Rafting: White knuckle action ahead

It's going to be a big holiday weekend for local white water rafters as they compete at the New Zealand Championships on rivers around the region - the Kaituna, Tarawera and Rangitaiki.

There is a lot at stake. The event doubles as selection for the 2013 IRF White Water World Championships on the same rivers, in November next year.

The Okere Ladies are favourites to take out the open women's category. The crew is stacked with former world champions including Nikki Kelly and Denise (Buba) Martin who won the gold medals a remarkable four times, from 1999 to 2001 and in 2003.

They are excited to be racing at home in front of friends and family.

"It's also about the opportunity to win gold," said Kelly. "I'm a very competitive person and gutted any time we come up short."

Local and international paddlers will take part in the pre-worlds event including teams from the Czech Republic, Australia and Japan.

"We are really enjoying being here," said Takuya Ikeda of Team Teikei Japan. "We did nine runs on our first practice day on the Kaituna, though we flipped twice and broke two paddles."

This Friday is the short, sharp Sprint and Head-to-Head races on the Kaituna.

"The Kaituna is deep and narrow with drops and lots going on," said Rotorua-based rafter Nick Chater, who will be competing this weekend and knows the rivers of the region very well.

"There are opportunities to make distinct choices about lines and push people off theirs."

On Saturday the Slalom is in Kawerau on the Tarawera.

"This is the easiest of the sections and the course designer will be able to make the course tight and technical," said Chater.

The finale will be the Down River race on the Rangitaiki on Sunday.

"The Rangitaiki is technical and very busy, with a flat section in the middle, and the team that wins this will need to be good all-rounders, able to make good lines choices, be technically very good and have huge fitness," said Chater.

The Down River is for double points and usually determines the titles. This year it will also determine who races on home water at the World Championships.

About 50 crews are expected to travel to New Zealand next year - 30 men's and 20 women's teams. Crews will come from all over the world, including the traditional powerhouses of Central Europe, Japan and South America.

For more detailed event and venue information see www.2013raftingworldsnz.com.