World Rafting Champs set to make big splash

TOUGH COMPETITION: The New Zealand masters men's rafting team train for the 2013 World Rafting Championships starting today. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER 021113AW04

The 2013 World Rafting Championships get under way today marking a "marvellous" occasion for Rotorua and Kawerau.

About 600 athletes in 71 teams from 29 countries will be taking extreme paddling to new levels as the whitewater championships run until November 24.

The world champs begin with the junior and youth competitions today, ending on Sunday.

The senior and masters' teams will begin official practice on Monday followed by racing next Thursday to Sunday.

Kawerau Mayor Malcolm Campbell said it was marvellous to get the world champs under way in New Zealand for the first time. "There's a huge amount of people in town and, if you head down to the Waterhouse Reserve, the place is buzzing."

Today the teams will be welcomed to Kawerau with a powhiri at Tarawera High School before walking the short distance to the Waterhouse Reserve where a karakia will take place.

The reserve will also hold a mega inflatable city, provided by Funworks, with some of the structures more than 15m long.

Lee Barton, Kawerau District Council's organiser for the event, said competitions would be held for locals to win tickets for entrance to the city.

An LED movie screen, also at the reserve, will show live footage from races over the 11 days of competition.

The open and masters slalom racing on Saturday, November 23, will be the showcase day for spectators at Tarawera River and is the culmination of the festival.

Racing will be staged on the Kaituna, Tarawera and Rangitaiki rivers.