See the aftermovie of the 14 km short course, long course movie will follow soon!

The 50th edition of the Amsterdam Waterland Marathon presented some of the harshest conditions in the past decade for all athletes. The weather played a significant role, with gale-force winds of 5 Beaufort, hailstorms, and heavy rain showers proving to be formidable challenges for all paddlers.

Despite the adverse conditions, James Russell emerged victorious in the final sprint, outpacing his competitors Jose Leonel Ramalho and Jeremy Candy. Russell’s dedication to early-season sprint training paid off handsomely. The race initially saw a tightly contested lead group comprising eight paddlers, including Quentin Urban, Jeremy Candy, Miguel Llorens, and Philip Knudsen. The presence of so many top athletes at our start line is a rare sight in recent years.

The race began at a blistering pace, only relenting slightly after the first portage. The headwinds posed difficulties even for the world elite paddlers. The second portage, an iconic feature of the race, proved more challenging than ever, with some marsh sections nearly indistinguishable from the canals due to continuous rain in preceding weeks.

Following the second portage, the tempo decreased significantly. In the wide and deep North Holland canal, the lead group engaged in a tactical game, with no one seizing a clear advantage until the final sprint.

In the senior women’s category, Zsofi-Czellai Voros took an early lead, paddling alongside the master men’s chasing group. Despite their efforts, they couldn’t match her pace, allowing Voros to maintain her lead comfortably until the end. Pernille Hostrup secured second place, followed by Tania Alvarez Yates in third.

Joep van Bakel clinched victory in the masters men’s category, staying ahead of the competition and securing a medal for the Netherlands. Torben Thomsen finished second, with Matthew Enoch John taking third place.

The junior men’s race witnessed an exceptionally fast pace, with Candela Leonardo and Joseph Enoch Michael finishing just behind the fastest masters men. Their times would have placed them in the top 20 of the senior men’s category. Alexander Worgan claimed third place, showcasing promising talent for the future of marathon paddling.

In the junior women’s race, Moa Nilsson Maria Nike, Kamila Sklenarova, and Beatrice Candela comprised the top three finishers.

Elias Geike won the boys’ race, and Lucie-Marie Horch emerged victorious in the women’s race for the short course event.

The 50th edition of the Amsterdam Waterland Marathon will be remembered for its challenging conditions and resilient athletes. Organizers hope for a sunnier, warmer, and windless 51st edition.

Special thanks to our sponsors: De Coogh Funderingstechnieken, Kanocentrum Arjan Bloem and Nelo Kayaks, whose generous support made the event possible. We also extend our gratitude to our event suppliers Orange Rentaland Gomes.

The official results are available below.
50th edition Amsterdam Waterland Marathon results

Check out this post-race video made by Keith Moule from Great Britain. Our own official movie race report will follow soon!

 Race information 50th edition

Please read this information for the 50th edition of the Amsterdam Waterland Marathon:

• The race office will be open from 09.00 until 11.00. Make sure to pick up your number.
  11.00 the numbers that have not been piked up will be distributed among those on the waiting list!
• Entry fee is EUR 10. We also ask for a EUR 10 deposit for your number. Please bring it back to get your refund. Cash payments are easier and therefore preferred.
• Team leaders meeting will be at 11.45.
• There will be two starts for the long distance. Men junior and senior will start at 13.20. All other race categories will start at 13.00.
• Short distance race will start at 13.10.
• Paddle to the start of the long distance race is about 2.5 km from the Viking canoe club.
  Boat transport to the start of the short distance will depart 12.00. Make sure to put your put your boat on the big trailer in front of the boathouse.
• We will stop time registration at 16.15. Make sure to finish before then 😉
• Prize ceremony will be around 16.45.

Competition is at your own risk. We expect cold water temperatures and high winds, dress appropiately!

Find the short distance GPS course here (GPX file)

Find the long distance GPS course here  (GPX file)

The preliminary start list can be found hereWLM Official registrations list 2024

The 50th edition will take place on the 20th of april 2024.

Race entry is now open!

The races for this year will be the 23 kilometer race with two portages for all seniors  and juniors (men and women) and the 14 kilometer – one portage – race for juniors younger than 16 years old  and recreational paddlers. (see race classes)

A total of 2.000 euro in price money will be divided and a start fee for the first five top 10 World Championship paddlers to register is available.

For this anniversary edition we will host a special program after the race, the Red Light district tour will be uplifted with a special surprise for this 50th anniversary edition.

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Every year we have many spectators and photographers making the most beautiful pictures. In this message we try to collect as many as possible for you to find.

The first collection of the 49th edition is by Guda Oly with over a 100 pictures of almost all paddlers making it to the finish line. Find yourself and download your picture.

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A record breaking time of 1:34:57;89  has been set by Pedersen. The current world champion turned out almighty as his title deserves, he had an incredibly high paced race doing 15 kilometers an hour solo.

For the 48th edition of this race it was a good start with little to no incidents, in contrary of the traditional early breakaway attempts and even false starts.  It was the ferry letting its cable hang turning out to be the biggest obstacle this time.

Right after the after the first kilometer when the race turned right into the Broekervaart a group of seven paddlers took the lead. This group went down the Broekervaart in an incredibly high pace. It was Pedersen, Boros, Harbrecht Quentin Urban that took the leading pack. But with the hard turn just behind the bridge of Broek only Gordon Harbrecht and Mads Brandt Pedersen stayed together in the lead. It was the first portage where Pedersen managed to break away with a high speed run past the docks of Monnickendam. As of that point he took the lead in the race and never gave it away. Only in the chasing group behind Pedersen a fight was then ongoing. Jeremy Candy eventually won the fight in this group managing to out sprint James Russel in the fight for the third place.

At the senior women race Zsofi Czellai Voros has successfully defended her title in a time of 1:52:28;15. Amélie le Scloteur came in at second place beating Krisztina Bedocs came for the third place.  “It was a long hard race, too much for when you prepare for sprint racing. But it never got boring, there would always be some other competitor or some beautiful scenery around” as Krisztina stated after the finish.

In the master race class it was Erik Verduyckt who took the win, just in front of Michael Dobler and Pier Siersma.

The junior men race was won by Oliver Varga in an impressive time of 1:45:45.81. The second place was taken by Dominc Stanley Fawcitt and Paul Donnellan Donnelan in third place.

The junior women race has been won by Eabha Ni Driscoll, coming in seconde place was Hjordis Sommer.

Find all results of the 48th edition here.