The countdown is on to the 2025 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in Durban, the home of surfski racing. Between Friday and Sunday, hundreds of the best paddlers in the world will brave daunting waves (and possible shark sightings) to test their mettle in the most competitive race of the year.

Virtually all the top names are racing. Clearly, Durban in October was too good to pass up: some of the best downwinding conditions in the world, opportunities to race the famous Fish River Canoe Marathon or Pete Marlin (or both), wine tasting and safaris… Plus it’s the home of surfski racing where the first surfski race ever was held in 1957. It’s easy to see why more than 500 paddlers are signed up.

2024’s reigning world champions, Kira Bester and Gordan Harbrecht, are both back to defend their titles. But with even more competition in Durban than Madeira, will they be able to successfully defend their titles? Or will we have new world champions?

Kira chose her words carefully when she joined Billy and Betsy on Paddlecast. She didn’t want to overstate her chances, especially knowing how technical the racing may be: along the Durban coastline, racers will have to contend with not just the wind but also serious ocean swell and strong currents. These more complex conditions could make the race results less predictable: “Because of the course being so driven by different factors, and all of those different factors being such potent components in whether you’re going to go fast or not, I would say that it’s pretty open. I think a European could even take it, honestly.”

A repeat world title is tricky, and back-to-back is even harder. Jemma Smith (AUS) pulled it off in Perth in 2023 (following Viana do Castelo, Portugal in 2022), and Cory Hill (AUS) in Hong Kong in 2017 (following Tahiti in 2015, back when the event was every two years). Cory returned successfully in 2023 for a third overall title, but lost to Gordan Harbrecht (GER) last year when Gordan became the first European to take a world surfski title. So two in a row is a real possibility for both Kira and Gordan, but it’s going to be tough.

In the women’s race, Kira’s two biggest competitors are likely to be previous world champions Danielle Richards (nee McKenzie) and Michelle Burn.

The case for Danielle

Hailing from New Zealand, Danielle skipped last year’s world champs, perhaps in part because she had taken some time away from the ski to learn flatwater sprint kayaking. Danielle comes from a surf lifesaving and ocean ski background, but was able to pick up sprint kayaking in a matter of months to a skill level that allowed her and world record holder Aimee Fisher to qualify an extra K2 spot for New Zealand in the Paris Olympics. Although Danielle didn’t ultimately race at the Olympics, her journey into sprint racing shows just how impressive of an athlete she is.

And as to whether she’s on form this season? Just a few months ago, she won the Molokai, crossing in 3 hours 35 minutes, over 13 minutes faster than the previous record. More recently, at the start of October, she cruised to a clear win at the Windy City Downwind, the 2025 NZ Ocean Ski National Championships. She had the 4th fastest time overall, with only 3 men ahead of her.

Kira describes Danielle (widely known as DMac) as “a weapon”, saying “I don’t think you can ever underestimate DMac”. She’s looked up to Danielle since she was little, and looks forward to racing her head-to-head.

The case for Michelle

At the 2024 world champs in Madeira, Kira managed to beat Michelle by 22 seconds – close enough to show that nothing is guaranteed in Durban. And Michelle has one big advantage this year: Durban is her home water. The coast where these top paddlers will soon face off for world titles is where Michelle learned to downwind. She’s been on the podium every time she’s raced at surfski worlds (6 times), and with the bonus of local knowledge in complex conditions, it could very well be her year to win.

The case for Kira

Kira has been training hard, and although she doesn’t want to overstate her abilities, she’s certainly hoping to win. The untimely passing in July of her coach, Peter Cole, brought both pain and motivation. Pete was known for always being on the water, demanding consistency, and training with his athletes rain or shine. In his absence, the athletes on the ORKA Squad have turned to each other. 

Kira has also turned to her training as a coping mechanism: “I’ve been kind of numbing my feelings, in a very bad way, with my training… It’s made me, to a degree, feel a lot closer to him.” She and other ORKA Squad members have shared the hashtag #bestever in memory and honour of their coach, and to demonstrate their commitment to performing well on the water for Pete.

Kira hasn’t raced much since a burst of big races a few months ago, but going off her results from those events, she’s in top form. By the end of May, Kira had won the South African Surfski Nationals (singles), the Freedom Paddle (doubles), and Eurochallenge (singles). She even dabbled in sprint, winning the K2 500m with Jade at SA Nationals. So if it does come down to a sprint between Kira and Danielle, they’ve both had plenty of time training their fast-twitch muscles.

An outside chance

The young South Africans Jade Wilson, Georgia Singe, and Saskia Hockly have all had outstanding moments this season both in surfski and in marathon kayak. And Melanie van Niekirk consistently performs close to Kira’s level as well. They may be a small step behind the top 3 contenders for Durban, but don’t count out any of this group. As Kira said on Paddlecast, you never know what could happen during the race – it may sound unlikely, but she has broken a boat on a breaching whale!

