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:

1. 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.
2. Endurance and Pacing: You'll build cardiovascular endurance for long-distance paddling, and learn to pace yourself for sustained effort over several hours.
3. 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.
4. 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.