Under a clear sky and with the sound of water (and a few whoops of joy) echoing off the banks, Paddlefest 2025 unfolded into something that felt less like a competition and more like a celebration. A bit chaotic, incredibly fun, and—somehow—still well-organised.

Thanks to the support of Palm Equipment, NRS, Level Six, and Pyranha, CIWW once again brought paddlers of all stripes together. From seasoned pros to nervous first-timers, the river had room for everyone.

Shining a Light on Young Paddlers

One of the best parts of the day? Watching some seriously impressive young paddlers tear it up on the water. It’s hard not to feel inspired—or a little bit in awe—by the next generation of talent coming out of South Wales.

Take Eva Camilleri, for example. She was absolutely on fire:

• 🥇 1st in Downriver Freestyle
• 🥈 2nd in Freestyle
• 🥉 3rd in Boater X

Then there’s Riley Wilford, who teamed up with David Mitchell for two of his events and still managed to pull out:

• 4th in the Ducky Derby
• 3rd in the Extreme Ducky Derby
• And 1st, yes, first, in Boater X

And Rowan Cysewski Light earned himself a special prize for his shredding in the Downriver Freestyle. The kind of run that makes you stop mid-sentence and just watch.

Meanwhile, Ben Higson, Math Cradock, and Libby Young were all dialling in their freestyle moves. There’s a buzz building around them ahead of the Freestyle World Championships—and after Sunday, it’s easy to see why.

A Proper Festival Atmosphere

The sunshine didn’t hurt, let’s be honest. Nor did the live DJ, whose playlist gave the whole event a proper “festival” feel. You could hear the music almost as clearly as you could hear the water slapping against hulls. From the Ducky Derby to Freestyle runs to the ever-competitive Boater X, there was something happening every time you looked around. And it wasn’t all about the winning—though there was plenty of that—it was about turning up, giving it a go, and sharing the river.

It’s About More Than Just the Paddling

You can’t really sum up Paddlefest with just the results. It was the moments in between—when experienced paddlers paused to coach someone younger, or when a nervous newcomer hit a line clean for the first time—that really made the day what it was.

There’s something pretty special about watching people who’ve been in the sport for years take the time to help others feel at home in it. That mix of experience and curiosity is what makes the paddling community, well… a community.

Until Next Time…

As things wound down and boats were loaded up, there was a lingering sense of energy—like nobody was quite ready to leave. And maybe that’s the point. Paddlefest 2025 wasn’t just about competition. It was a reminder of why we do this in the first place.

Riley probably said it best:

“Spending the day at Paddlefest was amazing. I got to kayak all day with people I look up to and help beginners discover the joy of paddling. It's not just about the sport; it's about sharing the adventure and making new friends along the way.”

Here’s to more days like this one.