A Co Clare man has made history by securing Ireland’s first-ever podium finishes at the prestigious World SUP & Prone Paddling Championships, held in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In July, Oisín McGrath from Ennis achieved a historic milestone by breaking the World Record for the fastest prone paddle crossing of the North Channel. The search and rescue helicopter pilot with the Irish Coast Guard, completed the demanding 37.5 kilometre journey from Ireland to Scotland in an incredible time of 3 hours and 58 minutes, averaging a remarkable pace of 9.5 km/hr.
At the World SUP & Prone Paddling Championships, hosted by the International Surfing Association (ISA) over the past week, Oisín delivered outstanding performances across both the Technical and Distance races, placing 4th in both events. Under ISA competition rules, the top four finishers are awarded podium positions, making this a monumental moment for Irish prone paddling.
The Championships kicked off on Wednesday with the Technical Race, held at the scenic beach venue on the outskirts of Copenhagen city. Competitors faced a demanding 3-kilometer course featuring several tight turns and multiple beach runs, testing the athletes’ endurance, agility, and power. Oisín paddled hard and led the race for a significant portion of the event. Despite the pressure from top international athletes, he crossed the finish line in 4th place, securing his spot on the podium.
The competition continued in the heart of Copenhagen with the Distance Race, an exhilarating 13-kilometre paddle through the city’s iconic canal waterways. The race began at an intense pace, with a lead pack of eight paddlers battling to keep in the race. In prone paddling, each Country is allowed just one entry per event, ensuring that only the elite of each nation can participate. The battle for the top spots was fierce, with numerous lead changes throughout the race. Oisín maintained a strong position, staying within striking distance of the leaders throughout. A thrilling sprint finish saw him clinch 4th place once again, with only 15 seconds separating the top six paddlers after 1.5 hours of high intensity paddling.
These results mark an outstanding achievement for Oisín and the Irish Surfing Association, which governs prone paddling in Ireland.
Oisín said: “This is a huge achievement for Irish prone paddling. To come so close to the top of the World rankings and represent Ireland on the podium is an honour. The competition was fierce, and I’m proud to have pushed through to make the podium spots.”
Prone paddling, a discipline of paddleboarding, requires athletes to paddle in a prone (lying down) or kneeling position, using their hands to propel themselves through the water. It demands a unique blend of upper body strength, cardiovascular endurance, and tactical precision.
The World Championships, organised by the ISA, bring together the world’s top prone paddlers, offering a platform for athletes to represent their countries in front of a global audience. The ISA, recognised as the global governing body for surfing and paddleboarding disciplines, plays a pivotal role in growing the sport internationally.
For Oisín McGrath, his podium finishes in both the Technical and Distance races symbolize the increasing strength of Irish competitors in the global prone paddling scene.
With Oisín’s groundbreaking achievement, Ireland has solidified its place on the world stage of prone paddling, inspiring the next generation of Irish water sports athletes to aim for international success.
In 2011, Oisín won Silver in the European Lifesaving Championships Board paddle in Alicante, Spain while in 2014, he scooped Gold in the World Masters Board Rescue in France.
