Gisborne women chosen as national coaches

SIEDA TUREIA — A love for sprint waka ama racing that began 16 years ago has culminated in the appointment of Sieda Tureia as the national development women’s coach. Tureia has been coached by some of New Zealand’s top sprint coaches, including Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell, Ace Cuthers and Kiwi Campbell, and has coached junior and senior women’s teams. As a coach, she gains satisfaction from seeing young women reach their potential. With experience as a competitive paddler, team captain, assistant coach and coach, Tureia says women in waka ama have few limits on what they can achieve in the sport. “I believe our young women can achieve at both junior and senior level with insight and guidance from a committed coach,” she says. As a member of the 2016 national women’s elite squad, she understands what is required for success. Picture by Paul Rickard

GISBORNE paddlers Kiwi Campbell and Sieda Tureia have been chosen by Waka Ama New Zealand as national sprint coaches for elite women and development women respectively.

The appointments have been made in preparation for the 2018 IVF World Sprint Championships, to be held in Tahiti in July.

Campbell was elite women’s sprint coach at the last world championships, held on the Sunshine Coast last year, and Tureia was a member of her squad.

The New Zealand team won gold in every race and helped put New Zealand on top of the medal tally for the first time, ahead of traditional champions Tahiti.

Tureia’s appointment continues the strong Gisborne link with the development of young waka ama paddlers. Her predecessor in the role of development coach was Mareikura Canoe Club founder and national waka ama pioneer Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell.

Waka Ama New Zealand have chosen Mark Malaki Williams and Maori Kava Tere Senior as the national sprint coaches for elite men and development men respectively. George Thomas is the national sprint coach for para va’a.