“Welcome to the Frankfurter Kanuverein 1913” I imagine someone saying with open arms. Founded in 1913, the Frankfurter Kanuverein 1913 is one of Germany’s oldest canoe clubs. In fact, it is even older than the German Canoe Association. It proudly counts itself among the association’s founders.
The Frankfurter Kanuverein 1913’s home is the Friedel-Baureis-Haus. It sits directly on the Main’s left bank. This location is in the heart of Frankfurt. It sits near river kilometer 34.
Members meet to enjoy canoeing together. Several attempts were needed to build the first boathouse. Interest grew. The membership increased. Several expansions became necessary.
Since then, members of the Frankfurter Kanuverein 1913 are found on domestic and foreign waters. Two World Wars, inflation, and currency reform only briefly hampered them.
Frankfurt am Main hosted the 3rd German Canoe Day in 1921. This event included the German Canoe Racing Championships. Racing thus became part of the Frankfurter Kanuverein 1913. Success soon followed. The club was present at many important regattas. These included the German Championships. Racing continued until 1943.
On December 20, 1943, a bomb attack destroyed the boathouse. A new boathouse was not occupied until 1949. Racing revived in 1950. A group of whitewater and slalom enthusiasts formed in 1951. They surprised everyone with unexpected success. Initially, they overshadowed the racing canoeists. Within a few years, the Frankfurter Kanuverein 1913 became one of southern Germany’s most successful clubs. This was thanks to successful participation in German and World Championships.
The Frankfurter Kanuverein 1913 is a canoe club based in Frankfurt am Main. The club is a member of the German Canoe Association and the Hessian State Sports Federation. Along with Oberalster VfW, the Frankfurter Kanuverein 1913 was among Germany’s first clubs. These clubs were founded exclusively for canoeing. On March 15, 1914, it was a founding member of the German Canoe Association in Hamburg.
Helmut Herz became world champion at the 1958 Canoe Racing World Championships in Prague. He teamed with Fritz Briel, Paul Lange, and Meinrad Miltenberger. They won the 4 x 500-meter relay in a single kayak. Peter Lust won silver and bronze at the 1967 Wildwater World Championships in Špindlerův Mlýn. Ansgar Heß steered the Kurpfalz Dragons. They won gold at the 1998 IDBF Dragon Boat Club World Championships in Wellington. Silke Wolf won gold, silver, and bronze with RG Hessen. This was at the 2007 ICF Dragon Boat Club World Championships in Gérardmer. She won silver at the 2007 IDBF Dragon Boat World Championships in Sydney. Daniela Hofmann won three bronze medals at the 2019 IDBF Dragon Boat World Championships in Pattaya. Josef Capoušek is an honorary member of the Frankfurter Kanuverein 1913. He is internationally successful as a canoe racing trainer.
The Frankfurter Kanuverein 1913 is active in both competitive and recreational sports. The club competes in canoe racing and canoe dragon boat. Teams include “FKV Dragonauten” and “Dragonfighters Frankfurt”. They also participate in outrigger/Vaa competitions. The Outrigger/Vaa section also organizes the Metropolitan Mediterranean Cup in Frankfurt.
The Frankfurter Kanuverein 1913 has an active canoe youth group. They train once a week on the Main during the summer months. In the winter, they use short boats in the swimming pool. Technique training on various slalom courses prepares the youth for stronger flowing waters. Recreational sports focus on canoe touring and coastal/sea kayaking trips. The canoeists are also active in whitewater. Stand Up Paddling is very popular. Owners of sports boats have also joined the club.
The Frankfurter Kanuverein 1913 is the largest canoe club in Frankfurt. Its many members significantly contribute to water sports in the Main metropolis. The club promotes kayaking, dragon boating, outrigger canoeing and SUP. The attractive white boathouse is near the Friedensbrücke. It houses many boat types. These range from canoes and kayaks to dragon boats, outrigger canoes, and SUPs. The Frankfurter Kanuverein 1913 was the first club in Frankfurt. It recognized and actively supported the trend of ocean sports. Ocean sports are usually practiced at sea.
The Frankfurter Kanuverein 1913 has achieved notable individual successes. These successes were on a national and international level. The club now focuses on promoting popular sports. Members of various sections still participate in regattas. These are held throughout Germany and in international competitions. This primarily includes racing kayakers, outrigger canoeists, and dragon boat paddlers. A highlight is the Frankfurt Museumsuferfest and the dragon boat races. The Frankfurter Kanuverein 1913’s paddlers regularly achieve good results since 2003.