Oceania Canoe Association activities Q2 2026

This quarter the Oceania Canoe Association (OCA) successfully launched the "Home Coaching Programme" as part of its 2025-2026 Development Plan.

This initiative aims to deliver ongoing support to athletes by providing coaching continuity in their home environments following scheduled development camps and competitions.

Continuity for Oceania athletes throughout the year with regular contact and coaching was an important piece of feedback we received from our Member Federations.

In partnership with the International Canoe Federation and the Cook Islands Canoe Association, OCA sent two coaches to the Cook Islands for a week-long programme at Nikao & Muri Lagoon in Rarotonga in May. 

The objective was to build on the development camp and competition held in New Zealand in December 2025. 

The programme focused on daily technical paddling instruction, educational sessions, and cultural activities for both junior and adult paddlers.

Training sessions and educational activities were scheduled to fit around athletes’ school and family commitments, covering paddling technique, efficiency, racing skills, recovery, athlete safety and injury prevention

Cultural activities were also included to strengthen team bonds and provide a local experience for the participants, building on indigenous education for our athletes.

The camp was a great success, inspiring the young athletes to continue their paddling, increasing their knowledge of strength training, periodisation and race strategy.   I would like to thank Paddle Australia, Paddle South Australia and the New South Wales Institute of Sport for providing coaches for this camp. 

Looking ahead, OCA, as part of its development plan, will support athlete participation in the Pacific Games Test Event to be held in Tahiti, in July 2026.  The International Canoe Federation will also be providing coaching clinics for the Oceania participants. 

This event is the warmup for the Pacific Games to be held in Tahiti in 2027, the biggest event on the Oceania calendar.  It will be the second Pacific Games where kayak has been included on the calendar. OCA’s aim is to continue to build kayaking participation in this event.

OCA will also be organising a Pacific Development Camp in Australia with the assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) in conjunction with the Continental Qualification Event for Oceana in December 2026. 

OCA’s objective is to continue building sustainable athlete pathways from junior to international levels.

Danielle Woodward, Secretary General of the Oceania Canoe Association