Sprint canoe & kayak paddling in San Diego
2025 Paddle Academy Session 1 (January-March) registration NOW OPEN!
Our Mission:
To develop young athletes in the Olympic sports of sprint kayaking and canoeing, and all other paddle sports. We strive for all paddlers of all ages and skill to be connected with adesire to pursue a lifelong passion of being on the water with a paddle.
Our vision is to be an internationally recognized canoe, kayak and paddle sports team that offers several training locations in San Diego County with coaches and athletes working together to develop a passion to paddle fast and become champions on the water as well as off the water.
Never seen a Sprint Canoe?
Here’s a look at what the best in the world can do.
And here are the Kayaks too!
San Diego Canoe/Kayak Team was founded in 1997 by Chris Barlow, Olympic Sprint Kayaker (Barcelona 1992), and fueled by his love of paddle sport. Chris was soon joined by Olympic Sprint Canoeist, Coach Joseph (Atlanta 1996).
Both Coach Chris and Joseph wanted to share their skills and discipline to develop a new generation of Olympic level athletes. Our team is located at the Youth Aquatic Center on Fiesta Island in beautiful Mission Bay Park in San Diego, California.
SDCKT offers a safe, enriching, competitive environment that encourages a life-long relationship with paddle sport. Our craft inventory includes Olympic sprint canoes and kayaks (including team doubles and fours), surf and spec skis, and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs). We also offer a well-equipped on-site gym for land training.
SDCKT is listed among the best kayak clubs in the US by DIVEIN! Click the image to check out the article.
Click the image to hear Coach Barlow talk about SDCKT on The Best of California show!
Ready to give paddling a try?
We primarily train athletes aged 8-21, but our program also embraces para, collegiate, and master/senior athletes. Our racing teams compete at both National and International competitions. Our experienced coaches are trained and certified by the International Canoe Federation (ICF) and have prepared our young athletes to succeed at World Championships and Olympic/Paralympic competitions. SDCKT coaches specialize in a range of paddle sports that includes canoe, kayak, surf ski, and stand-up paddleboard (SUP). SDCKT welcomes all athletes with a variety of programs to suit each individual.
“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.”
—Pierre de Coubertin, father of the modern Olympic Games
