Canoeing: Kiwis battle winds and world's best

Team Aotearoa took on some of the world's best paddlers to circumnavigate Tahiti in the 166km Tahiti Nui Va'a 2013 race this week. The team included paddlers Paul Roozendaal and Troy Dolman from Tauranga.

Here is Roozendaal's account:

Three days and 166km finally done. We finished 23rd overall. I have never been in such a tough race.

Not only is the distance hard, but also so many good teams.

The top five were fully professional teams and the quality showed as they were a level ahead.

Once we landed in Tahiti and tested some canoes, we were lucky enough to meet a legend of Tahiti, Lewis Laughlin, who offered to coach and help us with our race. He has won may world championships and, having him with us, was definitely helpful.

The race went right around the island of Tahiti. The first day was 70km with a lot of head wind and we finished 27th.

Day two was the toughest with a big swell and crosswind.

We paddled past the famous Teahupoo wave which had an 8m swell the week before. Lucky for us it was much smaller when we raced.

We finished day two and moved into 24th spot with combined times.

Day three was the most fun with the wind at our back - this way the canoe could catch the wave and give us a rest.

It was an awesome event. We learned so much about paddling and how professional they are in Tahiti.

We are happy with our overall result of 23rd and it never came easy.

It would not have been possible to compete without the help from our sponsors East Coast Paddler.