Ivanhoe Canoe Slalom Success
It has been a big month for kayakers and paddlers from Ivanhoe Grammar School.
Kayaking Family Camp
One month ago, the annual Ivanhoe Grammar School Kayaking Family Camp was held on the Goulburn River at Eildon, where a group of new paddlers were introduced to the excitement of slalom kayaking in whitewater. All participants rose to the challenge, pushing themselves, learning from expert coaches, developing new skills and enjoying time on the river in both club kayaks and inflatable rafts.
Australian Selection
Exciting news is that two paddlers were selected in the Australian Junior (Under 18) team: Luca and Alex R, with Alex X selected for the National Development Squad. A fantastic outcome for the paddlers, their coaches and the School’s program.
Success at Penrith Whitewater Stadium
Ivanhoe Grammar School’s more experienced paddlers took part in three major canoe slalom events at Penrith Whitewater Stadium: the All States Training Camp, the All Ages National Championships and the National Championships. The All States Camp brought together U18 athletes from across Australia to train with a variety of coaches and foster relationships. Following the camp, paddlers competed in the All Ages National Championships and the National Schools Paddling Championship. The week concluded with the National Championships, where juniors and seniors compete together in a highly competitive open field, including Olympians.
Ivanhoe Grammar School enjoyed outstanding success, winning the Schools Championship again and reinforcing its reputation as one of Australia’s leading canoe slalom programs. The team achieved numerous podium finishes across both kayak (K1) and canoe (C1) events, demonstrating impressive depth and consistency across year levels.
We spoke with Zack and Luca,
At the All-Ages National Championships, Zack competed in the Under 18 C1 event, finishing third. Reflecting on his result, Zack said, While it was rewarding to achieve a podium finish, I was aiming for a higher placing, which gives me a clear focus moving forward.
At the National Championships, Zack competed in K1 (double blade), C1 (single blade), and the K1 team event. The team event involves three paddlers navigating the course together, aiming to stay coordinated and minimise penalties, he explained. It adds a strong teamwork element to what is otherwise an individual sport. Zack, now in Year 12, has been paddling since Year 7 and over the past three years, has significantly increased his commitment to training and competition.
Luca spoke about how the week was valuable and varied. Paddling since Year 7, Kayak Slalom Co-Captain Luca has attended these events regularly and highlighted their role in both development and high-level competition. This year, he competed in K1, Kayak Cross and Teams, choosing to focus on K1 to maximise his contribution to the school team.
Luca noted the tight margins in K1 racing; where every gate counts and described the National Championships as an opportunity to test himself against Australia’s best, including Olympians such as Jessica Fox, Noemie Fox, Tim Anderson and Tristan Carter. He also highlighted the excitement of Kayak Cross, where four competitors race head-to-head and described Teams racing as Formula 1 on water due to the speed, coordination and precision required.
Luca emphasised Ivanhoe’s strong legacy in the sport, with many national-level paddlers emerging from the program. He encouraged students to give paddling a try, highlighting both the competitive opportunities and the strong sense of community.
Students interested in trying kayaking as a school sport are encouraged to contact our program lead and multi-Olympian, Warwick Draper sport@ivanhoe.com.au or speak with one of the current paddlers.
2026 Age National Championships
Luca T U18: K1 3rd
Alex R U18: C1 2nd
Zack K U18: C1 3rd
Louis K U16: K1 2nd, C1 3rd
Daniel E U16: K1 3rd
Alex X U14: K1 1st, C1 1st
Nick H U14: K1 2nd
Photos courtesy of Graham Fraser Photography and JGR Images.
