New Zealand surfski and ocean racing paddlers have the chance to compete on the world stage in 2026, with the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships taking place in La Vila Joiosa, Spain from 9–11 October.
The event is open entry, so there is no selection requirement from Canoe Racing NZ. Any member of a CRNZ-affiliated club can enter and race for world championship honours across senior, U23, junior, and masters age groups, in both single ski and double ski disciplines, with no restriction on the number of entries New Zealand can submit.
Entry runs as a two-step process. First, competitors register directly through the event website. Then they must notify CRNZ of their intention to race. That second step is not optional: all official world championship category competitors must also be entered into the ICF system by CRNZ, and skipping it means being unable to compete.
The notification deadline is midnight on Sunday 13 September 2026.
This is a self-funded, self-supported event. Competitors are responsible for arranging their own travel and race requirements.
Full event information is at icfcanoeoceanracingspain.com. Paddlers with questions can contact Maree Kaati at maree@crnz.org.
