Schools race in waka ama

Six Wanganui region schools are among the record turnout for today's start of the ActivePost National Secondary Schools Waka Ama Championships.

From today through to Friday, Rotorua's Blue Lake will host 482 teams from 90 schools paddling for their shot at the national titles.

In total, 1500 students are expected in the various classes across the Under 19 and Under 16 divisions.

Flying this region's flag are teams from Wanganui City College, Wanganui Collegiate, Wanganui High School, TKKM o Tupoho, Te Kura o Kokohuia and Turakina Maori Girls' College.

Lara Collins, chief executive of Waka Ama New Zealand, said that despite being around for only 12 years, the championships have expanded into one of New Zealand's largest secondary school sports events - second only to rowing's Maadi Cup.

"The growth in participants has been quite phenomenal really and I think the secret to its popularity is that waka ama is quite simple for kids to take up. The atmosphere at all our race meets is electric. The paddlers are all very competitive but everyone definitely has a lot of fun, too," Collins said.

Six paddlers work as a team over varied distances from 500m and 1500m to the marathon races of 30km to 75km.

The ama, or outrigger, on the left-hand side balances the waka, helping it speed through the water with each stroke of the paddlers.

In Rotorua, the schools will compete for national honours in teams with one, six or 12 paddlers over distances of 250m to 500m.