Two Whanganui clubs will be looking to make a splash next week when they head up to Lake Karapiro for the Te Wānanga o Aotearoa National Waka Ama Sprint Championships.
Nearly 3500 paddlers are scheduled to race from 66 clubs throughout Aotearoa along with 14 corporate teams for the 32nd annual nationals, and some 10,000 spectators are expected to be lakeside for the regatta.
Te Ringa Miti Tai Heke Whanganui Waka Ama Club, based in Putiki, and the Whanganui River Outrigger Canoe Club, from Aramoho, are heading up to Cambridge early next week.
The crews have their last session on the water tomorrow.
Te Ringa Miti Tai Heke Whanganui Waka Ama Club president Hone Tamehana said five of their crews were heading to Lake Karapiro.