Waka Ama: Iron Maidens eye podium finish at worlds

Ngamata Maeva (left), Moana Whenuaroa, Gaylene Luscombe-Moore, Hilary Scott-Ker, Berta Brown and Karen Skipper-Hawaikirangi complete a training session for the world championships. Photo / Duncan Brown

Illness has taken its toll at various times during the Heretaunga Iron Maidens waka ama team's buildup to this month's world championships in Tahiti.

But crew member Hilary Scott-Ker will tell you it's a sacrifice the team, which also includes Ngamata Maeva, Moana Whenuaroa, Gaylene Luscombe-Moore, Berta Brown and Karen Skipper-Hawaikirangai, was prepared to make in their quest for a podium finish.

"We've been out on the water in temperatures around the 6 degrees mark. When we're in Tahiti we will be racing in temperatures around 30 degrees."

The Jon Matthews-coached Iron Maidens will compete in the senior masters women's age group (50-60 years) and tackle the W6 500m sprint and the W12 500m sprint which will see them combine with a crew from Gisborne's Horouta club. The crew leaves on Friday to acclimatise before the July 21-26 champs.

"In the W12 we would love to podium with Horouta and in the W6 we would like to get to the final," Scott-Ker said.

Should they tick these goals off it would make an appropriate finish to an incredible journey for the team, most of whom have been paddling for five to six years for various reasons but only combined in October last year to prepare for the January nationals. A couple of the paddlers had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past and Scott-Ker only discovered the sport last year when she went to a give-it-a-go evening at Clive River.

They qualified for Tahiti with a silver medal in the W12 at nationals and a sixth place in the W6. Since the nationals the Iron Maidens have trained for an average of one hour, four times a week on the water.

"There have also been gym sessions and last weekend we did two two-hour sessions out on the water. It has involved a huge commitment from our families," Scott-Ker said.

Often the crew would meet the Horouta crew in Wairoa so they could train together as a W12 crew. Scott-Ker said adapting their technique to a "Tahitian" style has been a major part of their training.

"We've done a lot of work on our technique, fitness and speed. Since Jon [Matthews] has been training us we've made huge improvement."

Scott-Ker predicted Tahitian and fellow Kiwi crews would provide the Iron Maidens with their toughest competition.

Coach Matthews clarified the technique changes Scott-Ker referred to.

"I wouldn't call it the Tahitian style. It's more the proper way of paddling ... we made subtle changes to improve the outcomes and get the processes right."

"This team has made huge gains in the last six months and at their full potential will be very competitive in Tahiti," Matthews said.

A Hurricanes rugby region age group title-winning coach and Maddison Trophy-winning Hawke's Bay premier club rugby coach, Matthews, described the Iron Maidens as one of the best teams he has worked with in his coaching career.

"They are a very motivated hard working group of women. I remember when I got them a strength and conditioning coach. That was a big mind shift for them but they are open-minded to new things," the Karamu High School teacher recalled.

"No one person stands out in the group and the group's dynamics are positive on and off the water."

"We laid the foundations with the work we did on technique, strength and fitness. In the latter stages we worked hard on the processes they will have to put into place to make the podium," Matthews said.

One individual Matthews wanted to single out was Sue Wood, the crew's seventh person.

"Sue won't be travelling to Tahiti. But she was at every single training to provide cover in case of injury and illness. That's the level of commitment within this group," he added.

Scott-Ker pointed out the Tahiti expedition would not have been possible without support from Hawke's Bay's Innov8 Group, Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and their Heretaunga Ararau O Ngati Kahungunu Waka Ama Club.