Two local women recently qualified to represent the U.S. national team to race “High-Kneel Canoes” in the Olympic Hopes Regatta in Szeged, Hungary.

Otherwise known as “sprint” canoes, it is a sport teenage teammates Kenley Edwards of Crown Point, and Malia Terry-Voisard of Bay Park, have adopted and made their own.

Both young women paddle with the local San Diego Canoe and Kayak team out of Fiesta Island. The team trains and races in Olympic sprint style, a niche sport in the United States, but one that is big in other parts of the world, mostly notably Eastern Europe.

A Sprint Canoe is 18 feet long weighing about 25 pounds. A single-bladed paddle is used (on one side for the entirety). Paddlers kneel on one knee on a padded block and have a foot brace to secure their position. There is no rudder, so paddlers have to use subtle stroke changes to keep the canoe traveling straight. Races are done in one-person, two-person, or four-person canoes in straight distances of 200-, 500-, 1,000- and 5,000 meters.

Both Edwards and Terry-Voisard talked about qualifying to compete overseas in junior (under 17) sprint canoe racing and what the sport means to them.

“To me, the importance is just the fact I can go out on the water and get in my zone,” said Edwards. “Since it’s such a small sport, we don’t get new people trying it out every day. Canoeing at first is very difficult. I can’t even count how many times I fell out. That’s what I love about canoeing – the people who do it now show commitment and courage. That’s why more people should try the sport.”

Added Edwards: “It has shown me a whole other side of water and how calming it is. The Olympic Hopes Regatta will probably be one of the most memorable experiences ever. The whole idea of racing internationally is just a big dream of mine. I’m so glad I get to act on these dreams.”

“Being part of the American Canoe Association has truly impacted my life in such a positive way,” said Terry-Voisard. “Being a female sprint canoer in the United States is probably one of the most unique experiences you can have. Now I’m going to my first international competition in Hungary. What I’m most excited about for OHR is getting the chance to meet so many new people around the world. Canoeing has opened so many doors that will allow me to make memories that I’ll remember forever.”

Alisa Edwards, Kenley’s mom, said both young women started paddling during COVID. “They’ve worked hard to master the sport, which is very niche in the United States – very few athletes do it,” she said, noting sprint canoe racing is difficult, paddling while kneeling and only from one side.

“In Hungary at this regatta, they will be competing with women from all over the United States,” she added.

Alisa Edwards pointed out that gold, silver, and bronze medals will be at stake in Hungary. “All these new experiences they would use at the Olympics in international competition,” she pointed out adding both girls “trained and prepared for this their whole summer at Mission Bay, at least five days a week. They also went to Canada this summer for two weeks to train. This is certainly a good introduction to the sport, being asked to join the U.S. National team at this age group.”

HIGH-KNEEL SPRINT CANOE

– Canoeing was a demonstration sport at the 1924 Olympics and has been a medal sport since the 1936 games in Berlin.

– Women’s canoe debuted internationally in 2010 and wasn’t introduced to the Olympics until the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo

– The sport is typically dominated by Eastern Europeans and Canadians who begin training in the discipline at a young age. Here in the United States, there are only about 16 teams across the country that train sprint canoe and sprint kayak.

– The international governing board is the “ICF,” or International Canoe Federation.

– A senior American paddler out of the Pacific Northwest, Nevin Harrison, who now resides in San Diego, won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics in sprint canoe. She was the first American of either gender to medal in the sport in 33 years.

OLYMPIC HOPES REGATTA

– The race that San Diego athletes Kenley Edwards and Malia Terry-Voisard will be competing from Sept. 19-22 is the largest international event in sprint canoe and sprint kayak, being held in Szeged, Hungary this year. It is considered a “Continental Cup,” meaning rather than competing individually, athletes will represent their country as a team, just like in the Olympics.

– Athletes had to qualify for the U.S. National Development Team to represent America in the event. Only a few spots for each race distance and boat type were awarded based on top results at this year’s Ted Houk Regatta, held in Seattle.

– Olympic Hopes Regatta is a key development competition for junior (under 17) racing. Local athletes are racing in the U16 (Edwards) and U15 (Terry-Voisard) divisions. The event is regarded as the first step for future champions on the road to the Olympics and Junior Worlds, and for many, their first exposure to international racing.