Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge

Canaqua Sports is proud to present the
Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge!

Ian Feldman, President, Canaqua Sports and the founder of the Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge says:

"Since our first race in 2017, we have been adding races as we work to grow SwimRun across Canada. After canceling our season in 2020 due to Covid-19 and getting through with a limited number of events in 2021, we are now positioned to run a full slate of 10 events for 2022 across Canada.

Watch for details to follow!

We look forward to the return of our qualifying events for the World Individual SwimRun Championships, the potential of hosting the Aquaticrunner World Cup, and the Canadian Individual SwimRun Championships once things get back to normal.

The Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge specializes in Individual SwimRun with races ranging from 8.0 K to 25 K."

Press Release

On September 18 2022, a group of 8 Canadian swimrunners participated in theAquaticrunner World Individual SwimRun Championships that took place in Grado Italy. The Canadian Team qualified in a series of SwimRun events run as part of the Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge and hosted by Canaqua Sports.

This was the second time that a Canadian Team participated in the event.

Official Press Release Below

September 19, 2022

As we come to the conclusion of the 2022 season, Canaqua Sports is very excited about the success of the Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge and what we have accomplished. After effectively taking 2 years off due to Covid 19, we came back with a bang, with 10 events scheduled from coast to coast making the Mudskipper Challenge the largest Swimrun series in Canada, In addition to our Canadian events we were also very excited to send a team of 8 swimrunners to Grado Italy for the World individual SwimRun Championships run by Aquaticrunner of Italy. Canaqua Sports has partnered with Aquaticrunner since 2018, and also send a group to the 2019 world event as well.

The AQUATICRUNNER IWC SOLO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2022 was held in Grado Italy on September 18, 2022, and truly marks the end of the swimrun season in Canada. We were very excited to have 5 women and 3 men amongst the 211 competitors who started the race. You can tell how challenging the event was as only 134, including all 8 Canadians completed the event.

Amongst the Canadians, Sara Hopkins, from St Catherine’s as the top finisher, as she placed 5th overall in the Female category, 2nd in the age group and was the 2nd international woman to finish. In 8th place was Erin Schenkle from Kenora also finishing in the top 10, placing 8th overall and 4th in her age groups. Another notable participant was Janice German, from Vancouver, who at age 65 was the oldest competitor, and finished in 19th spot amongst the ladies and was first in her age group.

On the men’s side, top Canadian was Nicholas Crow from Halifax who placed 84th over all and 73rd amongst the men.

This event was very much a coming out for the Mudskipper Swimrun Challenge and for the development of SwimRun in Canada with the Canadian team being front and center at the world event. We look forward 2023 with more and larger events.

In 2017 Canaqua Sports ran its first swimrun event in Sudbury On. As part of the Canaqua Sports SwimRun Challenge. Since that time, we changed the name to the Mudskipper swimrun Challenge in 2019 as a Mudskipper is an amphibious animal that lived on both the land and in the water, and was very appropriate given the nature of Swimrun. As we launched, Covid struck and with that, we not only shut down our events, but at the same time we worked hard, adding events across Canada so that we would be ready when life opened up. This has led to the Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge growing across Canada in 2022, with even more events coming up in 2023. We look forward to continued growth of the sport, and invite anyone interested in knowing more about swimrun and the Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge to contact us at info@canaquasports.com

Whether you are looking for information, are interested in running an event, or are interested in becoming a sponsor, we would like to hear from you. Even if none of those interest you, spread the word. SwimRun is an amazing sporting event that is taking the world by storm, and is primed for amazing growth over the next few years. The Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge is spurring that growth in Canada, and beyond.

Looking forward to some incredible years ahead.

Ian Feldman

President Canaqua Sports Inc.

Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge Events

Canaqua are now looking at adding races in Vancouver, (3), Central Alberta (2), Eastern Ontario (2) PEI (2) and Nova Scotia (1). This is in addition to the regular schedule of events. The goal is to run between 20 and 25 open water swims and 15 - 20 SwimRun events across Canada in 2022.

The following events were held in 2021 - dates for 2022 are now confirmed for these events!

This page will be updated as we get the new dates/venues - do please bookmark and return to ensure your place in this exciting challenge across Canada.

Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge

New Event for 2022 in Vancouver

Sasamat Ice Cracker Swimrun Challenge

Date: 3, April 2022

Venue: Sasamat Lake, Vancouver

Swim and run in and around Sasamat Lake as you complete Mudskipper's first ever SwimRun event in the Vancouver area. The 13 K event includes 2 laps of the Sasamat course that will take you along trails that will challenge your running ability, and swims of different distances through this beautiful lake.

This event is being run in conjunction with the Sasamat Ice Cracker Open Water Swim.

Total Swim: 4.7km

Total Run: 8.3km

Total Distance: 13km

CLICK HERE to register for the Sasamat Ice Cracker Swimrun Challenge.

Welland Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge

Date: 12 June, 2022

Venue: Welland, Ontario

The Welland Challenge is set in a lovely section of the Welland Canal and includes 3 swims and 2 runs, over a flat and fast course. The longest swim is 1000m and the longest run is 2.5k.

Total Swim: 2200m

Total Run: 5km

Total Distance: 8-10km

CLICK HERE for more information and to register for the Welland Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge.

They're off!

Huronia Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge

Date: 26 June, 2022

Venue: Penetanguishene, Ontario

This event is run in conjunction with the Huronia Open Water Swim. The 10k course takes you swimming in the beautiful Georgian Bay and running along the Penetanguishene Trail.

This Challenge is classed as 'easy to moderate' and is good for both new and experienced SwimRunners.

Total Swim: 2.4km

Total Run: 7.6km

Total Distance: 10km

CLICK HERE for more information and to register for the Huronia Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge.

The fabulous Mudskipper Challenge Medal!

Summerside Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge

Date: 13 August, 2022

Venue: Summerside, Prince Edward Island

This was a new event for 2021, being run in conjunction with the Summerside Open Water Swim.

Distances and further details to be advised.

CLICK HERE for more information and to register for the Summerside Challenge.

World Champs Qualifying Events

As part of the SwimRun season, the Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge will be running 4 qualifying events for the World Individual SwimRun Championships in Grado, Italy on September 18th. The qualifying events will be run no later than the end of July with the top 2 men and top 2 women from each location, as well as the Canadian Individual SwimRun Championships.

The qualifying events for 2022 have now been set:

Sasamat Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge - Vancouver, May 15
Kenora Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge - Kenora, July 9
Parry Sound Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge, July 24
Nova Scotia Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge - Lower Sackville, July 24

Training Programs

With so many people turning to open water swimming, and the increased interest in SwimRun, Canaqua Sports ran training programs in select locations in 2021.

After running programs in Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa, they are looking to run their training programs in these cities and hopefully adding training sessions in other locations. Watch for information to follow as they look to open registrations early in the new year.

If you are new to the sport they offer a program teaching the basics of SwimRun.

The 2022 training programs will be updated on the Mudskipper Swimrun Challenge website.

Here is the home page of the Mudskipper SwimRun Challenge Canada.