2025 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup

[Glenn MacGrady]

I'll post videos of this event as I find them (or any of you can).

High kneel single blading is a classic canoe technique, and watching the form of these world class athletes can be instructive as well as entertaining.

We'll start with videos on the men's C1 200 meter sprint event.

 

[Alan Gage]

I gotta work on my J stroke.

Alan

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

In the ICF sprint canoe competitions, there is a B Final as well as an A Final when there are more than 18 canoes in the final round. HERE are the 2025 ICF Sprint Competition Rules. And here are the B and A Finals in the men's C1 200 meter sprint.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Other canoe events in this competition, as far as I can figure, are:

- men's C1 500 meter and 1000 meter
- men's C2 500 meter
- women's C1 200 meter, 500 meter, and 5000 meter
- women's C2 200 meter and 500 meter

I'll post more of these videos in event order when I have time later.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

I gotta work on my J stroke.

Actually, your J stroke looks very automatic and effective to me.

How would I know that?

I was looking on your YouTube channel for the self-rescue video you've posted here a few times, and noticed you had several other videos. So, I watched one of you and Sadie paddling your local river. I figured you were probably a hard core and non-stop switcher. But no! You were casually and unconsciously J stroking on both sides of the canoe very effectively. I was impressed.

What you and I and just about all of us have to work on is high kneeling in, or even just staying upright in, a 14.2" max beam canoe.

Why? Seriously?

Because it's my experience that becoming an effective paddler in a variety of different paddle crafts, and learning and using a variety of different stroke techniques, makes one a better and more confident paddler for the kind of canoeing one prefers and does most often, whatever that is. It's also my experience that racers have developed the highest level of efficiency in hull design, paddle design and stroke technique in all the areas of flat water, whitewater and ocean paddling. Therefore, some practice with racing gear and racing techniques will especially help one become a better and more confident recreational paddler.

 

[Gamma1214]

Hmm... interesting but not much room for the tent & food barrel in one of those. I did notice that none of them are using a bent shaft... No animal tails either.

Honestly, I enjoy watching the sprinters but it looks too much like work to me.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Honestly, I enjoy watching the sprinters but it looks too much like work to me.

Work? Those guys only paddle for 40 seconds. Such wimps!