"I've got the waka ama bug now and I'm in it for the long haul. In a way it's good nanny and her mates from the Heretaunga Ararau O Ngati Kahungunu Waka Ama Roopu couldn't form a crew through lack of numbers ... she can watch me at nationals now."
Both of the adaptive crews will race at the nationals on Saturday, the penultimate day of the six-day event. Both six person crews (three disabled and three able bodied paddlers) will race in 250m and 500m events against at least four other adaptive crews from around the country.
Former world champions, hubby and wife combo Maika and Roni Nuku, coach both crews. Maika, his father Tamihana, who is another with long-serving international experience on his CV and daughter Pareputiputi are the able bodied paddlers in one crew while Roni will be joined by Wilray Price and Joel Ngatuere in the other crew.
"We're not putting any pressure on these crews in terms of expectations. We're just thrilled that they are out there doing it ... we see the smiles on their faces and that inspires us when it's our turn to race. So they're giving to us like we're giving to them," Roni Nuku said.
"They've only been training less than a month so they're making good progress."
Some of the club's eight adaptive paddlers who are aged 13 to 64 are wheelchair-bound. Others like 64-year-old Valentine Irwin have become less reliant on wheelchairs.
Irwin was confined to a wheelchair with injuries after falling down a mountain during a climbing expedition near Nuhaka. His determination during yesterday's training session was phenomenal.
Thirteen-year-old Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Ara Hou student Ocean-Jewel Pomare-Tocker has to have her legs broken once a year until she is 16 so her feet can be reshaped.
Roni Nuku said the adaptive paddlers are on the hunt for financial support to assist their nationals quest.
"They don't have regular employment so if anybody can assist with money for paddling shirts or petrol vouchers it would be gladly received."
Haeata Ocean Sports will field 24 paddlers at the 26th annual ActivePost-sponsored nationals. The Bay's other three clubs, Heretaunga Ararau O Ngati Kahungunu Waka Ama Roopu, Maraenui Rugby and Sports and Te Rau Oranga O Ngati Kahungunu Waka Ama Club will also be represented.
A record 3000 paddlers representing 61 clubs will be in action. Three women's crews from Papua New Guinea and crews from Australia will give the regatta an international flavour.
From Monday clubs will compete for national honours in one, six and 12-paddler teams over 250m, 500m, 1000m and 1500m. Spectators get the most thrills from the hairpin turns at the 250m mark in the six paddler 1000m and 1500m races.
The Haeata Ocean Sports Club's two adaptive crews are:
Anaru Robin, Charlie Wallis, Nicky-Lee Epps, Roni Nuku, Wilray Price, Joel Ngatuere.
Chris Perley, Valentine Irwin, Ocean-Jewel Pomare-Tocker, Tamihana Nuku, Maika Nuku, Pareputiputi Nuku.
