The Oceanic island nation of the Cook Islands made history when it delivered a successful training camp, featuring the youngest group of participants to take part in such an initiative in the region.
Held from 17 to 23 May, the camp was organised by the Oceania Canoe Association (OCA) in collaboration with the International Canoe Federation and the Cook Islands National Federation.
The camp brought together athletes who had previously attended the OCA Training Camp in New Zealand in 2025, alongside developing paddlers from across the region.
It also built on the momentum of the December 2025 New Zealand camp, where a small group of the region’s younger athletes first experienced international-level training.
Following that programme, the OCA has continued providing follow-up home coaching and development support for those athletes, alongside other emerging paddlers identified through national pathways.
The Cook Islands camp formed part of a wider, ongoing development cycle aimed at strengthening long-term athlete progression within Oceania rather than operating as a standalone event.
“This visit to the Cook Islands aimed to maintain the momentum established during the 2025 Oceania Canoe Development Camp in New Zealand, by reconnecting with participating athletes, parents and coaches in their home environment,” said Sprint Canoe coach Jemma Smith.
“Throughout the week, athletes took part in on-water training sessions to further enhance their technical development, education sessions that covered a range of topics including technical principles, off-water guide/tools, recovery and injury prevention, video review and warm-up/cool-down procedures, as well as dry-land training sessions.”
The successful delivery of the training camp reflects the ongoing commitment of the OCA, ICF, and National Federations to supporting youth development and increasing participation opportunities throughout Oceania.
ICF Vice President Dr. Cecilia Farias said: “The project was delivered with the objective of continuing the development of canoeing in Cook Island that already had athletes on the OOGG, these efforts only possible with the support of the New Zealand National Federation as well as the investment of the ICF.”
The week focused on athlete development, technical skill enhancement, and strengthening connections between young canoe athletes throughout the Oceania region.
Athletes benefited from structured on-water sessions, high-quality coaching, and opportunities to apply and build on skills introduced in previous OCA programmes.
The camp also provided an important platform for peer learning, confidence building, and fostering friendships across national boundaries.
A particular highlight of the camp was the strong participation of female athletes. Six of the eight participants were female, reflecting the continued growth of women and girls in paddle sports across the region.
The camp also showcased the next generation of talent, with athletes representing the U11, U14, and U16 age categories.
“The athletes were an absolute pleasure to coach; it was awesome to be able to reconnect with them, this time in their home training environment and very rewarding to see their technique improve and skills progress throughout the week,” said Smith.
“A real highlight off the water was the cultural activities. The Traditional Fire Show and Island Night Cultural Show. It was great to all come together and for them to share their cultural practices with us.”
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