The PNWORCA / CORA 2026 Small-Boat Racing Winter Series Championship event lived up to expectations as there were over 120 participants, the courses were challenging, the weather was beautiful, the awards / prizes were exceptional, and the after-race buffet meal was phenomenal as usual.
The PNWORCA Race Committee no longer tracks Small-Boat Racing Winter Series points and the Small-Boat Racing Winter Series Championship event host no longer recognizes Division Top 3 Finishers. However, the CORA Race Committee continues to track Small-Boat Racing Winter Series points so as to recognize Canadians who are among the Top 3 Finishers overall in their Boat / Gender / Age Division and to continue the tradition of the Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy.
- Marnie Conklin (1st V1 Women), Robbie Magus (1st V1 Men), Graeme Galves (1st V1 Men)
- Doug Thomas (2nd OC1 Men)
- Dana Britton (3rd OC1 Women)
By virtue of having a 1st Place in five races, the PNWORCA / CORA 2026 Small-Boat Racing Winter Series winner of the Peter Forand Masters Challenge is Kevin Cowan (Kai Ikaika) in the Men Masters 60+ OC1 Division. The 2026 PNWORCA Winter Series event organizers recognize Kevin Cowan as the Peter Forand Masters Challenge winner in accordance with guidelines as the Male or Female Masters (40+ / 50+ / 60+ / 70+) paddler with the highest number of points across all age / gender brackets at the end of the Winter Series. Dana Britton, Harrison OC1 Masters 50+ paddler, graciously presented the Trophy to Kevin Cowan, in the 10th and possibly Final year of the Peter Forand Masters Challenge.
Congratulations to Kevin Cowan as he has demonstrated commitment and excellence in Winter Series small-boat racing for several decades. Vast distances permitting, we would like to present this trophy to Kevin Cowan in-person at a PNWORCA event in the near future.
There were 82 paddlers who completed one or more races in the OC1 Masters Division. PNWORCA / CORA wish to recognize these individuals who were top contenders for the Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy: Kevin Cowan (Kai Ikaika) 1st Place, Noah Johnson-Greenough (Kai Ikaika) 2nd Place, Kimberly Pennington (Kai Ikaika) 3rd Place, Minnie Fontenelle (Sand Point) 4th Place, Mulu Tapasa (Kai Ikaika) 5th Place, Dana Britton (Harrison) 6th Place, and Manny De Leon (FreeLance) 7th Place.
2026 had been another exceptional year for the PNWORCA / CORA Small-Boat Racing Winter Series. The Winter weather had been bitterly cold at times, but not a single PNWORCA / CORA Small-Boat Racing Winter Series event was cancelled, resulting in a record-setting 459 entries (65+ entries on average per event), as well as a record-setting 73 V1 (rudderless) entries.
In recognition of steadily increasing V1 (rudderless) participation in Small-Boat Racing, the PNWORCA / CORA 2026 Small-Boat Racing Winter Series Championship event introduced innovative awards this year. Those V1 paddlers who completed a minimum of 3 long-course races in their age / gender division, and had the most points in their age / gender division, were awarded medals. PNWORCA / CORA wish to recognize these individuals who won their V1 Division: Masato Tsukigase (Sand Point), Marnie Conklin (False Creek), Robbie Magus (False Creek), Minnie Fontenelle (Sand Point), Graeme Galves (FreeLance), Traci Cole (Sand Point). It is worth noting that by completing just 1 more long-course race in their age / gender division, another 11 V1 paddlers would have been in contention for awards. Dana Britton, Harrison OC1 Masters 50+ paddler, graciously presented the V1 medals to Marnie Conklin and Robbie Magus at the False Creek March Madness event on Sunday afternoon.
For more information about the Peter Forand Masters Challenge, CLICK HERE