The international paddling community has descended on Durban, turning the usually laid-back beachfront into a hive of excitement as athletes from every corner of the globe gather for the 2025 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships. Hosted by the Durban Undersea Club (DUC) at the Point Water Sports Club, the event marks one of the biggest weeks in the city’s watersport calendar, with world titles, national glory, and ideal downwind racing conditions all on the line.
The atmosphere has been building all week as teams complete registration and fine-tune their equipment. Wednesday’s eagerly awaited announcement of the final race courses and schedule set the stage for a thrilling weekend of world-class ocean racing.
Following a detailed review of wind, swell and safety conditions within the official three-day race window, the event committee confirmed that the Mixed Doubles (SS2) race will take place on Saturday, and the highly anticipated Singles (SS1) race will headline the action on Sunday. This decision aligns perfectly with the forecasted wind directions, ensuring the best possible downwind runs for both days.
Saturday – SS2 World Championship (Mixed Doubles):
• Course: Durban Undersea Club to Amanzimtoti (27 km)
• Conditions: Moderate north-easterly wind of around 15–20 km/h
• Start: 08h00
The route south to Amanzimtoti is expected to deliver a technical challenge, demanding precise wave selection and teamwork from the mixed crews as they surf their way down the KwaZulu-Natal coastline.
Sunday – SS1 World Championship (Singles):
• Course: Durban Undersea Club to Westbrook (34 km)
• Conditions: Strong south-westerly winds of 25–40 km/h
• Start: 09h00
Sunday’s race is shaping up to be a true downwind classic. The predicted “SW buster” promises long, fast runs and testing surf at the finish, offering a spectacular showcase of skill, endurance, and ocean intuition from the best paddlers in the world.
Both races will start from the DUC at the Point Water Sports Club, transforming Durban’s beachfront into the global epicentre of ocean racing for the weekend. With over 200 elite paddlers representing more than 20 nations, the competition is set to be fierce from the first paddle stroke to the final sprint up the beach.
The men’s singles division is shaping up as a heavyweight battle featuring some of the sport’s most decorated names. Defending world champion Gordan Harbrecht (Germany) returns to protect his crown against a field stacked with international and local talent. Cory Hill (Australia), a three-time world champion and renowned downwind specialist, will be looking to reclaim the title, while Hank McGregor, Durban’s own multi-discipline paddling legend, will have the full support of the home crowd.
The South African contingent brings depth and experience, led by 2025 national champion Nic Notten, alongside Kenny Rice, Uli Hart, and the ever-dangerous Fenn brothers, Matt and Josh. The European and Australasian challenges are equally formidable, with Pierre Vilella (France), Walter Bouzan (Spain), and rising Australian talent Oscar Jones all capable of springing a surprise on race day.
In the women’s event, the stage is set for an equally compelling showdown. New Zealand’s 2019 world champion Danielle Richards will take on South Africa’s finest – Michelle Burn, the Durban local who knows every bump and backwash of the coastline, and Kira Bester, the defending champion from Cape Town. But the local women’s field runs deep: Jade Wilson, Melanie van Niekerk, Nix Birkett, Saskia Hockly, and 2024 junior world champion Georgia Singe are all capable of upsetting the established order and claiming a place on the podium.
The Championships unofficially got underway with the traditional Pirates–Umhlanga–Pirates race, the world’s oldest surfski event, serving as a spirited curtain-raiser for the week. Since then, registration at DUC has been bustling with athletes collecting their credentials, testing their skis, and catching up with friends and rivals from previous editions.
Thursday’s Parade of Nations and Opening Ceremony at uShaka Marine World will add a festive flair to proceedings, bringing together the global paddling family before the serious business begins. With Friday now designated as a training and familiarisation day, the top contenders will be studying their finish lines, testing the surf at Amanzimtoti and Westbrook, and rehearsing their race strategies.
Wednesday
10h00–16h00: Registration open at DUC
16h00: Team Managers Meeting
Thursday
09h00–16h00: Registration open at DUC
14h00: Compulsory Pre-Race Briefing (DUC)
15h00: Parade of Nations (DUC)
16h00: Opening Ceremony (uShaka Marine World)
Friday
Training and course familiarisation
Saturday
06h00: Check-in for SS2 World Championships
08h00: SS2 World Championship – DUC to Amanzimtoti
Sunday
06h00: Check-in for SS1 World Championships
09h00: SS1 World Championship – DUC to Westbrook
15h00: Medal Ceremony & After Party (DUC)
As Durban prepares to host the world’s best ocean paddlers, the 2025 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships promise a weekend of speed, endurance, and spectacular downwind racing. With world titles on the line, unpredictable ocean conditions, and the sport’s biggest names in the mix, all eyes will be on the Durban coastline when the start guns fire this weekend.
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