2026 European Extreme Kayak Championships
The 2026 European Extreme Kayak Championships will take place on April 11th and 12th in the southwest of France, between Pau and Laruns, marking the first time the event has ever been held here.
This is a milestone for the whitewater community of the Pyrenees. With athletes expected from about fifteen nations, the event will build on the OKE (Ossau Kayak Extreme), which grew out of the Pyrénées Buddies Race. This annual spring race is held on the Brousset in the upper Ossau Valley, just a few kilometers from the Spanish border, deep in the mountains. The Class IV to V creek, known for its fast water, delivers steep and technical moves in a protected natural setting along the edge of the Pyrenees National Park.
The Pau University Canoe Kayak Club is organizing the event, and the European Championships will run under the authority of the international AWP Kayak Association, the Association of Whitewater Professionals.
Two Days of Racing
The European Championships will unfold over two days and at two venues separated by a few dozen kilometers. Racers will first need to qualify on Saturday on the Gave de Pau, in front of the Pau University Canoe Kayak Club base, the event organizer. They will need to stay composed and fast through the class IV Pont d’Espagne rapid, which will be set with gates.
The finals on Sunday will move to the mountains and the Brousset, near the Artouste ski area.
Around the Event
Alongside the elite competition, public activities will be offered at the Pau and Laruns Artouste sites. These will include live music, kayak or paddleboard introductions, archery, and more. On Saturday April 11th, a recreational race will also be held in parallel with elite qualifications. It is open to paddlers ready to commit to a short class IV section.
To learn more, visit the Event website, Instagram and Facebook pages.
