Furious racers featuring in waka races
Spectators could be treated to some furious finishes this coming Saturday.
Sixty Waka Ama teams hit Taupo¯ for the fifth annual Taupo¯ Tewheke Challenge regatta on Saturday.
Hosted by Taupo¯ Waka Ama Club, the challenges includes both 7-kilometer and 21km races.
The 21km race goes past Acacia Bay to the Mine Bay Maori Rock Carvings, then to Wharewaka Point, then back to the Waikato River mouth.
Taupo¯ will field five teams, including three adult teams and two teams from Taupo¯ -nui-a-Tia College. The challenge has some intense rivalries, the college’s Lovneet Madre says.
‘‘The team we’re looking forward to beating is Rotorua Boys’ College,’’ the under-16 co-captain said.
‘‘When we start the [7km] race, it’ll look amazing. There will be 10 wakas lined up, pretty close, and it’s pretty intimidating – there’s a stare-down.
‘‘But when the flag comes down we just focus on paddling.’’
The race back from the halfway point can be thrilling, Madre said.
‘‘When we’re coming back, the crowd just goes wild trying to see who’s coming first.
There’s no finish line to cross, though. There’s a brief race on solid ground.
‘‘Someone has to jump out the waka and give a card to the race officials [on the shore],’’ Madre said. ‘‘It can be funny, because sometimes they jump and hit the water face-first.’’
John Thiele from Taupo¯ Waka Ama Club said the teams were primed for the race.
‘‘Our two J16 teams recently competed at the New Zealand Secondary School nationals at Rotorua’s Blue Lake/Tikitapu, with 116 schools.
In February, Taupo¯’s senior masters mixed team won the 10km Omokoroa Dash held in Tauranga
‘‘Over the years, Taupo¯ has had some of New Zealand’s top teams paddling here on our lake and again we have some elite paddlers competing,’’ Thiele said.
Taupo¯ Tewheke Challenge regatta: Saturday April 14 at Waikato River mouth, Ferry Rd. Men’s W6 race starts 9.15am. Novice and Junior race starts 11.15am. Women’s and Mixed race starts 12.45pm.