Marathon Paddling Academy Makes Waves at the 2025 ICF Ocean Racing World Championships
The 2025 ICF Ocean Racing World Championships made a spectacular splash this year in Durban, South Africa, drawing over 500 paddlers from across the globe. With world-class athletes converging on the South-African coastline, the event showcased the very best of ocean racing skill, endurance, and spirit.
Representing the Marathon Paddling Academy (MPA), Brett Greenwood decided to take on the ultimate challenge—pitting himself against the world’s elite ocean racers. Brett was joined by Steven Coulter, a seasoned ocean paddler, who had trained with MPA during an intensive camp on the Gold Coast earlier this year.
For Brett, the competition was a bold step out of his comfort zone. Having spent most of his training time on flatwater, adapting to the unpredictable ocean conditions of Durban was no small feat. Despite that, he rose to the challenge with determination and grit, finishing within the top 20 of his age group—a remarkable achievement in such a competitive international field.
Meanwhile, Steven Coulter delivered an outstanding performance, showcasing both power and precision in the challenging ocean swells. His dedication and experience shone through as he secured an impressive 5th place overall in his age group, marking one of the standout results for the Australian contingent.
The results in Durban also highlighted one of the defining strengths of the Marathon Paddling Academy—the versatility of its athletes. MPA paddlers are known not only for their speed and stamina on flatwater marathon courses but also for their adaptability across different disciplines.
Whether it’s transitioning from marathon and ultra-marathon to sprint racing, from calm conditions to open-ocean swell, MPA’s training philosophy builds paddlers who can perform at a high level in any environment.
