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Following two editions held in Palma de Mallorca, the event now arrives at Islands Brygge, one of Copenhagen’s most recognisable waterfront locations, for a full day combining high-level sprint kayaking, entertainment and a summer festival atmosphere.

Paddle Games is an independent initiative developed by a group of people from within the canoeing community who share a strong passion for the sport and the ambition to create something different. The project explores new competition formats, brings racing closer to the public and creates opportunities for paddlers of different levels to compete alongside some of the biggest names in the sport.

Paddle Europe has been closely following the development of the initiative and was present at the second Paddle Games edition in Palma de Mallorca at the end of 2025. That visit provided an opportunity to experience the concept, meet the people behind the project and better understand its potential to complement the traditional canoe sprint competition calendar.

The Copenhagen edition represents another important step in the development of Paddle Games, taking the concept to a new country and placing sprint kayaking in the heart of the Danish capital.

Seven Olympians on the start line

The first Copenhagen edition will welcome seven Olympians, led by Germany’s three-time Olympic champion Tom Liebscher-Lucz.

He will be joined by Danish Olympians Victor Gairy Aasmul and Morten Graversen, Germany’s Lena Röhlings, and Danish athletes Sara Corfixen Milthers, Bolette Nyvang Iversen and Frederikke Hauge Mørcke.

The strong international field will provide spectators with the opportunity to watch some of Europe’s leading paddlers competing in a very different environment from a traditional international championship.

The event will run from 11:00 to 18:00 local time, with racing taking place just metres from the public at Islands Brygge. Music and entertainment will accompany the competition throughout the day, helping to create a more informal and accessible experience for athletes and spectators.

A competition where every second matters

Kayak Sprint Copenhagen uses a hybrid competition format combining time trials with direct head-to-head knockout racing.

The event begins with a Seeding Round Time Trial. Each athlete races alongside one opponent, but the result is determined exclusively by the recorded time.

All competitors are then ranked from fastest to slowest, with those results establishing the initial seeds for the knockout stage.

The competition subsequently moves into direct elimination racing, where athletes must beat their opponent to progress to the next round.

One of the most distinctive elements of the format is the re-seeding system. At specific stages of the competition, the remaining athletes are ranked again according to the times recorded in their winning races.

This means that athletes cannot focus only on finishing ahead of the competitor in the neighbouring lane. They must also aim to produce the fastest possible time, as their performance may determine their position and opponent in the following round.

The format therefore rewards speed, consistency and the ability to perform under pressure. It also reduces the potential impact of an unfavourable initial draw, ensuring that performance remains central throughout the competition.

After the re-seeding process, the event continues through the knockout rounds, quarterfinals, semifinals, bronze medal races and finals.

Every race matters, but every second matters as well.

Sprint kayaking in the heart of Copenhagen

The waterfront setting at Islands Brygge is a central part of the event’s identity.

Racing will take place directly beside one of Copenhagen’s most popular public areas, allowing spectators to follow the action from close range.

A Red Bull DJ will provide music throughout the day, while the surrounding waterfront will create a festival atmosphere combining elite sport, entertainment and community.

Athletes will be able to return to shore immediately after their races and interact with fellow competitors, organisers and spectators. This close connection between the competition and the public is one of the main characteristics of the Paddle Games concept.

The organisers’ ambition is to present another side of sprint kayaking: short and intense races, direct competition, iconic locations and an environment in which elite athletes and paddlers from different backgrounds can share the same event.

Following the two editions in Palma de Mallorca, Copenhagen becomes the latest city to embrace this alternative approach to sprint kayaking.

Paddle Europe will continue to follow the development of Paddle Games and other initiatives that explore new ways of promoting paddlesport, engaging new audiences and creating different competitive experiences for athletes.