Waka Ama: Rotorua paddlers among many competing for titles at Long Distance Nationals

Hei Matau Paddlers Anahera Smith, Nataliah Kingi, Khobi Paretoa, Oceania Pene, Marewa Hudson and Ngatuire Hapi train on Lake Rotorua before this weekend's Long Distance Nationals. Photo / Supplied

Rotorua waka ama club Hei Matau Paddlers are aiming to continue a golden run at this weekend's Long Distance Nationals.

The club makes up nearly 40 of the 1119 paddlers competing in the four-day event, which begins in Auckland tomorrow. Hei Matau has won the past five national titles in the J16 W6 girls race, which will be 12km this year, and their secretary Stevie Paretoa says it is a record they want to continue.

"It is an important event for the club to continue what they have achieved in the past. Apart from two paddlers we have a new J16 team this year, the others have moved up into the J19 category," Paretoa says.

"It is our coaches that push them to do more distance paddling, and they maintain the same type of training throughout the year. Coach Ray Timihou also pushes them to do well in school as well, so they have to do their homework before they can get out on the water."

The paddlers train on Lake Rotorua but will have to adapt to racing in the harbour this weekend.

"Training with no current is the main difference to training on the lake but they train all year round in rain or side winds. It will be tough and the past two years the nationals have been in Napier and before that in Tauranga. This year we are in a harbour rather than out in the open."

The club also has two J19 boys teams, one of which will be paddling at their first Long Distance Nationals, having previously paddled only at the Sprints Nationals. Current J16 girls W1 and OC1 champion Khobi Paretoa will be defending her titles this year as well.

Long Distance Nationals chairwoman Michelle McLean says national titles are not the only prizes paddlers are pursuing this weekend.

"This event it is a qualifier for the world champs in Australia later in the year. The elite teams have been selected but other teams are selected from this event.

"Long distance takes a lot of team work and commitment and compared to the sprint events, it requires a lot more strategy and an ability to read the water. You are on the water for a lot longer, so depending on where you are on the course and the conditions, the changes can have an impact."

McLean says this year's nationals has a big increase in numbers compared with the 2018 event, which featured about 800 paddlers.

"I think nationally the sport has a strong following and it includes paddlers from young children to the over 70s and it is a fairly gender-balanced sport."

Bay of Plenty clubs competing at the Long Distance Nationals:
Hei Matau Paddlers
Hoe Aroha whānau o Mauao
Ruamata Waka Ama Club
Tarawera Outrigger Canoe Club
Taupo Waka Ama Club
Tauranga Moana Outrigger Canoe Club
Te Au Rere Waka Ama Club
Waka Ama O Whakatāne