Paddleboarding a stand-up event
Get your paddles ready – the first ever mid winter stand up paddleboard race tour of Northland is about to make a splash in Kerikeri.
The aim of the three-day event is to attract racers from around New Zealand to travel north for Queen’s Birthday weekend.
It starts with the Harcourts Bay of Islands Stone Store Standup at Kerikeri Basin on June 4, with registration between 1-2pm. There will be a variety of races from junior to 5.5km races starting at 3pm and finishing at 4pm.
‘‘We’re hoping it could build up in the next few years and could be recognised as an international event.’’
Bill Dawes
That will be followed by kids racing and games, then prize giving and live music by Scarlet Fever at the Pear Tree.
On June 5 the tour moves north to Mangonui Harbour with racing starting mid morning, and finishes the following day with the ‘Bridge to Basin’ paddleboard race in Whangarei.
Organiser and chief instructor of Northland Paddleboarding Bill Dawes says paddleboard racing offers a fantastic whole body workout that burns lots of calories. It’s also relatively low impact and less stressful on the body than running.
The activity originated in Hawaii as an off-shoot of surfing.
Ten years ago it wasn’t even on the map, but now there are millions of stand-up paddlers worldwide, hundreds of different brands, international competition circuits, and Olympic recognition is on the horizon, Dawes says.
The idea of a competition came about from the Thursday paddleboard events at the Kerikeri basin and the establishment of clubs in Kerikeri, Mangonui and Whangarei.
‘‘It’s caught the imagination,’’ Dawes says.
‘‘We’re hoping it could build up in the next few years and could be recognised as an international event.’’
Age groups will include youth, open, masters (50+) and veteran (60+), male and female in each class. And it’s not just for the hard-core racers, cruisers and novices are just as welcome.
❚ Each event costs $25 to enter or $20 each to enter all three. To enter visit supnorth.nz or get more information from Harcourts offices in Kerikeri, Paihia, Russell, Kaikohe & Coopers Beach or at the Pear Tree Restaurant.