ICF Canoe Slalom Committee activities Q1 2025

ICF ranking races are a global success 

More than 30 National Federations took part in the ICF Canoe Slalom World Ranking events in South America, Oceania and La Reunion at the start of 2025. The season continued with successful events held in Pattaya, Thailand, Fujian Province, China, and most recently in the United States at Montgomery, Alabama and Oklahoma City. In each case, leading athletes from the host continent raced against visiting international athletes in a standardised competitive environment for ranking points. The ICF Canoe Slalom Committee is grateful for the support of the federations, officials, teams and athletes at ICF events across the continents.

Preparing for the season

ICF Global Lead: Whitewater Thomas Rosset has been leading technical coordination meetings with event organisers and Committee members. The agenda covers site layout, the new competition formats, finalising race schedules, confirmation of service from Siwidata as ongoing timing and scoring partner and revealing the shift in TV production. Sue Natoli and Alena Maskova have been leading the officials development through seminars and workshops, conducted at all hours of the day to suit local timing (thank you!).  

Committee business and Paddle Summit 

We are pleased to announce Rafal Smolen joins the Committee as an Advisor, nominated by the American Canoe Association. Rafal is the Head Coach for the US team and will be supporting the technical upgrades at Oklahoma City, liaising with the American continent and advising the ICF on 2026 World Championships preparations.  

The Committee conducted its first meeting of 2025 at the Paddle Summit in Hangzhou China on February 27 and 28. Key projects identified for 2025:

• An equipment review looking at design evolution, specifications and materials with a view to future growth and sustainability  
• Evolution of kayak cross equipment, gate buoys and hanging system, through an open application process for design, production and homologation  
• Cloud technology solution to support event delivery and remote access  
• Capability building with ITO development and training  
• Strategic long range calendar planning to support the Olympic Qualification System and preparation for LA28  

Continental Initiative for Africa at World Cup 1

A special “Race for Africa” has been integrated within the programme of the opening ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in La Seu d’Urgell. The event will serve as a reference race for African nations, enabling participation at the World Championships. Thanks go to Ahmed Mahamoud Abdoulkader, Secretary General at the Confederation of African Canoeing, ICF Vice President Lluis Rabeneda, ICF Global Lead: Whitewater Thomas Rosset and La Seu organiser and Committee member Merixtelle Rodriguez for their collaboration.

Update on Sydney 2025 World Championships 

The revised dates are 29 September to October 4. An updated competition schedule has been published on the ICF event platform and on the Sydney 2025 website. The 25th anniversary event of the Sydney 2000 Olympics received a broadcast and marketing boost with Olympic broadcaster Nine to showcase Sydney 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships with 31 hours of live coverage. Leading ticketing agency Ticketek has been appointed, along with event brand designers Wite Kite and a professional sports presentation team, soon to be announced.

OKC on the LA map

Oklahoma City has been confirmed as host for Canoe Slalom at LA28 Olympic Games. The Los Angeles City Council has approved the out-of-city venues for the LA28 Games, including the existing The Whitewater Center in Oklahoma City for Canoe Slalom. The timing of the announcement came as athletes were competing in the ICF Canoe Slalom World Ranking event at OKC and coincided with an ICF technical visit to the venue by ICF Canoe Slalom Committee Chair Richard Fox and ICF Event Operations Manager Hoichan Kwon.  

Update on Oklahoma 2026 World Championships  

Preliminary information regarding ICF Canoe Slalom World Ranking events and training opportunities will follow an ICF event coordination meeting with the local organisers, scheduled for April 27. French whitewater engineering firm Hydrostadium has been retained by Oklahoma City to upgrade the channel in readiness for Oklahoma 2026 and LA28, with work to commence from September 2025. The works, expected to be completed by February, with a tuning period to follow, will include start zone engineering, obstacle and gate system refit and course tuning. An ongoing “Observer Live” programme to accelerate the transfer of knowledge (TOK) and learning between Host Organising Committees for the World Championships will be facilitated by the ICF and the Syndey 2025 HOC ahead of this year’s World Championship.

Redland Whitewater Centre confirmed for Brisbane 2032

On March 25, The Queensland Government endorsed the construction of the Redland Whitewater Centre for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. The decision follows the ICF’s active involvement in the project through a Memorandum of Understanding with Redland City Council and Paddle Australia, contributions to the Design Working Group and Project Validation Report, and a 2023 technical visit and workshop with the Redland City and Government agencies. The timelines for a funding decision, environmental protection review, detailed design and procurement will follow. The ICF will continue to collaborate with the key stakeholders on the design, Olympic overlay, and operational legacy plan for the venue.

By Richard Fox, Chair of the ICF Canoe Slalom Committee