Claudia Kerckhoff van Wijk - Canadian
Claudia Kerckhoff van Wijk (Canada) - Member of the World Paddle Awards Academy
Born: 1962, Sports: Rafting, Downriver, Canoe Slalom.
Major Results:
- 10 time Canadian Slalom Champion, 1974 - 1985
- 6 time Canadian Wildwater Champion, 1975 - 1980
- Gold, Pan Americans, 1976 Savage River, USA
- 5th, World Championships, 1979 Jonquiere, Canada
- Bronze, World Championships, 1982 Merano, Italy
- Director/Owner of Madawaka Kanu Centre
- Opened OWL Rafting on the Ottawa River
- Manager of the Canadian team, 1987 & 2009
- Instrumental in securing the sport of Canoe Slalom into the 2016 Pan AM Games.
Claudia Van Wijk has lived and breathed the world of white-water kayaking since she was born. Growing up on the riverbanks of Ontario, Canada, she was paddling down rapids in the front of a double Klepper-Foldboot by the age of three. With a decorated career as a slalom and wild water athlete, Claudia’s infectious enthusiasm for the sport has inspired countless others.
As a member of the Ontario Voyageur Kayak Club, Claudia grew up surrounded by passionate kayakers. Learning to run rapids by the age of three—with no helmet and no PFD—it was obvious she was destined for success. She helped build her first kayak in the family basement at the age of seven and at 13, she won her first Canadian championship in both Slalom and Wildwater—a title she held for 10 years.
Claudia went on to compete at an international level for over a decade, winning 10 Canadian Slalom Championships (1974 – 1985) and six Canadian Wildwater Championships (1975 – 1980), as well securing the 1976 Pan American championship and winning a bronze medal at the 1982 World Championships. In the meantime, Claudia and her father became the first to discover and descend the massive rapids of the Ottawa River in 1974.
After retiring from competition in 1982, Claudia took over as Director/owner of the Madawaska Kanu Centre, which is the world’s first commercial paddling school for both kayak and open canoe (Canadian canoe). She also opened the OWL rafting centre on the Ottawa River with her husband Dirk Van Wijk.
In addition, Claudia has inspired thousands of people to start white-water paddling through her role as the director of Madawaska Kanu Centre and has been a mentor to countless Canadian slalom athletes. Claudia also played an instrumental role in securing the sport of Canoe Slalom into the 2015 Toronto Pan AM Games. As a TV broadcast analyst she has also been the voice for Canoe Slalom on television, projecting her addictive passion for paddling the rivers.
As an integral member of Canadian white-water kayaking, Claudia’s passion for the sport is unparalleled. Her commitment and contribution to the paddlesports industry, both in Canada and worldwide, make her fully deserving member of the World Paddle Awards Academy.
