Junior paddlers getting race practice

VICTORY JOY: Horouta Waka Hoe junior paddlers celebrate victory at the national waka ama sprint championships at Lake Karapiro last January. Junior paddlers from throughout the district will take part in a race simulation day on city waterways on Monday as part of their preparation for this month’s nationals. New Zealand Herald picture

SOME of the district’s most promising waka ama paddlers will be in action on city waterways on Monday, when Horouta Waka Hoe members host their annual race simulation day for junior paddlers.

The aim is to give young paddlers race practice a week out from the start of the national waka ama sprint championships at Lake Karapiro.

Race organisation will be based at the marina at the confluence of the Waimata, Taruheru and Turanganui rivers.

Competitors aged from seven to 18 will take part in races from 250 metres to 1000m, with the latter distance including three turns.

The day will start at 8am with races for W1 (single-person) waka paddlers. Team races will start at 10.30am with the midget (seven to nine years) WT12 (waka taurua, 12-person double-hulled waka) 500m event.

The afternoon races will feature turns on the 250m course. These require the skills and techniques to turn the waka around the buoy without running over the flag and getting disqualified.

Finalists will be determined on times achieved. Four waka will race at once.

The sprint nationals this year are especially important for the J16 and J19 paddlers, as they are aiming to finish in the top six in their events to qualify for the IVF Va’a World Sprint Club Championships at Lake Kawana on the Sunshine Coast of Australia in May.

Clubs taking part in the race simulation day will include Hinekura Waka Ama, Horouta Waka Hoe, Mareikura Canoe Club and Tuatini Waka Ama Club.

Over 200 paddlers, whanau and supporters are expected. Racing will take place from “Watties wharf” near Breakers restaurant to the marina.

The close of competition on Monday will be marked by racing for parents, managers and coaches about 2.30pm.

At the last sprint nationals, Horouta Waka Hoe retained the top-club points trophy they had held for the previous two years.