Waka Ama team Paddle Fly off to World Champs in Tahiti, front to back Kewene Edmonds, Tane Heta,Toi Munroe, Mano Herewini, Haki Thompson and Carrell Mourunga.Photo/Tania White
Waka Ama team Paddle Fly off to World Champs in Tahiti, front to back Kewene Edmonds, Tane Heta,Toi Munroe, Mano Herewini, Haki Thompson and Carrell Mourunga.Photo/Tania White
A team of young Northland waka ama paddlers are hoping hours of training on and off the water will pay dividends when they hit the warm waters of Tahiti and paddle against the best in the world.
Team Paddle Fly, from the Mitamitaga Waka Ama Club, are about to compete in the 18th edition of the International Va'a Federation (IVF) World Sprints which begins in French Polynesia from Thursday next week.
The team of six qualified for Tahiti with a gold medal in the J19 500m race and a bronze in the 1000m race at nationals on Lake Karapiro earlier in January.
Since then their focus has been on Tahiti. Training over winter has been demanding but the team has not slacked off.
The team has been coached by experienced Whangārei-based paddler Steve Roulston, who knows what it's like to collect gold on the international paddling scene.
Waka Ama team Paddle Fly off to World Champs in Tahiti L-R Toi Munroe, Carrell Mourunga, Mano Herewini, coach Stephen Roulston, Kewene Edmonds, Tane Heta and Haki Thompson.
Roulston was part of the elite men's team that claimed gold in the premier men's grade on the Gold Coast at the last World Champs two years ago.
Hours on the water concentrating on technique has been complemented by gym work at Kensington Fitness Centre which has included sitting in the sauna in preparation for paddling in 30C-plus temperatures.
In addition the mental fortitude of the paddlers has been strengthened thanks to sessions with High Performance coach Kelly McCallum.
"We will have a few days to practise when we get there to get used to the heat and the different waka. It's going to be interesting racing against the Tahitians in their own water," Carrell Mourunga said.
The Whangarei Boys High School student said the team was well aware it was going to be a big challenge against the best paddlers from around the world in their age group.
Toi Munroe said training had been intense but every team going to the world championships would have been training just as hard.
The youngest member of the team Tane Heta, who turned 16 last week, was looking for to the vibe of racing in Tahiti.
While the paddlers have committed to training hard there has been a dedicated team working hard behind the scenes fundraising for the expensive trip.
Lead by team manager Shontelle Ferguson there have been quiz nights, barbeques and hangi organised to raise the funds. Then there have been those who have sponsored the team including Refining NZ, Ngati Wai, Nga Puhi Runanga, Stan Semenoff Transport Ltd and Kensington Fitness Centre.
The opening ceremony is tomorrow with racing starting on Thursday with a show of dance music to showcase the island and her people and will be officially hosted by the city of Pirae on the main island of Tahiti.
A number of Far North competitors feature in the field of 2100 paddlers from 34 countries set to battle for a number of titles over 11 days at the championships.
Having over 560 paddlers representing 33 clubs from Kaitaia to Queenstown makes New Zealand the largest contingent at the event and in a solid position to bring back plenty of gold.
The first of the official race events will have the best of the best from each country take part in the elite competition, with each country permitted one team per category (junior men, junior women, open men and open women) over two days of racing. Club racing takes place over the next six days with paddlers from throughout New Zealand representing 33 clubs from Kerikeri to Queenstown to bring home the club medals on offer.
One of New Zealand's strongest medal contenders to win an individual title is Taipa's Tupuria King in the open men's grade.
Not only will the action on the water be exhilarating but the atmosphere at the event is sure to impress with the hospitable nature of the Tahitian hosts, Waka Ama New Zealand chief executive Lara Collins said.
"The level of racing is like no other va'a event in the World. Not only are the best of the best from each county racing but the club event encompasses all age groups which reflects the inclusive and whanau nature of our sport. All of the gruelling winter training will come to fruition in Tahiti and I am very excited to see all paddlers - club, elite and para - showcase why Aotearoa is a force to be reckoned with in the va'a world."
World Waka Ama Sprints - Tai Tokerau paddlers: Over 2100 paddlers are expected at the Worlds Waka Ama Sprints in Tāhiti Nui , 550 from Aotearoa, 60 from Tai Tokerau clubs.
To qualify for the World Sprints, teams had to gain top 6 placings, individuals top 4 placings in their age divisions in the recent January national Ngā Kaihoe o Aotearoa Sprints finals.
There are eight regional teams who have combined under three main clubs : Ngāti Rēhia, Parihaka and Mitimataga.
Aotearoa w1 Representatives from Tai Tokerau Clubs (18 reps) J16 Men Tane Heta J19 Men Toitehutahi Munroe J19 Women Zane Heta Open Men Tupuria King, Para Men William Noble & Andrew Priest Master Women 50s Shelley Hill Master Men 50s Tony Munroe Master Men 60s David King & Bill Halkyard Master Women 60s Liz Tane, Kura Heke & Maria Collier Master Men 70s Noel Clarke, Charlie Symons, Theo Vale, David McFarlane Master Women 70s Sherry Carne
Team Representatives from Tai Tokerau Clubs: Mitamataga Team Name Paddle Fly Junior 19 Men ( former world winners known as Ngāti Rēhia Fat Oysters) Tane Heta Ruamano Herewini Kewene Edmonds Carrell Morunga Haki Thompson Toitehutahi Munroe Coach Steve Roulston
Ngāti Rehia Team Name Oysters Reloaded Junior 19 Men Julian Wah Mason Matthews William Taylor Jimmy Lawrence Shannon Hughes Papahia Te Tai Coach Danny Kaiawe
Tai Tokerau Junior under 19 women paddling for Tamaki Club Te Paerangi Team Name - Tiare Māori Mitamataga kaihoe Zane Heta & Te Arawa Tūmai
Open Men Ngā Hoe Horo Tupu King NZ Elite Squad Mitamataga kaihoe Jamille Ruka paddling for Pineula
Master Women 60s Ngāti Rēhia Club Team Name Wahine Rehutai Esta Proctor Caren Fox Mala Grant Moira Rauputu Marlene Nikora Marinna Millanta-Lowrey Beverley Murray
Master Men 60s Ngāti Rēhia Club Team Name Terminal Velocity Tony Carne William Halkyard Wallace Poa Leon Williams Phillip Ash Kevin Marevich
Master Men 70s Parihaka Club Team Name Kotuku Noel Clarke Charlie Symons David McFarland Paora Howe Howard Hyland Theo Vale
Master Women 70s Sherry Carne paddling for Aratika - Te Ara Pounamu
