Up to 2500 paddlers are expected to participate in the 2012 New Zealand Post National Waka Ama Sprint Championships at Lake Karapiro next week.
From Tuesday through to Saturday, January 21, an estimated 10,000 spectators will witness the five-day event involving teams from 55 clubs around the country. Club paddlers, travelling to the event, are coming from as far afield as the South Island and Kaitaia.
Saturday will see the first New Zealand Post corporate waka ama challenge final. It will see the top New Zealand Post corporate teams from Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch race against each other for the right to be the best New Zealand Post waka ama team.
"This is a fantastic way to promote our relationship with our new sponsor - New Zealand Post. It adds value to our event and gives New Zealand Post employees a chance to experience the sport for themselves," says Lara Collins of Waka Ama New Zealand.
Tuesday and Wednesday races will be dedicated to juniors aged seven to 19. Thursday's racing is for individuals on single person waka ama canoes and Friday and Saturday's races are for adults aged 20 to over 70.
The growing sport of waka ama sees six paddlers working as a team over varied distances from 500m and 1500m to marathon races of 30 to 75km. The ama or outrigger on the left-hand side balances the waka or canoe, helping it to speed through the water with each stroke of the paddlers.
This very competitive sport also provides a unique link with the past. Outrigger canoes have been used by every Polynesian culture for thousands of years as a means of transport and a way of life and, although the building materials have changed, the technique for paddling remains.
The championship race distances are sprints with the shortest distance being 250m and the longest 1500m. There are straight races and races where the crews have to do up to five hairpin turns, adding excitement for spectator.
The event will be promoting an important water safety message throughout the week and running swimming instruction for youth while the waka ama racing is taking place.
With alarming drowning statistics in New Zealand, this event offers the opportunity for waka ama paddlers to learn more about taking better care of themselves and their mates in our oceans, rivers and waterways.
Water Safety New Zealand will lead the education component of the event. Chief executive Matt Claridge says both Maori and Pacific Island groups are over-represented in our nation's drowning statistics and the waka ama nationals present the ideal opportunity to deliver vital water safety messages and education to participants and their support networks.
"Our team will be on site for the duration, working with our partners, to promote safety as the first priority for any aquatic-based activity."
There is no entry fee for spectators.
For more info please contact Lara Collins on 0275484612. Lane draw and race schedule can be found at www.wakaama.co.nz