Singapore Makes History: Recap of Our Inaugural Outrigger Canoe National Championships
- May 14
- 4 min read
On 9 and 10 May 2026, Marina Bay became something it had never been before: a world-class outrigger canoe racing arena. Against the backdrop of the Singapore skyline — with Marina Bay Sands towering above and the iconic floating Apple Store in the frame — over 200 athletes took to the water for the inaugural Singapore Outrigger Canoe National Championships, organised by the Va'a Association Singapore (VAS).
It was two days that the local Va'a community will not forget.
A Weekend of Firsts
The Championships were historic on multiple levels. Spanning 87 races across single-paddler crafts (OC1 and V1), team crews (V6 and V12), Para-Va'a categories, and multi-generational age-group divisions, it was the most comprehensive outrigger canoe competition ever held in Singapore.
It also served as the official national qualifier for the 2026 International Va'a Federation World Sprint Championships — which Singapore will host from 17 to 31 August 2026, making history as the first Asian nation to host the global event.
With the world stage just months away, the weekend was equal parts fierce competition and dress rehearsal.
The World Was Watching — And It Showed Up
This was not just a local affair. Paddlers from Canada, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Malaysia, and New Zealand made the trip to race at Marina Bay, a powerful signal of Singapore's growing standing in the international Va'a community.
Among the international contingent were members of the Mont Dore Shell Va'a team from New Caledonia — one of the most decorated and respected clubs in the global Va'a circuit — who made the journey to compete at Marina Bay. Their presence alone was a statement: when a club of that pedigree travels to your national championships, you know Singapore is on the world's radar.
Also in the field was Leanne Stanley, a 14-time IVF World Sprints medallist and Canadian Hall of Fame athlete.
Also in attendance was Lara Collins, President of the International Va'a Federation (IVF), who flew in from New Zealand to provide technical oversight. Her words spoke volumes:
"Singapore is proving to the global paddling community that it is ready to host the world in August 2026. Hosting a world championship in the heart of a major downtown is a first for our sport and will be truly thrilling. Seeing the growth of the local community first-hand, with Singaporeans aged 16 to 70-plus competing this weekend, is incredibly positive for the future of Va'a in Asia."
From 18 to 71: The Human Stories That Defined the Weekend
If one story captured the soul of the Championships, it was the contrast at opposite ends of the age spectrum.
Oliver Bowhay, 18, a Nanyang Polytechnic student, posted the fastest 500m time of the entire tournament in the ruddered OC1 category — clocking in at an impressive 2:18.5.
At the other end of the podium, Mark Yuen, 71, claimed the Master 70 title and captained the "Dream Team 60/70" — a Masters crew he helped build from scratch just last year. He only picked up the sport in 2024.
"Outrigger canoeing gave me something I didn't expect at 71 — a second wind. When I realised we had a chance to compete at a World Championship on home soil, I knew it was so much more than me. For older Singaporeans who think their sporting days are behind them, this sport proves otherwise. I cannot wait for August — to race at Marina Bay, in front of our own people, on the world's stage." — Mark Yuen, Master 70 Champion
Their stories are a reminder of what makes Va'a different: it is not a sport for a season of your life. It is a sport for life.
A Technical World-First: The Hydra PRO V6
The Championships also made global sporting history in equipment. The event featured the worldwide race debut of the Hydra PRO V6 — a high-performance carbon-fibre six-man outrigger canoe purpose-built for elite sprint racing.
This is the first time an international-standard sprint event has used this advanced canoe model, and it happened right here in Singapore. It is one more sign that Singapore is not just hosting the world's best paddlers — it is helping to shape the future of the sport itself.
Built by the Community, for the Community
Behind the competition, the scorecards, and the international dignitaries lies a quieter truth: the IVF World Sprints — and the Nationals that preceded it — are being built almost entirely by passionate volunteers.
The coaches, race officials, logistics coordinators, and community builders who made this weekend happen do so around their day jobs and family commitments, driven by a shared belief that Singapore deserves its moment on the world's sporting map.
"This is the 'Kampung Spirit' in action. We are not just bringing a world-class event to Asia for the first time — we are building it from the ground up. Our goal is to create a space where people of all abilities in Singapore can experience the water, and to leave behind a legacy that outlasts August." — Mike Matthews, President, Va'a Association Singapore
What Comes Next: August 2026
The Nationals were the warm-up. The main event is coming.
From 17 to 31 August 2026, Singapore will welcome over 3,000 athletes from more than 30 countries to compete at Marina Bay — the largest competitive turnout in the history of outrigger canoeing globally. It will also feature the most Asian nations ever to compete at a single IVF World Sprints, with several countries in the region set to make their debut on the world stage.
Whether you are a paddler, a supporter, or simply someone who wants to witness a piece of Singapore sporting history, mark your calendar.
Find out more: worldsprints2026singapore.com
Stay connected as we count down to August 2026 — follow our social channels for the latest news, race updates, and behind-the-scenes moments:
