For the first time an all-Nelson waka ama team will contest the world champs, confident that home-training advantage will pay off.
Richmond personal trainer Jason Hulena assembled the Whakatū Marae V02 crew 18 months ago and set about getting all six masters paddlers’ technical ability up to the same level.
That involved getting out on the water four times a week at the Nelson Marina.
The team had to finish in the top six at the New Zealand Waka Ama Championships at Lake Karapiro in January to qualify for the world sprints in Singapore next month.
“We just scraped in. There were 28 crews competing and we finished sixth in both the 500m and 1000m sprints,” says Jason, who is coach and captain.
The six-man crew has honed its techniques since then.
“We do things differently from everyone else with our techniques. Effectively when it comes turning the canoe, other crews use four people to turn and two keep paddling and that drops their speed down from 15 kilometres per hour to about 3-4kms.
“But we use the steering blades in the front and back seats, and the other four keep paddling and maintain speed at 9kms. It is a massive advantage. While the weight of the wakas all have to be the same, there are no regulations to stop being innovative. The way you do it, is up to you,” explains the 55-year-old gym owner, who has been paddling since 2017.
The Whakatū Marae crew uses the latest scientific-based training methods with emphasis on aerobic and anaerobic fitness.
Craig Allen is in seat, part of the engine room, and is relishing the toughest preparation he has done in 20 years of waka ama.
“All being based here means we have had 10 to 20 more training sessions than we would have in other campaigns. Jason sure knows how to motivate us,” declares the freshwater scientist.
Craig’s best result was making the finals of the world champs in Tahiti in 2018.
“We were the only non-Tahitian crew to get that far.”
Jason insists they are setting their sights high this time too.
“There are more than 30 countries and over 3,000 paddlers competing in Singapore. We want to keep progressing, make the masters finals and leave it all out there,” says the driving force behind the team.
The Whakatū Marae V02 crew will have its “captain’s run expo” on the Maitai River on Saturday, a chance for the public to see them in full flight.
The team will start near Trafalgar Park, at midday, where there’s a viewing platform.
It is a 250m stretch of water so the paddlers will make four turns and replicate the 1000m sprint distance.
Three other Nelson competitors are also heading to the Singapore worlds including 76-year-old Jan Blythe.
“Success is qualifying for the masters 75 at my age,” quips Jan.
She took up the sport at 63 and a half and it has already taken her to Tahiti, London, Samoa and Hawaii.
“Sitting down on the water appealed to me as I had been sitting on the couch for 20m years.”
Jan, who is linked with both the Te Tai o Aorere Tasman Bay and Maitahi outrigger clubs, will contest the singles and team events.
She is part of a composite Porirua-based side which will also have paddlers from Otaki and Tauranga.
“There are 550 New Zealand paddlers taking part. We are going to Singapore earlier because we are a bit older and need to acclimatize to the heat and humidity,” says Jan.
Tracey Kingi and Callum O’Leary round out the Nelson contingent, competing for Gisborne and Auckland waka ama clubs.
