The International Canoe Federation (ICF) has selected Columbus as the host city for the 2028 Canoe Freestyle World Cup and the 2029 Canoe Freestyle World Championship, marking a major milestone for the city’s thriving whitewater scene.
In a dual announcement on July 30, the Switzerland-based ICF also named Columbus its first-ever “center of excellence,” a designation expected to bring new opportunities for both amateur and elite paddlers.
Columbus: A leader in whitewater sports
Over the past 12 years, Columbus has established itself as a leader in whitewater sports following a multi-million-dollar restoration of the Chattahoochee River. The revitalized stretch of river has since become a destination for year-round kayaking, training, and international competition.
Among those celebrating the announcement is Team USA kayaker and junior world champion Mason Hargrove, a Columbus-area native who has watched the sport grow locally since childhood.
“To see this whitewater course grow from nothing to being the center of whitewater kayaking and whitewater freestyle for North America is absolutely amazing,” said Hargrove.
Hargrove described Columbus’ whitewater scene as both inclusive and unique, noting that it’s where he learned and now teaches others how to kayak.
“The kayaking in Columbus is actually really inclusive,” he said. “It has a really good progression from absolutely beginner to holding international competitions and having the best athletes from all over the world come here just to train.”
Ocean waves on the river
Unlike other venues, freestyle kayaking on the Chattahoochee River runs year-round thanks to scheduled dam releases. Hargrove said that consistency sets Columbus apart.
“Imagine an ocean wave inside of a river… that’s what’s really special,” he explained.
Freestyle kayaking, Hargrove added, is akin to “gymnastics in a kayak,” where athletes have 45 seconds to perform tricks for a panel of judges. The fast-paced sport blends technical precision with bold, high-flying moves.
As Columbus prepares to host the global competitions, Hargrove sees the Center of Excellence designation as a chance to grow the sport in Georgia.
“Being able to go into the high schools and have these kids come out here and learn what kayaking is and fall in love with the sport… is going to be really amazing,” he said. “And to be able to have the World Cup and World Championships back in my hometown, honestly, means a lot.”
For Hargrove, the sport has been life-changing.
“Kayaking has shaped my entire life,” he said. “It’s given me lifelong strength and it’s taught me so many lessons on and off the water.”
The upcoming international events are expected to bring major attention to the Columbus area and reinforce its role as a premier whitewater destination.
