04/01/2026
The Washington Canoe Club is excited to invite you to join us as we celebrate the 20th year of the Kumu’ohu Challenge in a new venue with a new course!
Basic Deets:
*April 18, 2026
*New Venue: Columbia Island Marina (right by the Pentagon)
*New race courses: 15K for canoes and kayaks (in blue on the photo)
8K for SUP and prone (in yellow on the photo)
*Clinics: April Zilg and James Dunbar will each be offering clinics and opportunities for one-on-one training Friday, Saturday after the race, and Sunday
*Registration for everything: https://paddleguru.com/races/KumuohuChallenge2026/schedule
*Registration closes April 14, so register now!
Historical Deets:
The Kumu’ohu Challenge was started by WCC member Mitch Potter, who wanted to host the first paddle race of the Mid-Atlantic racing season while keeping fees as low as possible. His goal was simple: create a day of great racing and community. That meant an after-party for sure—but no fancy awards or race swag.
Why “Kumu’ohu”?�Mitch and his wife Amy had hoped to get the Foggy Bottom Pub to sponsor the race. Since they were outrigger racers themselves, they chose a Hawaiian name that best translated to “Foggy Bottom,” landing on “Kumu’ohu.” The sponsorship didn’t come through—but the name stuck.
For 20 years, the Kumu’ohu has remained true to that original vision: the season opener for ECORA and MASRA (now defunct), with low fees and a focus on community over prizes. Over time, WCC added perpetual awards and the option to donate toward restoring our historic boathouse. One of the reasons for this year’s venue change is that phase one of that restoration is finally underway—thanks to all of you who helped make it happen.
I want to personally thank Mitch and Amy for opening the Kumu’ohu to Stand Up Paddlers in 2011. At the time, that was a bold move. SUP racing was still in its infancy, and it was rare for an established paddle race to include it. That first year, there were just nine of us—but as the sport grew, so did participation.
In 2016, WCC introduced SUP perpetual awards, created by Dan Havens, from Potomac River driftwood and shingles from the WCC boathouse. Each award includes a brass plaque engraved with the names of the overall winners for each year. At the time, SUP racing categories were strict—women on 12’6” boards and men on 14’—so there was an award for each division.
As racing and board design evolved, those divisions became less reflective of what fair competition actually looked like. Adjusting the awards to match that reality became increasingly difficult and then COVID hit. Racing paused, some events never returned, and many paddlers moved on or stepped back.
But the Mid-Atlantic SUP community didn’t disappear—and neither did races like the East of Maui Chesapeake Challenge and the Kumu’ohu. It’s also incredibly exciting to see new local races beginning to emerge again.
In that spirit of evolution, I am incredibly humbled and honored to share that WCC is retiring the original SUP awards and introducing a new perpetual award:
“The WCC is proud to announce the Kathy Summers SUP Award, recognizing the fastest man and woman in the 12’6” and 14’ classes. Kathy Summers brought SUP to WCC, and this award honors her lasting contributions to both the club and the broader SUP community.”
This is truly an incredible honor—one I share with all of my friends who fell in love with SUP in the early 2000s and went on to build and support their own communities and events. You know who you are. ❤️
I am deeply grateful to the WCC Board of 2011. Even when we looked more like misplaced surfers than serious racers, they welcomed us, built board storage, and gave us a home. WCC became my second home in DC, and I am so very proud to now be part of the storied Washington Canoe Club legacy.
If you’ve stepped away from racing, I hope you’ll come back for this one—to help celebrate 20 years of the WCC Kumu’ohu Challenge and the incredible paddle community we’ve built together. The new venue at Columbia Island Marina makes it easier for those driving in, with plenty of parking for everyone, and the SUP course—open water start and finish with a protected no-wake section in the middle—offers both new challenges and beautiful scenery.
It’s also a great race for spectators, with easy viewing of the start and finish at the Lady Bird Johnson Park and along the beautiful Mount Vernon bike Trail (easy walking distance from the parking and launch). Whether you’re racing, supporting someone who is, or just looking to spend a day on the river as a spectator or volunteer—we would love to see you.
This race—and this community—has meant so much to me, and the Kumu’ohu is not just another race—it’s a celebration of 20 years of showing up for each other, united by our love of paddling, the water and community we’ve built together.
On a more personal note, I won’t be able to make it back to DC this spring. I’m in Vail caring for my son, JP, as he recovers from a very serious ski accident—I’ll be cheering you on from afar—and I can’t wait to be back with you soon…if not later this year, then for sure at the 2027 Kumu’ohu Challenge!
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