Canoe Ocean Racing enjoyed another magnificent season of International Canoe Federation racing as the world’s best produced fantastic performances to underline the strength of the discipline in 2025. Let’s look back at some of the highlights from this year.    

Bester puts best foot forward 

It has been a difficult period for Kira Bester having suffered the loss of her coach and mentor Peter Cole earlier this year. But Bester has reacted in a way that would have made Cole beam from ear to ear. The 24-year-old put her best foot forward as she retained the world title in the women’s surfski single on South African waters. She also finished the year in style, storming to victory at the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Cup in Reunion. 

South Africans put on show in Durban 

Due to the popularity of surfski paddling in South Africa, Durban was always going to deliver a fantastic World Championships. It lived up to the hype as South Africa staged a great event with a strong contingent of home paddlers making an impression. Among those was Bester as she made it back-to-back women’s SS1 crowns. There was also glory for South Africa’s Matthew Fenn and Saskia Johanna Hockly as they were crowned world champions in the mixed surfski double. Fenn and Hockly were not the only South Africans on the podium in that event as Hamish Lovemore teamed up with Jenna Nisbet to secure bronze. 

Hill scales new heights with fourth gold 

Back in 2015, Australia’s Cory Hill secured the first of his world titles courtesy of his triumph in Tahiti. Fast forward 10 years and Hill can now call himself as a four-time world champion. Last year, Hill came unstuck to an inspired Gordan Harbrecht of Germany in Madeira. But no one could stop Hill from emerging victorious in Durban as he delivered his race plan to perfection. Hill pulled away from France’s Pierre Vilella and Portugal’s Bernando Pereira to take the title for an unprecedented fourth time, adding to his victories in 2015, 2017 and 2023.  

Asian growth with technical officials and talented paddlers 

Canoe Ocean Racing is continuing to gather momentum in Asia. In September, Qingdao, China hosted the Asian Canoe Ocean Racing Championships that featured more than 350 athletes from 10 countries. It was a hugely successful event with Hock Wing Winnie Wong and Lyu Weiwu winning the respective women’s and men’s SS1 titles. Alongside the racing at Shilaoren Beach, Qingdao was also hosting a seminar for International Technical Officials. Not only did it showcase Asia’s passion for Canoe Ocean Racing but also laid strong foundations for the continent to contribute further to the global growth of the sport. 

Excitement builds for 2026 as venues offer glimpse 

Next year will see the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships take place in Villajoyosa, Spain. The venue provided a glimpse of what to expect in 2026 when it played host to the opening World Cup of the season in May when Harbrecht and Bester emerged victorious. The 2026 calendar has also been bolstered with World Cups to be held in Madeira, Portugal, Kuantan in Malaysia, Tahiti in French Polynesia, Molokabra in Brazil and Reunion, France. Among those venues, Reunion staged a World Cup this year as Bester and Fenn struck gold, while Molokabra hosted this year’s Pan American Canoe Ocean Racing Championships where Brazil swept the podium. This all whets the appetite for a mouthwatering 2026 season.