ICF SUP and Super Cup events moved to Oklahoma

Source: ICF

The International Canoe Federation (ICF) has announced that the 2022 Canoe Sprint Super Cup and the 2022 ICF Stand Up Paddling World Cup will be relocated to Oklahoma City, OK, USA. 

This follows the reallocation from Russian events following the Russian invasion and war in Ukraine. The events will take place in August and final dates will be confirmed and announced in April. 

“The ICF and paddlesports family are fortunate and immensely grateful to our friends at the ACA and RIVERSPORT in Oklahoma City, USA, who offered to organize a high-level competition on short notice in these difficul times for the sports in the wake of the war in Ukraine,” -ICF President, Thomas Konietzko

The right infrastructures and community support

RIVERSPORT has already hosted the 2021 ICF Super Cup event, meaning they are ready in terms of infrastructure and community support. Also, the experience from last year has eased everyone’s minds as the canoe federation is happy to return to the venue. 

According to Mr. Konietzko, the ICF reached out last week to the American Canoe Association (ACA) to look into the possibility of moving both events to Oklahoma City. The USA agreed on the request, and according to Rok Sribar, ACA General Manager High-Performance Programs, they were already exploring options to help Ukrainian athletes: 

“Reallocation of events from Russia to the USA is equally a challenge and an opportunity, and we look forward to welcoming our Ukrainian friends and other international athletes in Oklahoma City this summer.”

Exciting opportunity

“When we were approached about stepping up to host the displaced events, it was a resounding yes from everyone involved.” -RIVERSPORT Foundation Board Chairman Michael Ming. 

According to Mr. Ming, from the governor of the State of Oklahoma to the mayor of Oklahoma City, board members are excited about hosting the ICF SUP and Super Cup events. Last year, after the Olympic Games in Tokyo, athletes travelled to Oklahoma for the Canoe Sprint Super Cup event, the first time for the event on the Oklahoma River. 

“The Oklahoma River is the only sanctioned racecourse in the world to have permanent lighting for night racing,” -RIVERSPORT Executive Director, Mike Knopp. 

This makes the racing experience unique and adds another level of excitement. Previous ICF Canoe Sprint Super Cups events have been held in Barnaul, Linyi and Oklahoma City. Here, top canoe sprint paddlers race in sprint and distance racing. 

Now the organising members will work out on the exact date, but they expect it to be sometime in late August.