The German Open Ocean Championship, held during the Hawaiian Sports Festival, brought together some of Germany’s top outrigger canoe paddlers for a demanding day on the water. While many expected classic downwind conditions, Mother Nature had other plans. Instead of strong winds and ocean runners, the athletes faced intense heat, flat water, and a race that demanded patience, smart pacing, and flawless execution.

Representing NALU Canoes, four athletes stood on the top step of the podium across their respective categories: Marton Buday (Open Men), Simone Ahrens (Open Women), Torsten Ahrens (Masters +60), and Karsten (Masters +50). We caught up with each of them to learn more about their journey, their race, and what lies ahead.

Meet the Champions

Marton Buday Open Men Winner

“Hi, I’m  Marton Buday, I’m 48 years old and I’m from Germany. I’ve been paddling OC1 for more than 20 years, but my life on the water started much earlier. Before discovering outrigger canoeing, I competed in sprint canoe racing, and to be honest, I’ve been on the water for as long as I can remember. I try to race as many events around Europe as possible and, if my schedule allows, I also travel overseas for one or two major races each year. Together with my wife, I run NALU Canoes, which makes it especially rewarding to see more and more paddlers choosing our boats. Watching them perform well at races all over the world is something that makes me incredibly proud.”

Simone Ahrens Open Women Winner

“Hello, my name is Simone Ahrens. I’m 56 years old and live in Hanover, Germany. Almost 12 years ago, I discovered stand-up paddling without having any idea where this journey would take me. A few years later, I had the opportunity to try outrigger canoe paddling, and I fell in love with it from the very first stroke. Together with my husband Torsten, paddling has become a huge part of our lives. We train together, travel together, celebrate the good days and support each other through the tough ones. Sharing this passion makes every adventure even more meaningful.”

Torsten Ahrens  Masters +60 Winner

“Hello, my name is Torsten Ahrens. I’m 61 years old and live in Hanover, Germany. Sport has always been part of my life. I started as a competitive swimmer before building a successful Masters swimming career at both European and World Championship level. Today, paddling has become my greatest passion. Sharing this journey with my wife Simone has brought us incredible experiences, lifelong friendships and countless adventures on the water.”

karsten luerken Masters +50 Winner

Thank you very much! My name is Karsten Lürken, and I recently turned 50 years old. I actually came to paddling relatively late, starting at around the age of 22. From the very beginning, I was fortunate to join All Sports Team Hannover, a dragon boat team that has enjoyed success both nationally and internationally. Outrigger canoe paddling was already an integral part of our training programme, so I was introduced to the sport early on. Since 2019, I have focused exclusively on outrigger canoe racing, and it has become my main sporting passion.

Different Categories, Different Stories

Although they competed in different categories, each champion had their own approach to race day. From tactical decisions to months of preparation and decades of experience, every victory tells a different story.

Marton Buday

The Open Men’s race featured a highly competitive field, but Marton knew the race wouldn’t be won with an early attack.

“The field was very strong, and everyone was hungry for the title. With temperatures reaching around 36°C, no wind and completely flat water, I knew the race would be won through smart pacing rather than aggressive tactics.”

Instead of taking the lead immediately, he focused on staying patient and conserving energy. “In flat conditions, the paddlers behind can save a lot of energy by sitting on the leader’s wake, so leading from the front usually means doing all the hard work while everyone else gets a free ride.”

Ironically, after only two kilometres he found himself leading anyway. “At that point, I focused on paddling my own rhythm. In the final part of the race I was able to lift the pace, create a small gap and from there I felt confident I could hold the lead.” The conditions themselves added another challenge. “The biggest challenge was definitely the heat. Hydration was essential, and I constantly adjusted my effort while avoiding patches of seaweed that could slow the canoe down.”

Simone Ahrens

For Simone, the German Championships represented the biggest objective of her season. Months of consistent training in Hanover prepared her for the event, but perhaps the biggest difference came from experience. “Over the years, I’ve learned to approach races with a much calmer mindset. Finding the right balance between hard training and recovery has become one of the most important parts of my preparation.” Race day didn’t bring the expected downwind conditions. Instead, athletes had to deal with warm temperatures and completely flat water. Fortunately, Simone felt completely at home in her NALU SuperNova.

“I raced in my SuperNova, which suits me perfectly, even in flat-water conditions. Crossing the finish line in first place and becoming German Champion was an unforgettable moment. It was the reward for months of training.”

Torsten Ahrens

After decades of competitive sport, Torsten continues to race with the same passion that first drew him to the water.

“My biggest goal today is simply to stay fit, healthy and active. If my journey encourages other masters athletes to keep training and enjoy sport, then I’m truly happy.”

One of his greatest inspirations is his club mate, Helmut Husemann, who continues paddling several times each week at the age of 88. Race day also offered one unforgettable lesson. “This race reminded me that your mind still thinks you’re 30, but your body sometimes disagrees!” Trying to stay with the younger paddlers early in the race may have cost him a little too much energy. “Experience is about racing smarter, pacing yourself and saving enough energy for the finish.” Still, finishing inside the overall Top 10 made the victory even sweeter. “Getting older doesn’t mean you stop competing. You simply become a little wiser and appreciate every race even more.”

karsten luerken

“Even after many years of racing in the Masters categories, I still get nervous before every competition. One of the biggest advantages that experience gives you is knowing that anything can happen during a race. Even if you fall behind early on, it’s often possible to close a significant gap if you stay calm and stick to your race plan. That mindset helped me once again in this race. Despite the extreme heat, I was able to maintain a steady pace throughout the course and still had enough energy to increase my speed during the final stages of the race.”

Looking Ahead

Winning a national title is only one chapter in each athlete’s season. Here’s what comes next.

Marton Buday

“There wasn’t much time to recover after the German Championships. I travelled to France for the French Championships to represent NALU Canoes before focusing on the European Championships in Ploudalmézeau at the end of August. After that, I’m looking forward to one of my favourite races in the world, Molokabra in Brazil.”

Simone Ahrens

“For me, paddling is about much more than racing. It’s about the ocean, the people and the feeling of freedom every time I get on the water. As long as I can paddle with a smile on my face, I’ll keep enjoying every kilometre of this amazing journey.”

Torsten Ahrens

“As long as I can launch my canoe, share the water with good friends and cross the finish line with a smile, I’ll keep racing. Results are rewarding, but the friendships, the experiences and the joy of paddling are what truly matter.”

Karsten Luerken

“After competing at the Baltic Sea Festival and the German Championships in Rerik, my main focus for the remainder of the season is the OC6 race on the island of Rügen, which will be one of the highlight of the year for me. If time allows, I also hope to take part in a few smaller OC1 races before the season comes to an end.”

The Nalu Canoes team riders are ready to take on the 2026 racing season,

follow their journey throughout the season on Instagram and Facebook.