Children give waka ama racing a try

MAKING PROGRESS: Waikirikiri School paddlers push ahead during a series of waka ama races at the marina yesterday. Front to back: Te Aokauirangi Moon, Mohiraia Abraham, Te Raipine Rangiuaia, Heaven Ngatoko-Biddle, Liana Watene and sports co-ordinator Albert Nepia. Picture by Liam Clayton

WAKA AMA

DOZENS of schoolchildren who are new to the sport of waka ama gave racing a try yesterday.

Organiser of the race day for intermediate-aged pupils, Keiha Waikari, said 30 crews took part in the sprints at the marina and most of the paddlers were inexperienced.

Waikari has done a lot of work over the years to introduce the sport to youngsters and coach them.

Waka ama fitted well with other sports that children were into and they could compete overseas at the age of 15 or 16, he said.

Waikirikiri School pupils Mohiraia Abraham and Hikurangi Niwha, both aged 11, were among those giving waka ama a go for the first time.

“It was challenging but fun at the same time,” Mohiraia said.

She enjoyed working with her team.

Hikurangi said it was hard to keep in time with the other paddlers but he enjoyed being part of the event.