August 05, 2022
Waka ama becoming world sport
A 250-strong contingent of kai hoe from Aotearoa has arrived at Dorney Lake in Windsor, England, to take part in the 2022 IVF Va’a World Sprints competition.
Manukau Outrigger canoeing club founder James Papali’i says with the week-long regatta kicking off on Monday, he’s to get his paddle in the water.
He says the sport is growing in popularity outside the Pacific.
“Italy, England, Japan, the rest of the world is coming on in a big way in the waka ama. Italy has been in for a while but Japan’s just started, they’ve got a good contingent, and then you’ve got the traditional ones, Brazil, all the Pacific islands – Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, it’s truly a world event now,” Papali’i says.