Singapore. Total Paddler reported 2,222 athletes from 29 countries and territories entered. Tahiti topped the table with 45 golds and 87 medals in total.
| 1 | Tahiti | 45 · 27 · 15 = 87 |
| 2 | Hawaii | 18 · 11 · 14 = 43 |
| 3 | New Zealand | 16 · 26 · 29 = 71 |
| 4 | USA | 6 · 7 · 11 = 24 |
| 5 | Canada | 6 · 12 · 3 = 21 |
| 6 | Australia | 5 · 7 · 10 = 22 |
| 7 | Brazil | 3 · 3 · 1 = 7 |
| 8 | France | 3 · 0 · 0 = 3 |
| 9 | Singapore | 2 · 0 · 0 = 2 |
| 10 | Wallis & Futuna | 0 · 3 · 0 = 3 |
| 11 | New Caledonia | 0 · 1 · 5 = 6 |
| 12 | Cook Islands | 0 · 0 · 1 = 1 |
| 12 | Germany | 0 · 0 · 1 = 1 |
Columns run gold, silver, bronze, then total. The championships ran from 17 to 31 August, with ten days of sprint finals.
Stilbaai Classic
Surfski · River / Western Cape
Sea on the Saturday, river on the Sunday
Still Bay Paddling Club runs the Stilbaai Classic on 26 and 27 September at Hulle By Die See. Saturday is a sea race of about 20km starting at 12:00, with the route set on the day according to conditions. Sunday is a river race over 10km and 20km starting at 07:00.
Entry is R350 per race and R200 for under 18. The sea race enters through PSA. The river race enters through Entry Ninja or PSA. Life jackets are compulsory for both days. The first 100 entries get a branded towel, and there are cash prizes and lucky draws.
Club News
Clubs / KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape
A boat auction at Kingfisher and Tuesday time trials at Century City
Kingfisher Canoe Club holds a boat auction on Thursday 1 October, after the time trial. Boats book in between 15:00 and 17:00 on the Wednesday, or 08:00 to 08:45 on the Thursday.
Bidding costs R20, which is not refundable. Selling costs R50 per item to the club, plus 10% of the sale.
Century City Canoe Club runs time trials every Tuesday with a start line at 18:00, over 3km, 6km and 10km.
Inside PaddleSport South Africa
Administration / National
Who chairs what, and where an entry fee goes
PSA published two reference sheets this fortnight. The first lists its technical committees. Waldo van Der Linde chairs Marathon, Charl Van Wyk chairs Ocean Paddling, Nichole Wilson chairs Sprints on an interim basis, Niel Burger chairs Canoe Polo and Don Wewege chairs Slalom and Kayak Cross.
The second breaks down a race entry. The race organiser takes the largest share. A union fee or levy applies to certain races as each union decides. The Athlete Tour Fund draws up to R20 per paddler per day on multi day events, national champs and ocean events needing open ocean proficiency, and is controlled by the discipline committees. Indemnity insurance is R4.00 or R4.70. Payfast takes 3.45%. System maintenance takes 1.05% where event income is above R100k and 2.55% below it. PSA administration of the online entry system takes 0.5%.
Safety
Safety · NSRI / Western Cape
A broken leash off Roman Rock, and a paddler who turned back
A 73 year old surfski paddler fell out of his boat about one nautical mile north of Roman Rock on Tuesday 25 August. His leash had broken, and the ski blew away from him in strong wind.
Another paddler saw it happen, turned back, and used a bungee cord to tow the empty ski to the man in the water. Both activated their NSRI SafeTrx alerts and stayed afloat together. NSRI Simon’s Town was activated at 11:24 and launched the rescue craft Donna Nicholas into two metre swells and a 30 knot south easter. Two rescue swimmers went in, and the casualty came aboard with his ski. He was treated for mild hypothermia and was not injured.
At least five humpback whales breached around the rescue craft while the recovery ran. The paddler who raised the alarm carried on to Fish Hoek Beach. NSRI commended his swift actions.
Two things did the work here: another paddler who turned back, and SafeTrx alerts that gave the crew a position to launch to. The leash is the part that failed. The full NSRI report is at nsri.org.za.
Paddle the Lagoon
Surfski · Sea kayak / Western Cape
A first running on the Langebaan Lagoon
Westcoast Warriors host the first Paddle the Lagoon on Saturday 10 October, starting and finishing at the Langebaan Yacht Club. Sunday 11 October is the reserve day if conditions on the Saturday are unsafe.
Surfski singles and doubles race a 13km mid course or a 17km long course. A 6.5km short course is open to surfskis and to sea and touring kayaks, single or double. Doubles can be mixed or same gender, and there are no age categories. Positions only are recorded in each category.
Registration runs at the Yacht Club on Friday 9 October from 17:00 to 18:30, and on the Saturday morning from 08:00 to 11:00. Paddlers staying over on the Friday are asked to register that evening. Everyone collects a key ring memento and a goodie bag. The race briefing is at 12:15 and the starts are planned for 13:00, subject to the weather and the sea on the day. Prize giving and a lucky draw follow at about 17:00, and the Yacht Club restaurant runs a race day braai.
