17/09/2026
AGE CATEGORIES
With 44 days to go until the 2026 Pete Marlin Surfski Race (and just four days until the shirt deadline!) it is time for doubles combinations to make sure they are up to speed with how the age categories are determined for prizes and SA Champs medals.
This year the Pete Marlin will fall in line with the new age-category criteria set out by Paddle Worldwide and PSA for all Ocean Paddling S2 (doubles) events. This will apply to all boats with two paddlers aged over 35, and will determine age-group prizes and SA Championship medals.
The new(ish) ruling means all over-35 paddlers in the doubles race fall within a combined (total) age group in 10-year increments from age 70 (as detailed below). You can check you and your partner's S2 age category on the nifty PSA Age Category Calculator at www.paddlesportsa.co.za/age-calculator/
It is important to note that:
1) The new age categories do not change the U23, U18 or U16 age categories, where both partners must still be aged 23 or under, 18 or under, or 16 or under respectively;
2) BOTH paddlers need to be age 35 or older for all other age-group prizes;
3) All age-group categories are based on the age of paddlers as at 31st December 2026 (so, not necessarily your age on the day of the race, but it is whatever age you turn in the current year).
S2 Race Categories will be as follows
• Overall / Senior (men and women): This is an open category;
• Mixed: An open category for all mixed boats (no age categories – prizes only, no SA Champs medals);
• U23, U16 & U18 (men and women): Both paddlers within the respective age category & ages as at 31st December;
• Combined age (men and women): 70-79, 80-89, 90-99, 100-109, 110-119, 120-129, 130-139, 140-149, 150-159 and 160+ : The total age of paddlers added together, both paddlers must be 35 or older & ages as at 31st December.
Entries are open on the Paddlesport SA entry portal at https://paddler.paddlesportsa.com/
Paddle Sport Eastern Cape
Euro Steel Sport
Fenn Kayaks
Paddlesport South Africa
Paddlesport Gauteng
Kwazulu Natal Canoe Union
