Para Va'a
Para About Para Va'a
The IVF offers paddlers with both orthopaedic and neurological impairments, access to World Championship competition in all boats, at all distances, from straight sprint, through turn-races, to open-ocean Distance Championships.
Since 2004 Para paddlers have competed at IVF World Championships; first in Sprint, then, from 2017, in Distance, with developments in equipment, rules and classifications evolving over time. The first competition where paddlers were classified according to their physical impairment, took place at the 2008 World Sprints in Sacramento.
Through Para Va'a the IVF has formed a partnership with the International Canoe Federation (ICF) to increase participation and development, and in 2020, V1 was accepted into the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
The IVF and ICF share a core classification system based on evidence from collaborative research by the Swedish Institute of Sport in Stockholm, the Peter Harrison Centre at Loughborough University and expert members of the ICF Para Committee. The system places paddlers in race-classes that reflect the effect of their physical impairment on their paddling stroke and allows fair competition between paddlers with dissimilar disabilities that result in similar stroke impairment.
From 2025, the IVF will be accepting entries from paddlers with neurological impairments. Research evidence for the relationship between neurological issues and the stroke impairments they impose has yet to become available to enable neurologically impaired paddlers to be classified with the same confidence as those with physical impairments. Parallel test protocols will be developed over time. In the meantime, paddlers with neurological impairments will gain access to racing at the highest level.
Vision impaired paddlers may compete in V6 as VL4s. There is no V1 Distance event for vision impaired paddlers. In V1 Sprint, where there are two or more entries a specific event will be offered. Single entrants will be included in a VL1 event when run. V1 competitors are allowed a guide paddling in their lane behind them to give directions. All vision-impaired paddlers are required to race wearing blinders.
Para Va'a racing includes V1, V6 & V12 events.
We encourage countries to embrace Para Va'a and provide pathways for paddlers of all capacities.
Para Classifications
ICF Master Classification list can be found here: Classification Masterlist Paracanoe - 17 June 2025
This list refers only to athletes with Confirmed or Review status, within race-classes VL1, VL2 or VL3.
Para Va’a Athletes wishing to be classified must have the following forms (see below) completed and returned to [email protected]
Please note: All forms must be complete in English and any translations must be certified. Forms to be completed are:
Further information regarding scheduling and classifying please get in touch with [email protected] or your area-coordinator
Para Va'a at the 2025 IVF Va'a World Distance, Brazil
A Para Classification Information and distance rules document is attached at the bottom of this page
IVF Para Va'a Committee
The IVF offers paddlers with both orthopaedic and neurological impairments, access to World Championship competition in all boats, at all distances, from straight sprint, through turn-races, to open-ocean Distance Championships.
Since 2004 Para paddlers have competed at IVF World Championships; first in Sprint, then, from 2017, in Distance, with developments in equipment, rules and classifications evolving over time. The first competition where paddlers were classified according to their physical impairment, took place at the 2008 World Sprints in Sacramento.
Through Para Va'a the IVF has formed a partnership with the International Canoe Federation (ICF) to increase participation and development, and in 2020, V1 was accepted into the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
The IVF and ICF share a core classification system based on evidence from collaborative research by the Swedish Institute of Sport in Stockholm, the Peter Harrison Centre at Loughborough University and expert members of the ICF Para Committee. The system places paddlers in race-classes that reflect the effect of their physical impairment on their paddling stroke and allows fair competition between paddlers with dissimilar disabilities that result in similar stroke impairment.
From 2025, the IVF will be accepting entries from paddlers with neurological impairments. Research evidence for the relationship between neurological issues and the stroke impairments they impose has yet to become available to enable neurologically impaired paddlers to be classified with the same confidence as those with physical impairments. Parallel test protocols will be developed over time. In the meantime, paddlers with neurological impairments will gain access to racing at the highest level.
Vision impaired paddlers may compete in V6 as VL4s. There is no V1 Distance event for vision impaired paddlers. In V1 Sprint, where there are two or more entries a specific event will be offered. Single entrants will be included in a VL1 event when run. V1 competitors are allowed a guide paddling in their lane behind them to give directions. All vision-impaired paddlers are required to race wearing blinders.
Para Va'a racing includes V1, V6 & V12 events.
We encourage countries to embrace Para Va'a and provide pathways for paddlers of all capacities.
Para Classifications
ICF Master Classification list can be found here: Classification Masterlist Paracanoe - 17 June 2025
This list refers only to athletes with Confirmed or Review status, within race-classes VL1, VL2 or VL3.
Para Va’a Athletes wishing to be classified must have the following forms (see below) completed and returned to [email protected]
Please note: All forms must be complete in English and any translations must be certified. Forms to be completed are:
- IVF Para Va’a Classification Application form
- IVF Para Va’a Paddler Diagnosis form
- IVF Para Va’a Doctors Certificate form
- IVF Para Va’a Information and Consent form
- IVF Para Va’a Medical complications and emergency measures
- IVF Para Va’a Vision form (If applicable)
Further information regarding scheduling and classifying please get in touch with [email protected] or your area-coordinator
Para Va'a at the 2025 IVF Va'a World Distance, Brazil
A Para Classification Information and distance rules document is attached at the bottom of this page
IVF Para Va'a Committee
- John Court (GB Outrigger) Chair, IVF Para Va'a Committee
- Paula Haito Tribaldos (Panama Outrigger) IVF Board Member.
- Julie Gray (International Medical Classifier) Co-opted member.
- Marcus Thompson (Waka Ama New Zealand)
- Cameron Taylor - IVF Exec Member
- Lara Collins – IVF President
Para Va'a Rules and Information 2024
| memo_2025_para_vaa_race_plan_and_rules_.pdf |
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Para Classification Information
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Para Va'a Forms for Athletes
| ivf_para_vaa_classification_application_form.pdf |
| ivf_para_vaa_paddler_diagnosis_form_2018.pdf |
| ivf_para_vaa_doctors_certificate_form_2018.docx |
| ivf_para_vaa_vision_form_2018.pdf |
| ivf_para_vaa__info_and_consent_form_2018.pdf |
| ivf_para_vaa_declaration_of_medical_complications_and_emergency_measures_2018.pdf |
| ivf_para_vaa_process_flow_chart_2018.pdf |
Para Va'a Forms used in Classification
| para_vaa_forms_used_in_classification.zip |