That’s a Wrap! 2025 Racing Season Comes to a Close
The 2025 IPC racing season officially wrapped up with a fantastic finale — The Fall Classic, hosted by the St. Charles Canoe Club on September 28. This 7th and final race of the season brought paddlers from across the state to close out the year in style.
You can view the full race results here:
👉 Fall Classic Results
A Strong Finish
The day saw 23 boats in the morning race and 14 in the afternoon race. As tradition holds, the afternoon session turned into a highly competitive tandem showdown, with nearly all teams opting for tandem boats.
The fastest time of the day went to Waldemar Kuleszynski of Mount Prospect, who blazed across the finish line in 1:21:10 — nearly five minutes ahead of the next boat!
True to the St. Charles Canoe Club’s motto — “If you bring it, we will make a class for it” — this year featured a standout participant: Kyle Cafferd of Chicago, who competed in a rowing shell, finishing in 1:38:51. Some racers joked that drafting behind him was a new experience: “It’s a little odd to draft someone and be able to look them right in the eye!”
Championship Season
With The Fall Classic behind us, that means one thing: IPC 2025 State Champions have been decided! To be eligible for the title, racers had to compete in at least 4 of the 7 IPC races within the same division.
So… who are the 2025 champions?
You’ll have to wait just a bit longer. Winners will be officially announced at the IPC Annual Gathering of the Paddlers on November 8.
🎉 Join us for the celebration and support your 2025 champions!
🎟️ Get your tickets now and be part of the excitement!