Tauranga kayakers Mike Dawson and Luuka Jones have had their Olympic campaigns dented, after their boats were stolen in Manawatu yesterday.
Beijing Olympian Jones, New Zealand champion Dawson and Rotorua's Louise Jull are stuck on land until they get replacements.
The kayaks cost $4000 and are made in the Czech Republic. Dawsonflies out for Europe next week and needs a replacement before his world cup season starts.
"We're devastated. My boat has a lot of sentimental value attached to it as it was the one I paddled at the Beijing Olympics," Jones said. "The kayaks are our sport, it's like stealing a horse from an equestrian. These are canoe slalom boats, it's not like stealing a plastic kayak. These break if you don't paddle them properly."
The trio were in Mangahao for a five-day camp with Tauranga paddlers Callum and Ben Gibb, Waiariki Academy of Sport manager Jane Borren and sports conditioning coach Sam Thompson.
Dawson headed down to the river with the Gibbs brothers, only to discover the three kayaks, which had been padlocked together, were gone.
"Our boats were padlocked together so whoever took them would have worked pretty hard to steal them," Jones said. "We came down to have a really good training camp at the national whitewater centre but it's been cut short. We only had two sessions on the water. We did a gym session today and some training at Otaki surf club but there's nothing else we can do down here so we're coming home."
The thefts were reported to police.
The boats were quite noticeable, Jones said, as they had recently had New Zealand stickers stuck on them. The kayakers were now looking for ways to buy new boats to help them paddle at the world championships, a selection race for the London Olympics.
