Five paddlers will fly the flag for New Zealand at the 2026 Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships, with Canoe Racing New Zealand confirming the line-up for October's event in Spain.
The world titles will run from 9-11 October at Club Nàutic La Vila Joiosa on Spain's Mediterranean coast, drawing the best ocean racing paddlers from around the globe to battle it out on open water for world honours.
Grace Richardson has been named in the Junior Women SS1, while Julia Padrutt will race U23 Women SS1. Both will face the world's best in their age grades.
Rebecca Cole has been selected across two categories, Open Women SS1 and Open Mixed SS2. Gene Prato joins her in the mixed division, lining up in Open Men SS1 and Open Mixed SS2 as well.
Rounding out the team is Ron Cole, competing in the Masters (60+) Men SS1 category. His pairing with daughter Rebecca adds a nice thread to New Zealand's campaign.
The world championships also double as a celebration of ocean ski paddling for all comers, since it is an open event that any paddler can enter alongside the sport's elite.
Good luck to all five athletes as they take on the world's biggest stage in ocean ski paddling.
