ICF and Starboard announce environmental partnership

The International Canoe Federation and world renowned paddle craft manufacturer, Starboard, have announced an exciting new partnership which will provide benefits both on and off the water.

Starboard has signed on as the ICF’s environmental action partner, with the two organisations pledging to work together to protect and improve waterways around the world.

The ICF and Starboard have already worked closely to promote stand up paddling around the world, a partnership that will continue this year with the ICF’s stand up paddling world championships in Balatonfured, Hungary.

The environmental action partnership will involve monitoring the carbon footprints of major ICF world championship events across multiple paddling disciplines, and offsetting those emissions using techniques like mangrove planting.

The goal will be to plant 10 times the amount of mangroves required to absorb the carbon emissions at ICF SUP world championship events. In the long-term, further action will be taken through all ICF disciplines to make each world championships climate neutral, through planting the same amount of trees as the amount of CO2 that is emitted.

"It’s a unique honour for us at Starboard to join the ICF as an environmental action partner," Starboard founder and chief innovator, Svein Rasmussen, said.

"This is quite possibly the first ever environmental collaboration between a board sports brand and a sports federation. One of our many goals is to work together in support of Paris 2024 becoming 10 times climate positive.

"We believe sports and the Olympic movement can promote climate action, so we start at the water’s edge with reforestation of mangroves and sea trees, perhaps the most reliable and efficient CO2 capture technology.

"Our partnership will reach all disciplines under ICF, using teamwork and collaboration to make a greater positive movement towards a healthier planet."

ICF president Jose Perurena said the international paddling community understands better than most the importance of clean waterways. He said the partnership with Starboard should inspire other sporting bodies to provide leadership in the fight to protect the environment.

"The International Canoe Federation is very excited to be partnering with Starboard, a company with a fantastic world-wide reputation not just for designing cutting-edge paddle craft, but also for its passion for the environment," Mr Perurena said.

"Together I believe we will be able to achieve some great outcomes, for athletes, event organisers and, most importantly, the health of the planet."

The partnership between the ICF and Starboard will provide a unique opportunity for a community of lifestyle paddlers to team up with a community of athletes to form a common voice in the fight to protect the environment.

ICF SUP coordinator, Hoichan Kwon, said the partnership with Starboard fits perfectly with the long-term vision of both organisations.

"The international SUP community is very switched on and very focussed on the environment and the future of the planet, so it really is a no-brainer for us to use this as a launching pad for this important initiative," Mr Kwon said.

"Starboard really is a world leader in this field when it comes to protecting our waterways. I believe that together, we can make a big difference for many years to come."

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