Hoe Aroha Whanau o Mauao club captain Howard James said the number of teams his club has entered is indicative of the growing popularity of the sport.
"It's the most we've had for a while, there seems to be a bit of a resurgence," James said.
Some of the crews have competed in Rarotonga in preparation, which James hopes will hold them in good stead once the event gets under way.
He believed lane selection would be important, as would an understanding that the canoe would behave differently on Lake Karapiro.
"We're used to salt water, and the boat reacts differently in fresh water. The boat is a bit heavier in the salt water, but we've done all the training."
Waka ama New Zealand chief executive Lara Collins believed this year's event would be the biggest yet.
"The number of crews signing up has been quite phenomenal, and we're expecting a bumper crowd," Collins said.
"What's great also is that we're seeing more kids of all ages giving waka ama racing a go. That's fantastic for our sport.
"The paddlers are all competitive, but everyone definitely has a lot of fun too. And with more than 10,000 people expected to line the banks, the atmosphere will be electric."
