ACA Paddlesports

ACA Paddlesports The American Canoe Association supports paddlers through policy & stewardship efforts, education, competition, and community.
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 🤝  The American Canoe Association is proud to announce a new partnership with Zhik as the Official Apparel Partner of t...
06/03/2026

🤝

The American Canoe Association is proud to announce a new partnership with Zhik as the Official Apparel Partner of the ACA’s USA National Teams.

Under the agreement, Zhik will provide team apparel for the United States Canoe/Kayak National Teams, including Sprint, Slalom, and Paracanoe athletes and coaching staff. The partnership will support athletes competing on the world stage in the lead-up to and during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

The collaboration will also extend beyond apparel. Zhik and the ACA will work directly with athletes and coaches to identify opportunities for technical innovation and performance enhancements in race uniforms and specialized equipment, including items such as spray skirts and other competition gear designed to improve athlete experience and performance.

“Zhik’s reputation for innovation and athlete-focused design makes them an ideal partner for our national teams as we look ahead to LA28,” said Beth Spilman. “This partnership will provide critical support to our athletes while also creating opportunities to advance performance technology.

The ACA is thrilled to have as a partner on the road to LA28! 🎉

Tomorrow, racing begins for the first  Canoe Slalom World Cup of the 2026 season. Please join us in wishing  the USA Can...
05/28/2026

Tomorrow, racing begins for the first Canoe Slalom World Cup of the 2026 season. Please join us in wishing the USA Canoe/Kayak athletes good luck!

Friday: WK1 and MK1
Saturday: WC1 and MC1
Sunday: WX and MX



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We are excited to announce the official sticker of the 2026 ACA Summer Solstice Celebration! We received almost 500 vote...
05/25/2026

We are excited to announce the official sticker of the 2026 ACA Summer Solstice Celebration!

We received almost 500 votes to determine the winning design that will be printed onto dye-cut stickers and distributed to paddling events hosted by ACA members and taking place June 19-21!

If you are planning on padding over those days and would like stickers for you and your group, send us a message!

Congratulations to Jordan Ross and thank you to everyone who shared their art with us!

As we continue to celebrate and participate in National Safe Boating Week, it’s a great time to refresh our safety knowl...
05/22/2026

As we continue to celebrate and participate in National Safe Boating Week, it’s a great time to refresh our safety knowledge and prepare for a safe season on the water. Whether you’re paddling a quiet lake, navigating moving current, or supporting events as a volunteer safety boater, preparation and communication matter.

One of the most overlooked parts of river safety is terminology. In emergency situations, clear and consistent communication can make all the difference. Understanding the language used in rescue situations helps paddlers, instructors, trip leaders, and rescuers work together more effectively and confidently.

To support continued boating safety education, the ACA River Safety & Rescue Terminology: A Quick-Reference Handbook for Speaking the Same Language in Swiftwater Rescue is being offered as a free Kindle download from May 23-27. This quick-reference guide is designed to help paddlers build familiarity with common rescue terms, concepts, and communication practices used in river environments.

Safe boating starts long before launching your boat: with preparation, education, and a commitment to looking out for one another on the water. Wear your life jacket, know your limits, check conditions before you paddle, and continue building your safety knowledge all season long.

Download for free May 23-27 from the link below!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2KXHPLJ

This may, we are proud to recognize Brian Davis as ACA Instructor of the Month for his dedication to building a communit...
05/20/2026

This may, we are proud to recognize Brian Davis as ACA Instructor of the Month for his dedication to building a community of safe boaters in his hometown of Saluda, North Carolina.

Holding ACA certifications in Whitewater Kayaking and Swiftwater Rescue, Brian believes that instruction is more than technique. For him, it is about preparing students to feel capable in dynamic environments.

Learn more about how, for Brian, paddling has become a lifestyle rooted in service, safety, and helping others discover what they’re capable of on the water in the full article linked below!

https://americancanoe.org/instructor-of-the-month-brian-davis/

The designs are in now we need you to help us select the official 2026 ACA Summer Solstice Celebration!Selected by popul...
05/15/2026

The designs are in now we need you to help us select the official 2026 ACA Summer Solstice Celebration!

Selected by popular vote, the winning design will be printed onto die-cut stickers and distributed to paddling events taking place during the ACA Summer Solstice Celebration, June 19-21!

Thank you to each of the ACA members who contributed a design!

Click the link below to vote!
https://forms.gle/njU7PEQvfKnZA6gp7

05/15/2026

Happy Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day from the ACA!

We hope you will join us in this awareness campaign by wearing your life jacket at work or by taking advantage of the holiday to play hooky and go paddle (while wearing your life jacket of course)!

Just remember, your life jacket will float with or without out you. ACA Education, Insurance, and Membership Director and L4 Whitewater Kayaking Instructor Kelsey Bracewell recorded this video to help you make sure that if you do swim, your life jacket will remain snugly in place.

P.S. if you are in Oregon, you can find a family friendly Fit to Float event near you and get in person feedback on how you wear your life jacket! Send us a message to learn more.


Racing began today for the second ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup and the first Paracanoe World Cup of the season!Join us in ...
05/14/2026

Racing began today for the second ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup and the first Paracanoe World Cup of the season!

Join us in wishing the USA Canoe/Kayak Team good luck in Brandenburg!

This May 20-23, 9 USA Wildwater athletes will compete in the 2026 ICF Wildeater World Championships in Banja Luka, Bosni...
05/14/2026

This May 20-23, 9 USA Wildwater athletes will compete in the 2026 ICF Wildeater World Championships in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Please join us in congratulating and wishing the USA Wildwater World Championships Team good luck!



National Safe Boating Week starts this Saturday and ACA instructors are stepping up to help new paddlers build skills an...
05/12/2026

National Safe Boating Week starts this Saturday and ACA instructors are stepping up to help new paddlers build skills and confidence on the water.

For the fifth year, ACA Regional Activity Council leaders are partnering with state agencies, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, local municipalities, retailers, outfitters, paddling clubs, and volunteers to offer low-cost beginner kayaking courses across the United States.

On May 16, ACA instructors will lead 40 simultaneous Kayaking 101 courses across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Why does this matter?
According to U.S. Coast Guard data, 76% of boating fatalities are due to drowning, and 87% of those victims were not wearing a life jacket. Research also shows that paddlers with fewer than 100 hours of experience are the most at risk.

These courses help new paddlers learn the fundamentals: how to wear and fit a life jacket, basic paddling skills, safe decision making, and how to enjoy the water responsibly.

And don’t forget — this Friday is Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day!

Address

PO BOx 7996
Fredericksburg, VA
22404

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5am
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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