Canoe marathon is a paddling sport in which athletes paddle a kayak (double-bladed paddle) or canoe (single-bladed paddle) over a long distance to the finish line. The

International Canoe Federation The International Canoe Federation (ICF) is the umbrella organization of all national canoe organizations worldwide. It is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and administers all aspects of canoe sport worldwide. 157 countries are affiliated ...

states the standard distances are at least without an upper limit, while short distance races are between , and . Many events are raced down sections of river, including currents or

portage Portage or portaging (Canada: ; ) is the practice of carrying water craft or cargo over land, either around an obstacle in a river, or between two bodies of water. A path where items are regularly carried between bodies of water is also called a ...

s around obstacles. Some events attract thousands of competitors and are staged over several days.

Classes

Racers are generally divided into different classes though the available classes at each race will vary. Example classes are: *K1 *K2 *K4 *C1 *C2 *C3 *C6 *OC1 *OC2 ''K'' refers to a kayak, ''C'' a canoe and ''OC'' to an outrigger. The number refers to the number of paddlers in the boat. Some included on this list are very infrequently raced at the marathon discipline, but ''C1'', ''C2'' and ''K1'' are virtually in every race. ''K1'', ''K2'', ''K4'', ''C1'', and ''C2'' classes are permitted in International Canoe Federation events.

Events

ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships is an International Canoe Federation competition in canoe marathon in which athletes compete over long distances. The race usually starts and ends at the same place, and includes portages. Race categories vary ...

, an International Canoe Federation competition * The long running

Avon Descent The Avon Descent is an annual, two-day, white water event along the Avon and Swan Rivers in Western Australia. It includes both paddle craft (kayaks, surf skis) and small motor boats, and runs from Northam to the Perth suburb of Bayswater. It ...

held in

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

, a two day whitewater marathon river race over for kayaks and canoes where paddlers compete alongside powerboats. * The MR340 is an annual continuous race on the Missouri River from Kansas City to St. Charles, Missouri. Participants have 88 hours to complete the race. *

Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon The Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon is a marathon canoe race in England. The race is held every Easter over a course of from Devizes in Wiltshire to Westminster in central London. It has been run since 1948. Starting at D ...

: A race over of canals and rivers from

Devizes Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It developed around Devizes Castle, an 11th-century Norman architecture, Norman castle, and received a charter in 1141. The castle was besieged during the Anarchy, a 12th-century ...

Westminster Westminster is an area of Central London, part of the wider City of Westminster. The area, which extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, has many visitor attractions and historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Bu ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

which can either be completed "straight through" or over four days. The course includes portages around 77 locks. There are no rules about the boat specifications but most competitors use ICF kayaks. * The

Dusi Canoe Marathon The Dusi Canoe Marathon is a marathon canoe race held over three days between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, South Africa. It is run along the Msunduzi and Mgeni Rivers over a total distance of . The race attracts between 1600 and 2000 paddlers ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

: a three-day race over . Classes include K1, K2, white water, touring kayak, and touring canoe. * The Eleven Cities Tour in

Friesland Friesland (, ; official fry, Fryslân ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia, is a province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen, northwest of Drenthe and Overijssel, north of ...

: a 36 hours max race over . Classes include K1, K2, white water and touring kayak. * The

Fish River Canoe Marathon The ''Fish River Canoe Marathon'' is a two-day event taking place on the Fish River in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It covers a total distance of , from Grassridge Dam southward to Cradock. The two other notable South African canoe ...

: a two-day river race over () in South Africa in ICF-style K1s and K2s. K3s are also run. * The YMCA Massive Murray Paddle, down the Murray River in Australia. Classes include ICF canoes and kayaks, as well as touring craft as defined in

Australian Canoeing Paddle Australia is the governing body for the sport of canoeing and kayaking in Australia. History The body was founded in Bexley, New South Wales on 10 September 1949 as the Australian Canoe Federation and affiliated with the International ...

regulations, surf skis,

outrigger canoe Outrigger boats are various watercraft featuring one or more lateral support floats known as outriggers, which are fastened to one or both sides of the main hull. They can range from small dugout canoes to large plank-built vessels. Outrigger ...

s and recreational paddle-craft such as

sea kayak A sea kayak or touring kayak is a kayak developed for the sport of paddling on open waters of lakes, bays, and the ocean. Sea kayaks are seaworthy small boats with a covered deck and the ability to incorporate a spray deck. They trade off the man ...

s. * The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic. down the Hawkesbury River in NSW Australia from Windsor to Brooklyn. The event is run at night (under moonlight on some years). Classes include canoes, kayaks and skis, as well as limited dragon boats. * The

Texas Water Safari The Texas Water Safari is a boat race down waterways from San Marcos, Texas, to Seadrift, Texas. The total distance traveled is 262 miles. Racers must take all equipment needed with them, receiving only medical supplies, food, water, and ice along ...

a race over from the interior

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

south to the

Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an oceanic basin, ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of ...