A life jacket is compulsory for every paddler. A support boat covers the course, routes may be shortened for safety, and anyone withdrawing should still report to the organisers’ desk. Finishers must come through the official finish posts to be recorded. Parking is on Lagoon Street above Sandbaai, with security on hand, and boats can go down to the Sandbaai beach before the start.
Entries are on Entry Ninja. The organisers also run a WhatsApp group for updates on this race and future ones.
This is not a PaddleSport South Africa sanctioned event, so paddlers do not need to be registered to enter.
Calendar of Events
Diary / 2026
Featured events with posters, then the full diary from 31 August to the end of the year.
Liebenbergsvlei Clean Water Challenge
SA K2 Champs on the Saturday, SA K3 Champs on the Sunday, LBV Champs over both days in the same boat. 32km per day, Reitz Waterworks to Zorgvliet. Starts 10:30 and 08:00.
Pre-Fish, Cradock
Day one, Grassridge to Knutsford 48km from 11:00, or Saltpans to Knutsford 20km. Day two, Knutsford to Town 36km from 08:00, or Baroda to Town 27km. Free cap for the first 50 entries.
Vlei 2 Fish Dash
Registration at PLC in Lakeside from 11:00 to 12:30, race starts 13:00. A lap of the vlei, out of the mouth and up False Bay to Fish Hoek Beach Sports Club. Entry R280.
Stilbaai Classic
Sea race of about 20km from 12:00 on the Saturday, route set on the day. River races of 10km and 20km from 07:00 on the Sunday. R350 per race, R200 under 18. Life jackets compulsory.
Fish River Canoe Marathon and SA K1 Champs
Two days of racing at Cradock. Entries are open on the PSA portal.
Paddle the Lagoon, Langebaan
First running, from the Langebaan Yacht Club. Surfski 13km and 17km, plus a 6.5km short course open to sea and touring kayaks. Briefing 12:15, starts planned for 13:00. Reserve day Sunday 11 October.
Harbour 2 Harbour, Richards Bay to Durban
A 160km ultra distance sea kayak challenge run inside a weather window for north easterly conditions.
Tap any poster to open it full-size.
Full diary to December 2026
| Dates | Event | Discipline | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Aug | WCCU AGM (online, valid 2026 PSA members) | Meeting | Online |
| 12–13 Sep | Liebenbergsvlei Clean Water Challenge · SA K2 and SA K3 Champs | River marathon | Reitz to Zorgvliet, Free State |
| 13 Sep | Harbour 2 Harbour | Surfski | FHBSC, Western Cape |
| 19 Sep | Franschhoek to Paarl to Strand | River | Western Cape |
| 19–20 Sep | Pre-Fish | River marathon | Cradock, Eastern Cape |
| 24 Sep | Vlei 2 Fish Dash | Surfski | Marina da Gama to Fish Hoek, Western Cape |
| 26–27 Sep | Stilbaai Classic (sea Saturday, river Sunday) | Surfski / river | Hulle By Die See, Stilbaai |
| 1 Oct | Kingfisher Canoe Club boat auction | Club | KwaZulu-Natal |
| 2–3 Oct | Fish River Canoe Marathon · SA K1 Champs | River marathon | Cradock, Eastern Cape |
| 9–11 Oct | Paddle Worldwide Ocean Racing World Champs | Ocean | Spain |
| 10 Oct | Paddle the Lagoon (reserve day 11 Oct) | Surfski / sea kayak | Langebaan Yacht Club, Western Cape |
| 18 Oct | CPC Qualifier 1 | Surfski | FHBSC, Western Cape |
| 22–25 Oct | Paddle Worldwide World Marathon Champs | Marathon | Argentina |
| 31 Oct | Pete Marlin SA SS1 | Surfski | Eastern Cape |
| 1 Nov | Pete Marlin SA SS2 | Surfski | Eastern Cape |
| 7–8 Nov | Orange Descent K1 (K2 and K3 welcome) | River | Northern Cape |
| 7–15 Nov | Harbour 2 Harbour 160km ultra (weather window) | Sea kayak | Richards Bay to Durban, KwaZulu-Natal |
| 8 Nov | CPC Qualifier 2 | Surfski | FHBSC, Western Cape |
| 15 Nov | 3 Beaches (TBC) | Surfski | FHBSC, Western Cape |
| 21–22 Nov | Vaal Marathon (TBC) | River marathon | Gauteng |
| 29 Nov | CPC Qualifier 3 | Surfski | FHBSC, Western Cape |
| 5 Dec | Daniel Conradie | Surfski | Strand, Western Cape |
| 6 Dec | Peter Creese | Surfski | FHBSC, Western Cape |
| 19 Dec | Cape Point Challenge | Surfski | Western Cape |
| 20 Dec | Cape Point Challenge (alternative date) | Surfski | Western Cape |
Two events share the name Harbour 2 Harbour. The 13 September race is the False Bay club event. The 160km Richards Bay to Durban crossing runs inside a November weather window. Both appear above.
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