Clubs and paddlers from across the country, and even England, converged on Kaiteriteri last weekend for the biggest Waka Ama event in the South Island.
The Motueka Waka Ama Club was staging Waka Te Tasman for the 25th year with mens, womens, mixed and junior racing in singles, doubles and six-person teams over Friday night and all-day Saturday.
Up to 230 competitors took part in the marquee event, ranging from 12-year-olds to 70 plus.
“Waka Te Tasman has evolved a lot over the years. It used to be more of a marathon race but we have modified that and it is more spectator-friendly,” says club president Callum Sebualala.
The springy and unpredictable weather conditions prompted organisers to change the usual course and keep it closer to shore.
“We are all friends on the beach but it turns competitive battling each other on the water. It may look as though we are just paddling but it is really hard work, especially with the strong headwinds,” declares Callum, who dominated the single racing in the opening session.
That competition is part of the appeal for Brendan Timmins who travelled up from Dunedin to race with the leading Christchurch club Te Waka Pounamu.
Brendan was an original Highlander, debuting in Super Rugby in 1996 and playing for seven seasons.
“A prop from my club rugby days in Dunedin wanted me to get into paddling. I finally relented, had one paddle and I was hooked,” enthuses the 55-year-old who is now president of the South Island Waka clubs.
“The beauty is it captures everything that was rugby for me. Physicality, competition and camaraderie. They quite like that I can sit in the middle of the waka and just pull hard,” says the former lock who competed in the senior masters six-man event.
The friendly nature was highlighted by a visiting English team being able to compete under the Motueka club umbrella before heading to Rarotonga for the Vaka Eiva international outrigger canoe festival, the biggest sporting event on the Cook Islands calendar.
