Paracanoe Racing

Paracanoe is flatwater canoe racing over a 200m course. International competitions take place at European, World and Paralympic level. Ireland has had incredible international success in Paracanoe with Patrick O’Leary who is a two-time Paralympian (2016 & 2020) in canoe. On top of this Patrick is the 2021 European Champion in the VL3 category. We are always searching for the next Para-Athletes in canoeing, with Paracanoe being an extremely accessible way to pursue competition with a range of abilities. Get in touch with us to start your journey.

The two disciplines available in Paracanoe are:

ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENT TYPES

CLASSIFICATIONS

There are 3 classifications within both Kayak and Va’a. KL1, KL2 & KL3 for Kayak and VL1, VL2 & VL3 for Va’a. See the diagram below to understand which category your ability would fit into.

INELIGIBLE PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS

  • Leg Length Difference
  • Short Stature
  • Hypertonia
  • Ataxia
  • Athetosis

MORE INFORMATION

There are plenty more ways to get involved in paddle sports, both competitively and recreationally. Check out the Paddle Able programme for some inspirational stories of individuals with a wide range of abilities engaging in paddle sports. For any more information on how to get involved in paddle sports get in touch with us below –

Emer Carton
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager
emer@canoe.ie

Emily Rice
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Officer
emily@canoe.ie

MORE RESOURCES

Available here is a PDF version of this web page with great information for anyone looking to being their journey as a Paracanoe athlete. Share it with anyone in your club or community who may be looking for more information on Paracanoe in Ireland –

Paracanoe Information