April 23, 2019
Waka marathons true test of grit
It was a true test of physical and mental stamina on Waitemata Harbour this weekend as individuals and teams of paddlers fought it out in the Port of Auckland Long Distance Nationals.
Waka Ama New Zealand chief executive Lara Collins says the event drew 1000 kaihoe, a 25 percent increase on last year's event in Napier.
The courses around the harbour ranged fom 12 to 24 kilometres, with races taking up to three hours.
Coordination among the six-person teams was critical.
"The waka only goes fast if everybody is paddling in time together and so if you are an hour and a half into it and your mind is wandering and thinking about coffee what you are having for lunch you are likely to go out of town from your mates and the waka will go slower and you will take longer," Ms Collins says.
Teams from Gisborne's powerhouse Horouta club won both the male and female J19 divisions, giving them entry to the world championships in Australia in August.
Other notable results were Team Mulivai from the Akarana Club winning the open men's division and Napier's Manuz & Jemimaz taken the women's tohu, Tūrangawaewae winning the masters men, teams from Rotorua's Ruamatā club winning the women's masters and senior masters titles, and Auckland's Taniwha club taking the men's masters and golden masters.
Next year's Long Distance Nationals will be in Picton.
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