Waka crews ready to do battle

Tai Tonga 41 Outrigger Canoe Club J16 women's crew (from front) Anahera Kawana, Lakan Haenga, Ariana Matautia, Dominique Taupa'u Rogan, Rongomai Eru and Shanara Wallace. Photo/Bevan Conley

Wanganui's two waka ama clubs have made their final preparations for the National Waka Ama Championships, being held at Lake Karapiro next week.

Both the Tai Tonga 41 Outrigger Canoe Club and the Te Ringa Miti Tai Heke Club are sending crews to compete at the 25th annual competition.

Karmen Wallace, who coaches several Tai Tonga crews, said the club's paddlers had recently been spending up to two hours a day practising, taking only Christmas Day off.

"They have been out on the water every day, they are very dedicated," she said.

"It gives the kids a real sense of achievement. We want to get into the finals and we want to win a medal.

"For us it's not just a sport, it's our life."

Wallace said the club would send 46 paddlers to Lake Karapiro, aged between 11 and 50, making up eight crews.

She was confident of the club's chances, especially the intermediate boys crew, who looked promising. However, there would be strong competition.

Wallace said the club had a setback this week after bad weather covered their Putiki boat ramp with river debris.

They could not access their usual three canoes, so had to borrow one for use by all their crews.

Te Ringa Miti Tai Heke club captain Anne Kauika said she was hoping for some good results.

"With all our crews that we are taking we are expecting them to at least make the semifinals," she said.

The club's crews were training at Lake Wiritoa, as the conditions are similar to those they would experience at Lake Karapiro, she said. Kauika said Te Ringa Miti Tai Heke were sending 40 paddlers, making up six crews.