Welcome to the Marathon Canoe discipline page. In this section you can learn about the sport and the equipment it uses. You can also find out how to get involved, look for a club that offers Marathon activity near you and check out some upcoming events to go and enjoy.
What is Canoe Marathon?
Canoe Marathon is an exciting endurance sport that takes place on rivers, lakes, and canals across the country. It's a fantastic way to challenge yourself, improve your paddling skills, and enjoy the great outdoors.
It uses the Hasler racing system, which is based on ability divisions. This means you'll always be racing against paddlers of similar speed, making it fair and fun for everyone involved.
Canoe Marathon Equipment
One of the great things about Canoe Marathon is how accessible the equipment is. Beginner boats are designed to be stable and easy to steer, perfect for those just starting out. As you progress, you can move on to faster, more specialised boats.
The Challenge of Canoe Marathon
Marathon paddling isn't just about physical endurance - it's also a tactical sport. As you improve, you'll find yourself racing in groups and battling it out in sprint finishes. It's like combining the speed of running with the tactics of road cycling!
As you gain experience and improve your skills, you'll be promoted to higher divisions. Eventually, you might find yourself competing against some of the best paddlers in the country or even the world.
Skills You'll Learn With Marathon
You can develop a wide range of paddling related skills by taking part in Marathon Canoe. These include:
- Paddling Technique: You'll develop an efficient forward stroke and a powerful, sustainable paddling technique for long distances. You'll also develop steering strokes and learn to maintain course without losing speed.
- Endurance and Pacing: You'll build cardiovascular endurance for long-distance paddling, and learn to pace yourself for sustained effort over several hours.
- Navigation and River Reading: You'll develop skills to read water conditions and choose the most efficient route. You'll also learn to navigate using landmarks and maps.
- Portaging Skills: You'll learn how to quickly and efficiently carries your canoe around obstacles, and learn to transition smoothly between water and land.
Canoe Marathon on the World Stage
Marathon has been growing in popularity in recent years. In 2022, it made its debut at The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, with British paddlers achieving top ten finishes.
So, whether you're looking for a new way to stay fit, a chance to compete on the world stage, Canoe Marathon has something to offer. So why not give it a try? You might just discover your new favourite sport! Hit the Get Involved button above to search for a club, or ask PaddleBot.
Marathon clubs offer a combination of marathon and sprint racing, with beginners equipment and coaching and club sessions to develop skills and fitness.
Through these clubs you can access over 70 exciting marathon events held across the country, with over 12,000 racers competing.
Find Your Nearest Marathon Club
If you want to start your journey in Canoe Polo then enter your city, postcode, or What3Words location below and search.
Please find below a range of useful documents and external links for anyone involved in or interested in the discipline of Marathon.
Useful Documents
- Marathon Racing Discipline Committee Terms of Reference566.36 KBFebruary 2, 2023This document contains the Terms and Conditions for the Marathon Racing Discipline Committee
Marathon Links
The links below will take you to external sites, most of which are updated by third parties. Please contact the relevant website owner directly for any enquiries or issues.
Marathon Social Media
Below you can find the links to the main UK Marathon social media accounts.