Waka paddling a fun way to lose weight

Two years ago, Laurel Abraham was trying to find a sport she could enjoy despite being overweight.
She'd tried kayaking - but although she could squeeze into the kayak, the only way to get her 117kg frame out of it was for her friends to tip her out onto the beach. And a stint at dragon-boating was short-lived because it was hard to find a partner of similar weight in order to keep the boat balanced.
It was then, in the summer of 2008, that the 60-year-old grandmother rang up the Tauranga Moana Outrigger Canoe club and started waka ama, or outrigger paddling.
"It didn't matter that I was a big girl, even though I could only sit in the number three spot at the widest point of the canoe. And I've never looked back."
Today Laurel has lost 41kg and is one of a team of "golden masters", or over-55-yr-olds, who are great friends on and off the water. Together with their under-45 "senior master" clubmates, they train on the harbour two or three times a week.
"Just being out on the ocean is wonderful, it makes you feel really good," says Laurel. "And it's great being part of a team of women who are so supportive in everything."
Team captain Robyn Taylor says some of the women had never been in a dinghy before they started paddling.
"But they soon find it's a whole new world being out on the sea. It becomes quite addictive."
The technique for outrigger paddling differs from dragon boat racing in that paddlers switch their blades from side to side every few strokes. The canoes are narrower than dragon-boats, balanced by an outrigger or "ama", and there are six people to a team. There are also two-man and single canoes.
The golden masters women is one of several teams in the Tauranga Moana club club now preparing for the national championships in January - but there are many club members who paddle simply for the enjoyment of it. Recently the club celebrated its 20-year anniversary; and today it has around 60 members, ranging from teenagers to grandmothers like Laurel.
As well as tutoring four days a week in literacy, numeracy and business administration, Laurel looks after her young grandson after school - and she says thanks to paddling, Zumba and Weight Watchers, she has so much more energy for it all.
"I can't get on the water fast enough," she says. "Being part of a team is fantastic motivation to exercise - and there's no better environment in which to do it."
The club is always looking to welcome new members - and is offering a have-a-go session as part of Sport BOP's "Live to Play" initiative. Anyone wanting to give waka ama paddling a try should go to the Sulphur Point boat ramp at 3pm on Sunday, October 3.
For more information contact Rebecca Ryder on 0274 399 936 or 570 3261, or email tmoccnz@gmail.com