Paddlers all set to represent region
Training has kicked into high gear for a waka ama club which is set to represent Taranaki at a national competition.
The Taranaki Outrigger Canoe Club is sending seven teams to the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals, which begin on January 16. The six-day-long competition will be held at Lake Karapiro in Cambridge.
From its base near the New Plymouth Yacht Club on Ngamotu Beach, paddlers have been out on the water for hours, honing their craft in preparation.
President and founding member Nathan Tuuta said it was an exciting time for the club, which had seen a growth in membership over the last two years.
When it first began, it had the bare minimum of 15 members but now the club had more than 50 people signed up.
Tuuta said while the membership was quite diverse, with people hailing from places like England, Canada and South Africa, Maori cultural tradition still played a key role in how the club operated.
‘‘It’s a real family oriented sport,’’ he said.
Tuuta said one of the things he liked about waka ama was its inclusivity. Men and women could race together and there was a place for people of all ages, from midgets (those aged 6-10 years) to masters.
‘‘I’ve done races where I’ve paddled against 76-year-olds,’’ Tuuta said.
The club regularly hosts an open day at its Ngamotu Beach base. One is taking place today from 12-2pm.
The events give members of the public a chance to get out on the water and have a go at waka ama.
Club member Marlene Tuuta said it had been great to see how far the younger paddlers had come and the confidence they had gained since they took up the sport.
Some of them had even overcome a fear of the water.
Thanks to a grant from the TSB Community Trust, the club has bought two waka, which are due to be delivered in early February.