Waka ama:Team Kingfisher back and better than ever

Formerly known as Team Goodyear, waka ama crew Team Kingfisher are back.

The team, which has won numerous waka ama titles and for so long dominated long-distance waka ama racing has made a comeback. With a new sponsor and a rejuvenated crew Team Kingfisher competed in the Takapuna Cup at the weekend, finishing second to top Auckland crew Pineula.

Starting and finishing at Takapuna Beach, the 42km race rounds Rangitoto Island and is a prized cup for waka ama crews nationally.

Team Kingfisher spokesman Paul Roozendaal said it was good to get a crew back on the water.

"The last couple of seasons a lot of the guys have focused on singles or masters (age group). But we have a good blend of experience this year and are looking forward to getting back out there and racing as a crew."

Roozendaal said the team had a slow start and were sitting fifth after 10km.



"We were sort of looking around and were wondering what was going on and realised we needed to pick it up."

The crew, made up of Rotorua and Tauranga paddlers, started to pull back some of the other crews and after rounding Rangitoto found themselves in second and on the leader's tail.

"We had some great lines and caught right back up to just 100m [of Pineula]."

However, Roozendaal said the effort of trying to catch the Auckland side proved too much and in the end they had to battle to keep second place, to stay in front of Manukau Open Men's.

"We ended up using too much energy chasing Pineula then realised Manukau were making a run at us. So in the end we had to hold on and keep them out."

Roozendaal said it was a good effort from a crew who hadn't done a lot of training and they were now looking to compete in the Tauranga Harbour Challenge in March.