Rafting: Lights, rafts and plenty of action

NZ Masters Men on the Tarawera River during 2013 World Rafting Champs.

The Tarawera River in Kawerau will be lit up with floodlights this Saturday as it plays host to the rafting R6 National Selection Races.

Winners in various classes will earn the right to represent New Zealand at the R6 World Rafting Champs in Indonesia this November.

The Selection Races are made up of four disciplines with gradually weighted points in each discipline; teams with the most points at the end of the four disciplines will be selected to represent New Zealand.

For the first time in Kawerau, the Slalom (300 pts) discipline will take place under floodlights on Saturday evening, offering a completely new experience for both raft teams and spectators. This has been made possible through funding made available from NZCT.

Tim Marshall, New Zealand Rivers Association and Selections race director, said he was "looking forward to returning to Kawerau, which provides a world class slalom course that will be under lights this year."

The Time Trial Sprint (100 pts) will be first up on the Tarawera River, followed by the exciting Head 2 Head's (200 pts). Head to head raft racing is a hard-out battle between two teams entering into the rapids aiming for superiority to the finish line and a fine spectacle for the public to watch.

"Notably, there will be an open women's and men's team coming from Auckland University Canoe Club. Whilst they might not have the experience and opportunity to train on rivers they will be a force to reckon with in years to come. Rafting participation coming from outside the immediate Rotorua area is a good step in the direction of growth," said Raewyn Larcombe, spokeswoman for New Zealand Rivers Association.

Canoe Slalom BoP will be on site offering timing services throughout the day and Canoe Slalom BoP paddlers will hold a fun slalom race in between the evening raft runs - making for a full menu of slalom racing under lights.

Previous plans to hold the Down River on the nearby Rangitaiki River are now in doubt due to low water levels. With a late call (by Friday 10th) by the race director likely to take place to determine where the final discipline will be held.

The Tarawera River is the reserve venue for the Down River Endurance (400 pts) where winning teams will be decided.

Defending NZ World Champions from the men's masters and U19 women's have new recruits in their teams but largely remain unchanged from the crews in 2013.

Open women's and men's teams boasting the likes of Nikki Kelly and Sam Sutton will be part of incredibly experienced teams and among favourites to take out titles both nationally and in Indonesia come November.