It’s hard to see a path to victory for a European in the women’s race, but the top contenders are probably Judit Verges of Spain, Thais Delrieux of France, and Rosie Edwards from the UK. Verges finished in 6th place overall in Madeira, and 3rd overall in mixed doubles with her compatriot, the marathon legend Walter Bouzan. Thais and Rosie have been stepping up this season with notable results including 3rd place at Eurochallenge for Thais (behind Kira and Jade) and a win at Cape Point Challenge for Rosie. The Brit has also been spending a good chunk of time training in South Africa recently, which no doubt has furthered her development as a paddler. How long will it be until a European wins the women’s surfski title though? It may not be this year, but perhaps it’s not too far off.

The men’s race

On the men’s side, the level of competition includes even more former world champions, and the margins could be close. Top contenders include Gordan Harbrecht (GER), Cory Hill (AUS), Hank McGregor (RSA), Matt Fenn (RSA), Kenny Rice (RSA), Nicky Notten (RSA), and to widen the field: Bernardo Pereira (POR), Hector Henot (FRA), Pierre Vilella (FRA), Mark Keeling (RSA), Uli Hart (RSA)…

The top 3 who stand out, though, are probably the podium from last year: Gordan (“Flash Gordan”), Cory, and Hank.

Coming from a flatwater background, last year’s smaller conditions in Madeira may have favoured Flash Gordan in taking his historic win. But according to his social media, he’s been spending plenty of time in big waves lately and putting down some speedy splits. And like virtually all of the top contenders, he’s spent at least a few days testing the waters in Durban. He won by nearly 1 minute last year ahead of Cory, and stands a good chance at taking another title.

Cory may have finished second last year, but he has more wins in this event than anyone else. The Australian was World Champion in 2015, 2017, and 2023. Not to mention the four times he’s won the Molokai, the “unofficial” world championship of surfski racing that long predates the ICF’s venture into Canoe Ocean Racing. Although Cory had an unexpected medical event a few weeks ago, he’s been back on the water and there’s no indication he’s anything other than ready to race.

Hank McGregor, a familiar name to anyone who follows marathon canoe and downriver racing, is probably looking at this year as his best chance to win that surfski world title. It’s one of very few titles missing from his very impressive racing resume. Durban is home water for Hank, and he just recently posted a 1km split of 2 minutes 47 seconds on the DUC to Totti (Amanzimtoti) course with Downwind Drag Race. That split gave him the fastest recorded 1km anywhere in the world on a ski so far this year (at least for those submitted to Downwind Drag Race). Could his local knowledge give him enough of an edge to out-paddle four former world champions?

Two of those former world champions, Kenny Rice (2022) and Nick Notten (2021) could easily be added to the shortlist of top contenders for the podium or even the win this year despite missing out on the podium in Madeira. Both are part of the ORKA Squad coached by Pete Cole, giving them similar added motivation as what Kira described. And Notten raced exceptionally well at the recent Marathon Canoe World Championships in Győr Hungary. Word on the water is that some insiders think Notten could take the win…

The doubles race

The schedule for the weekend has just been announced on Wednesday afternoon, and it could affect the SS2 race the most. The doubles (SS2) race will be held on Saturday morning, on Course B (DUC to Amanzimtoti), and the singles (SS1) race on Sunday morning, on Course A (DUC to Westbrook). The level of competition in the doubles race has been looking exceptionally high, largely because it’s absolutely stacked with top end South Africans, but the order of having the doubles first could slightly dampen that fire. Racers will have to decide if they want to race SS2 the day before their singles event. Speaking to Paddlecast, Kira said her plan was to prioritise her singles race and only race doubles if it was scheduled after the singles.

There should still be some strong doubles racing on Saturday, and the South African pair of Georgia Singe / Uli Hart are signed up to defend their 2024 title, but that entry list could still change with last minute scratches from racers deciding to save their energy for Sunday. While a slightly less competitive field would be disappointing, it could open things up for Europeans to end up on the podium again which worked out well for a few crews last year. Judit Verges / Walter Bouzan from Spain will be podium favourites, and the new French crew of Pierre Vilella / Thais Delrieux could be very speedy.

The full preview

Listen to the latest episode of Paddlecast for the full event preview and analysis, as well as the full conversation with reigning world champion Kira Bester who talks all about the event, the courses and conditions, how her coach’s untimely passing has affected her, what she thinks about the competition, and where she’s racing next…

Thanks to Carbonology UK for sponsoring this episode! Carbonology is one of the world’s leading surfski brands, and notably it’s the brand of choice for reigning world champion Kira Bester, who won her title last year racing the Carbonology Flash X LV (Low Volume) ski. Carbonology produces a great variety of options, not just for World Champions and elite paddlers, but also for beginner and intermediate paddlers and even for kids. Head over to carbonologysport.co.uk to check out their skis and other equipment from paddles and PFDs to funky pants. Contact AlanHunter@carbonologysport.co.uk to learn more.