David Halpern in V! single person outrigger canoe. 2025 photo from Facebook
Canoeist David Halpern of Friday Harbor is returning on an evening ferry Friday, September 4, 2026 with three bronze medals won at the 2026 IVF World Sprints Championships in Singapore. .Halpern started training for the competition last year, after a break of a couple of decades. .
Friends and community members plan to welcome him home. They’ll meet up at the Salty Fox. He’s expected to be on the 4:45 or 8:15 pm ferry from Anacortes.
On Day 5 of the competition in Singapore, Halpern took 3rd place in V1 500 – Master 70 – Men – Final – single person outrigger canoe
| 1 | DOUGHERTY, Tim | USA | 2:43.52 | |
| 2 | BERNADINO, Rudolph | TAHITI | 2:43.74 | +0.22 |
| 3 | HALPERN, David | USA | 2:48.87 | +5.35 |
| 4 | TERIIPAIA, Totomona | TAHITI | 2:51.21 | +7.69 |
| 5 | LONIE, Bill | AUSTRALIA | 2:53.07 | +9.55 |
| 6 | KING, David | NEW ZEALAND | 2:53.47 | +9.95 |
| 7 | MARSTON, Chris | HAWAI’I | 3:06.83 | +23.31 |
| 8 | TEMPEST, Stewart | AUSTRALIA | 3:09.32 | +25.80 |
He also won bronze in the V6 500 meter and bronze in the V12 500 meter. V6 is a six person canoe, V12 is a 12 person canoe.
Halpern has a long list of accomplishments in competition.
According to Grokipedia: David Halpern achieved significant success in national flatwater kayaking competitions during the early 1980s, establishing himself as a prominent figure in American sprint kayaking. At the 1981 National Sports Festival, he secured four gold medals and two silver medals across various events, highlighting his versatility and dominance in the discipline.Throughout his career leading up to the 1984 Olympics, Halpern won twelve U.S. National Championships in flatwater kayaking, earning numerous top placements that contributed to his reputation as a top competitor. By 1984, he had progressed to become the U.S. National Champion in multiple events, including the K-2 500 m, K-2 1,000 m, K-4 500 m, K-4 1,000 m, and K-4 10,000 m, reflecting consistent excellence in team and individual formats. He served on the U.S. National Team from 1981 to 1985.While Halpern’s pre-Olympic international exposure was limited, his national achievements positioned him as a key member of the U.S. elite kayak team by 1983, preparing for higher-level sprint kayak competitions.
Sculptures by David Halpern
Currently on San Juan Island, Halpern is known among other things for his sculptures, his writing, and for founding the San Juan Island Outrigger and Kayak Club.. Several of the sculptures are on display at the San Juan Island Sculpture Park.
San Juan Outrigger and Kayak club members paddling in a 4-person outrigger earlier this week.
The San Juan Island Outrigger and Kayak Club meets 2 to 3 times per week at Shipyard Cove. Members board either 6-person or 4-person outriggers. Club events include the classic Round Shaw Race, an annual canoe campout on Lopez Island and a Spring outrigger trip to Yellow Island.