. It must be completed in 100 hours. Classes include: ** Solo: USCA C-1, unlimited (any human powered boat) ** Tandem: USCA aluminum, standard, USCA C-2, unlimited ** Up to six crew: unlimited. The record time of 30 hours was done in a six-man canoe. * The

Triple Crown of Canoe Racing The Triple Crown of Canoe Racing (French: ''La Triple Couronne de Canots Long Parcours'') is a canoe marathon series consisting of: * The General Clinton Canoe Regatta: staged Memorial Day on New York's Susquehanna River, a one-day, non-stop 70 m ...

consists of three separate marathon races with a total distance of over 5 days of racing: ** the General Clinton Canoe Regatta, held in May on

Memorial Day Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have fought and died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monda ...

, one-day race, ** the

Au Sable River Canoe Marathon The Au Sable River Canoe Marathon, presented by Consumers Energy, (also stylized as the AuSable River Canoe Marathon) is an annual canoe race in Michigan from Grayling to Oscoda. Nicknamed and known simply as "The Marathon," it first ran in 194 ...

, held on last weekend of July, overnight race, and ** the Classique international de canots de la Mauricie, held in September on

Labor Day Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United St ...

, three-day race. * The

Adirondack Canoe Classic __NOTOC__ The Adirondack Canoe Classic, also known as the 90-miler, is a three-day, canoe race from Old Forge to Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks of New York, United States. The race has drawn as many as 500 competitors from California to Fl ...

, also known as "The 90 Miler," is a three-day, canoe race from Old Forge to Saranac Lake in the

Adirondacks The Adirondack Mountains (; a-də-RÄN-dak) form a massif in northeastern New York with boundaries that correspond roughly to those of Adirondack Park. They cover about 5,000 square miles (13,000 km2). The mountains form a roughly circular d ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, United States. Classes range from C1 Stock to war canoes and traditional guide boats. *

La Ruta Maya The Belikin La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge is an annual 4-day canoe marathon held in Belize. It is considered the biggest sporting event in the country, and typically attracts thousands of spectators. The course runs from the Hawkesworth Bri ...

: a four-day river race in

Belize Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a wate ...

* The Muskoka River X: a 24-hour race over of lakes and rivers in

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

. The course includes 20 portages. Paddlers must carry expedition gear such as shelters and emergency rations. Classes include canoe (single and tandem), kayak, and stand up paddle board. * The

Yukon River Quest The Yukon River Quest is the world's longest annual canoe and kayak race. The Yukon River Quest's stated mission is, "To challenge paddlers in a world class wilderness event – a race to the midnight sun." The race takes place in late June / early ...

: a wilderness paddling race from

Whitehorse Whitehorse () is the capital of Yukon, and the largest city in Northern Canada. It was incorporated in 1950 and is located at kilometre 1426 (Historic Mile 918) on the Alaska Highway in southern Yukon. Whitehorse's downtown and Riverdale areas ...

Dawson City Dawson City, officially the City of Dawson, is a town in the Canadian territory of Yukon. It is inseparably linked to the Klondike Gold Rush (1896–99). Its population was 1,577 as of the 2021 census, making it the second-largest town in Yuko ...

The Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...

. Classes include canoes and kayaks (single and tandem), and voyageur (six-person) canoes. * The Yukon 1000: a biennial wilderness race over of the

Yukon River The Yukon River (Gwichʼin language, Gwich'in: ''Ųųg Han'' or ''Yuk Han'', Central Alaskan Yup'ik language, Yup'ik: ''Kuigpak'', Inupiaq language, Inupiaq: ''Kuukpak'', Deg Xinag language, Deg Xinag: ''Yeqin'', Hän language, Hän: ''Tth'echù' ...

lasting 7–12 days. Classes include K1, K2, C1, C2 and voyageur canoes.

References

{{Reflist Canoe racing Canoeing and kayaking Canoeing disciplines

Classes

Events

See also

References