More than 1000 paddlers from 56 clubs are heading home from the Coromandel peninsula following a successful three-day Waka Ama Long Distance Nationals competition in Whitianga.
The 2023 Waka Ama Long Distance Nationals came to an end with a final race this morning at Buffalo Beach, Whitianga.
Saturday April 22 was another day of challenging conditions with over 600 keen waka ama paddlers taking to the waters of Te Whanganui-a-Hei in some wet and windy conditions completing various distances of a 8km circuit course.
“The last race of the day was the W6 men from Open division up to Golden Masters.
It was a tight competition across the different divisions as crews gave it their all to gain a national championship title and secure a spot in the Aotearoa Elite team for the upcoming World Champs.
Elite Reti from Ngā Hoe Horo won both the J16 Men W1 rudderless and W1 ruddered races, an impressive effort racing in back to back races.
After a postponement from Friday, paddlers came together one more time this morning, Sunday April 23, for the final race of the event and were greeted by some pristine conditions with calm waters and clear skies.
The final race was W6 J16 and W6 Open short-course, both completing a 8km race course.
Waka Ama NZ will be taking an Aotearoa Elite team to the International Va’a Federation World Distance Championships to be held in Samoa from August 10-19 2023. Confirmation of the full New Zealand team will be confirmed in coming weeks.
Credit: sunlive.co.nz
