News

Field notes, future and past events, race recaps, and innovation updates from our global community.

A wide panoramic view of a paddle competition on a tropical beach with a long lineup of colorful outrigger canoes and athletes preparing for a race under a bright sky.

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Skild Team on the Road!

Connect with the Skild collective on the water. Throughout 2026, our founders, team members, and community of athletes will be competing at the season's most prestigious outrigger and paddle events. It promises to be a defining year, featuring world-renowned races such as Kaiwi Relay 2026 and Gorge Downwind. We invite you to stop by, say hello, and tag us in your event photos on Instagram for a chance to win exclusive Skild performance wear.

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Updates, Insights and Important Events

Stay connected with the races, research, and milestones shaping our journey.

SKILD 2026: Innovation Meets Performance

Skild Product Development

SKILD is pushing boundaries in 2026, working tirelessly to expand our lineup with cutting-edge designs and game-changing products that elevate your paddling experience. We're not just adding items to our catalog—we're reimagining what performance apparel can do for water sports athletes.
Leading our 2026 product launch are premium sports leggings, engineered specifically for the demands of paddling. Crafted from the finest, most durable fabrics sourced from the world's leading producer of water sports materials, these leggings represent the same commitment to quality and performance that defines every SKILD product. Designed to withstand the rigors of salt water, sun exposure, and constant movement, they'll deliver the UV protection, moisture-wicking, and anti-chafe performance you've come to expect from SKILD—now with full-leg coverage for extended sessions on the water.
But we're not creating these products in isolation. SKILD believes in community-driven design, and we want YOU to be part of the process. We're inviting our paddling ohana to vote on the colorways you want to see manufactured. Your input shapes our direction—because you know what works on the water, what looks great, and what you'll actually wear race after race, training session after training session.
Beyond leggings, we're developing exciting new shirt designs that blend bold aesthetics with technical innovation. Stay tuned to our website and Instagram for sneak peeks, pre-sale opportunities, and exclusive event releases throughout 2026.
SKILD isn't just selling apparel—we're building gear designed by paddlers, for paddlers. Join us in shaping the future of water sports performance wear at www.skildwear.com.

A professional male coach wearing a blue and yellow performance top from the Skild rash guard collection and an orange brand cap gives instructions while standing in clear tropical turquoise water.

Teamwork Across the Channel: PA'A Kaiwi Relay 2026

Skild at the Kaiwi Relay (Team Skild OC2)

Scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2026, the PA'A Kaiwi Relay presents a unique team challenge across the legendary Kaiwi Channel. Unlike the grueling solo crossing, this relay format transforms the 38-mile (approximately 61 km) journey from Molokaʻi to Oʻahu into a shared battle against one of the Pacific's most formidable stretches of open ocean.
The relay format brings a different dynamic to the Channel of Bones—teams rotate paddlers throughout the crossing, requiring seamless coordination, strategic planning, and unwavering support for teammates. Whether racing in OC-1, Surfski (SS-1), or OC-2 divisions, crews face the same relentless conditions that have tested paddlers for generations: shifting currents that can accelerate or stall progress, trade winds that build challenging cross-chop, and ocean swells that demand constant vigilance and technical skill. The mental game shifts from solo endurance to team cohesion, where each paddler must deliver their best effort while managing fatigue across multiple legs.
SKILDWEAR.COM is proud to support a dedicated OC-2 team tackling this iconic challenge: John McClennan, Andy Cummings, Doug Woodridge, and Christoph Renger, with Anna Matthisen serving as on-board coach and team manager. The crew will race wearing SKILD's proven performance shirts—the same designs tested and validated during the 2025 Molokai Hoe.
When your team spends hours exposed to relentless sun, salt spray, and physical exertion, SKILD performance shirts become essential equipment. Superior UV protection shields against intense solar radiation amplified by ocean reflection, while advanced moisture-wicking technology manages sweat and salt water throughout multiple paddling rotations. The anti-chafe construction prevents irritation during repeated entries and exits, and temperature-regulating fabric keeps paddlers comfortable through changing conditions—allowing your team to focus purely on execution, rotation timing, and crossing that finish line together.

A female athlete wearing a pink and blue performance top from the Skild Champion rash guard collection powerfully paddles her kayak during a high-speed water sports competition.

Ride the Wind: Gorge Downwind Champs

Skild is back at "The Gorge Downwind Champs" 2026

Set for July 13-18, 2026, the Gorge Downwind Champs transforms the legendary Columbia River Gorge into downwind paddling paradise. This week-long festival celebrates the art of running downwind, bringing together outrigger canoes, surfskis, and SUPs for an unforgettable experience on one of the planet's premier downwind locations.
The main race launches from Home Valley Park with staggered starts for different divisions, sending paddlers on a thrilling journey down the Columbia River to Hood River. What makes the Gorge special isn't just the consistent summer winds that have already made this the world's number-one destination for windsurfing and kiteboarding—it's the variable terrain that offers everything from insane, adrenaline-pumping conditions for elite athletes to approachable runs for beginners. The combination of reliable wind, fresh water, hot summer temperatures, and simple shuttle logistics creates an ideal environment for chasing bumps and building skills.
Beyond the main event, the festival atmosphere at the Skamania County Fairgrounds features a beer garden, vendor village, camping, and community gatherings throughout the week. SKILDWEAR.COM returns as a proud sponsor for the second year, bringing their booth back to the fairgrounds and the popular "SKILD DASH" challenge. Paddlers can record their fastest 1 km during the week, submit proof via email or WhatsApp, and compete for prizes—adding an extra layer of competition to the festival experience.
This is where SKILD performance shirts (www.skildwear.com) prove essential. Extended exposure to intense high-altitude sun reflecting off the water demands serious UV protection—SKILD delivers. The moisture-wicking fabric manages sweat during hot Columbia Gorge days, while temperature-regulating technology keeps you comfortable as conditions shift. The anti-chafe construction ensures comfort through every paddle stroke, letting you focus on reading the wind lines and catching runs without distraction.

Singapore IVF Va'a World Sprint Championships 2026

IVF World Sprints Singapore

From August 17-31, 2026, the world's elite va'a paddlers will descend upon Singapore's iconic Marina Bay for the International Va'a Federation World Sprint Championships. Against the stunning backdrop of Singapore's modern skyline, this premier sprint racing event brings together the fastest paddlers from across the globe to compete in intense, explosive races that test pure speed, technique, and tactical prowess. From V1 solo sprints to synchronized team boats V6 and V12, Marina Bay will transform into the ultimate proving ground for va'a sprint excellence.
Sprint racing demands different preparation than marathon paddling—here, every stroke counts as athletes push maximum power over shorter distances. The tropical heat and humidity of Singapore add another dimension to the challenge, making proper gear selection crucial for peak performance.
SKILD is thrilled to return to the IVF World Championships for the second time, following our debut at the Sprint Championships in Hilo, Hawaii, and our presence at the Long Distance Championships in Niterói, Brazil. This time, SKILD comes home to Singapore—welcome to our turf! Visit us at our booth at the Marina Bay event site (exact location to be announced here and on Instagram). We're bringing exciting new designs alongside your known favorites, with special pre-sale opportunities and exclusive event shirts available.

SKILD performance shirts deliver the UV protection essential for tropical conditions, advanced moisture-wicking to handle Singapore's humidity, temperature-regulating technology to keep you cool, and anti-chafe construction that ensures comfort through every explosive sprint. Whether you're racing for gold or cheering from the shore, SKILD has you covered.

Events we have been to