From August 21 to 23, the 2026 China Canoe Slalom Challenge (Xiasi Station), alongside the “Dynamic Guizhou Scenery” National Canoe and SUP Open, kicked off on the Qingshui River and canoe slalom training base near Xiasi Ancient Town in Kaili of Guizhou Province. Hundreds of water sports athletes from across the nation gathered here, staging a thrilling showdown of speed, passion, strength and skill over the blue waves.
Group photo of athletes from Mayang County
Among competitors at this national-level event stood a remarkable team hailing from Mayang County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province. Athletes of the Mayang Jinjiang Development Group Water Sports Team claimed multiple honors, etching a brilliant chapter for Mayang’s water sports with solid performance.
On the 200-metre Men’s Solo Canoe Sprint course, one agile figure stood out: Teng Shuda of the Mayang team. He is undoubtedly Mayang’s standout star of the championship. The young athlete, who claimed four gold medals at the 17th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships, switched his focus to canoeing for this competition, entering two solo events and delivering an astonishing performance.
In the 200m Men’s Solo Canoe Sprint, Teng faced fierce rivals nationwide and maintained steady form from start to finish. The short 200-metre course demanded a full test of explosive power, technique and mental fortitude. At the starting gun, dozens of canoes surged forward, paddles churning up sprays of water. Boasting sharp start reactions and consistent stroke rhythm, Teng stayed firmly within the leading pack throughout the intense race and crossed the finish line in fifth place in this contest of speed and grit.
Yet the greater test lay ahead. Barely after the sprint concluded, Teng threw himself into preparations for the 3.5km Men’s Solo Canoe Drifting Race. This long-distance event was not merely a race of speed, but a comprehensive battle of endurance, tactics and willpower. The Qingshui River featured swift currents, hidden undercurrents, scattered reefs and successive bends, imposing stringent requirements on boat control and route selection. Once underway, Teng kept his composure, rationally pacing his energy, accurately reading water flow at every bend and maintaining optimum speed with minimal physical exertion. As the race unfolded, many competitors fell behind from exhaustion, while Teng grew stronger. Drawing on refined technical foundations and exceptional stamina, he mounted a powerful comeback in the second half, surging ahead to seize the event’s gold medal. From fifth place in the short sprint to gold in long-distance drifting, Teng’s gold medal testified to his all-round competitive capability.
Teng Jun also delivered a strong showing in the 3.5km SUP Drifting Race. SUP places extreme demands on athletes’ balance and core strength; remaining standing and paddling continuously amid raging river currents is an enormous challenge. From the opening, Teng maintained a composed competitive state, stabilizing his center of gravity amid rolling swells, driving his paddle cleanly into and out of the water. Facing stiff competition from elite athletes, he raced steadily to finish eighth. Though not on the podium, securing a top-eight ranking at a national championship stood as ample reward for his relentless daily training.
While individual events test athletes’ solo capabilities, team races represent the ultimate trial of seamless coordination and team spirit. In the three-person SUP event, Hu Yousheng, Teng Shuda and Shu Zhenghua formed a crew, wowing judges and spectators with near-flawless teamwork.
Award ceremony
Podium photo
The three-person SUP race unfolded on the Qingshui River. At the starting signal, all three boards launched almost simultaneously. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, paddles rising and falling as if operated by a single person. In a stretch of turbulent water, undercurrents pushed Hu Yousheng’s board off course. Teng Shuda and Shu Zhenghua quickly closed in, shielding him with their bodies and boards to help him regain balance. This split-second display of coordination drew applause from spectators along the bank. Ultimately, the trio claimed second place in the event through outstanding teamwork.
Athlete paddles on the river.
Competing at the National Canoe and SUP Open, athletes of Mayang Team fearlessly took on top rivals, fully demonstrating their solid competitive standard and uplifting spirit.
Mayang Miao Autonomous County sits in western Hunan, with the Jinjiang River winding through the county seat. Endowed with abundant water resources, it enjoys a solid popular foundation for water sports. In 2003, Mayang Water Sports School was designated a “Hunan Provincial Canoe Reserve Talent Base” by the Hunan Provincial Bureau of Sports. In recent years, Mayang has accelerated development of water sports, cultural and tourism projects, actively rolling out recreational offerings such as canoeing and SUP, and advancing integrated development of “culture + tourism + sports + industries”. From daily training on the Jinjiang River to winning gold and silver on national arenas, Mayang’s water sports are steadily marching toward broader stages.
During the event, Mayang’s athletes gave their all in races while seizing precious chances to exchange ideas with competitors nationwide. “Only by competing against top athletes can we identify our gaps,” Teng Shuda reflected. In post-race workshops, he discussed canoeing techniques and training methodologies with elite athletes from Guizhou, Sichuan, Guangdong and beyond. “They possess unique insights in equipment selection, energy distribution and course forecasting. Such experience will greatly benefit our training back home.”
The value of cross-provincial exchanges extends far beyond technical improvement. Interactions with athletes from other regions broadened their horizons, showed them the booming development of water sports nationwide, and strengthened their resolve to elevate Mayang water sports onto higher platforms.
Though the tournament concluded, the journey of Mayang team has only just begun. Team members shared that the trip to Xiasi brought rich gains: they recognized gaps separating them from the nation’s top athletes, while reinforcing their determination to press forward. They will treat this competition as a new starting point, returning to the Jinjiang River for relentless paddling practice, refining techniques and tactics, striving to win glory for their hometown.
(Translated by Yang Hong)