The name Harker has been synonymous with surf lifesaving awards in New Zealand for decades but now the youngest member of the triumphant sporting family has added kayaking to his sporting resume.
Taris Hawker, 16, is a nationally ranked specialist ski paddler with an impressive list of titles, following inthe large footprints left in the sand by his dad Kim, aunty Janine, and grandfather Reg - who won five surf race titles.
The Mount College student decided to add more challenges to his already busy sporting life by taking on kayaking in the last year since the family moved from earthquake-hit Christchurch to Papamoa.
"I competed there for a year and a half in surf and would be in training in a full wetsuit and only be able to be out there for an hour because the water was so cold, but up here you are training in Speedos," he said.
"With kayaking it was getting dark at 4.30 there and you had to have a head lamp on training and had two layers of clothing and gloves ... . here I turn up to training most of the time with shirt off and in pants."
New Zealand's best training areas are in the Western Bay and Taris quickly excelled in the arduous paddling along the Wairoa River.
Consistent performances over the last 12 months have seen him leap up the national rankings to be picked for the New Zealand under-18 team to compete in Australia next week.
"I have definitely not given up on my surf ski but when I came up her a year ago I went from under-14 to under-16 grades and asked my dad how I could compete and he said to do kayaking in the winter.
"So that is why I got into it and it has improved my surf ski times as well ... I am lucky to have such motivating coaches as Scott Bicknell [kayak] and Kurt Wilson at Papamoa surf."
Harker showed he is in top form ahead of his international debut when he teamed up with Sam Roy (Otumoetai College) to win silver in the K2 1000m and K2 500m at the Oceania National kayak champs at the Blue Lakes.
