Celebrating Women in Whitewater
The Christa Kerckhoff Cup celebrates the outstanding female paddler at the annual Whitewater Ontario Provincial Championships It recognizes the female athlete who achieves the highest combined results across the full range of disciplines including canoe slalom, kayak slalom and kayak cross.
The award honours the legacy of Christa Kerckhoff who was a pioneer that helped open the sport of whitewater paddling to generations of women in Ontario, Canada and around the world.
The Legacy of Christa Kerckhoff
Christa Kerckhoff was an inspiration to women entering the sport of whitewater paddling at a time when there were very few women competing.
In 1968, Christa became Canadian Slalom Champion. With so few women competing, she even encouraged a good friend to enter the competition so that there would be enough competitors to establish a women’s class.
Christa’s pioneering spirit extended well beyond competition.
In 1971, Christa and American paddler Barbara Wright became the first women to kayak the length of the Grand Canyon. It was an extraordinary accomplishment that demonstrated what was possible for women in whitewater.
The following year, in 1972, Christa and her family opened Madawaska Kanu Centre (MKC) in Barry’s Bay, Ontario. MKC went on to become an important centre for whitewater paddling, instruction and development, helping introduce countless paddlers to the sport and inspiring generations of Canadians to take to moving water.
The Christa Kerckhoff Cup continues that legacy by recognizing and supporting women in whitewater.
Three Generations of Champions
Christa’s legacy continues through her family. The photograph below brings together three generations of Canadian champions: Christa Kerckhoff, Claudia Kerckhoff-Van Wijk, and Katrina Van Wijk representing a remarkable connection between the pioneering generation of Canadian whitewater and the athletes who followed.
Honouring Women in Whitewater
The Christa Kerckhoff Cup is more than an annual award. It is a celebration of the women who have helped build Canadian whitewater paddling — from the pioneers who competed when women’s participation was still uncommon, to today’s athletes competing across multiple disciplines.
Through the support of Madawaska Kanu Centre, the Cup carries Christa’s legacy forward by encouraging and recognizing women in whitewater.
Recipients
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Paige Cartwright |
| 2025 | Paige Cartwright |