Pete Bywater and Tracey Kingi are off to Hawaii in a week or so for the Queen Lili’uokalani Outrigger Canoe Race in Kona. Pete is going with a mens senior masters crew organised by Rob Smith (Mr Kialoa), and Tracey with a womens senior masters crew. Both crews are from the Waitaha Waka Ama club in Lyttelton.
Long distance fitness is not something that just happens
In order to get fit some of us have been supporting Pete for long distance training and having a blast as he thinks up new and more tortuous routes around Tasman Bay. He was trying to draw a face on Tasman Bay with his mapping system. We didn’t quite make that, but we had fun trying.
Long distance fitness is not something that just happens. We’ve been paddling with Pete since early June and gradually building up the distances. The epic trips were Cable Bay and back in late July (44km), and Kaiteriteri to Nelson across Tasman Bay (36km) after winning the winter series in mid August.
Thanks Pete, its been and honour and privileged to be included in the training. We wish you both all the very best. Bring back all the details and maybe Maitahi can get a crew or two together for next year!
Tony, Seb, Dave, Pete, Jan & Rongmai after paddling back from Kaiteriteri to Nelson Marina
Here is data from some of our paddles.
Kaiteriteri to Nelson (36km, 4h 20m)
Strong currents and a northerly blew up – guess you can see where; a long slog for the last few kilometers through the cut and home up the Haven. A huge thanks to the Maitahi whanau who waited at the end and helped us get the waka up, cleaned and stowed away.
Cable Bay return (44km, 4h 20m)
We did swop a couple of paddlers at Cable Bay and have a 5 min refuelling stop. As the stats below show, we just kept getting stronger and stronger. We did have a favourable tide and current for going home, but the lift right the end was truly awesome. Average speed just over 10kph on the way back! A great day at the office, once again.
Cardinal maker plus a bit
Our average speed was around 9.2 kph on the way out and 9.3 after we turned to come home
Cardinal Marker to the Boulder Bank (25kms)
The little lift at the end was impressive, with us coming over the line at 13.8 kph. Not bad after 25 kms
Good Hydration and Nutrition are the key
Hydration & nutrition are critical for long distance waka ama paddling. Getting it right made all the difference to me. I was lucky to have the advice of my son, Brendyn who is a long distance trail runner and from Gareth at Kiwi Multi Sports in Tahunanui (conveniently just by Shane’s Raglan Roast cafe & the Kitesurf shop). Gareth recommended “Tailwind” nutrition and hydration powder as a complete energy and electrolyte mix for my hydration pack as just using the electrolytes hadn’t worked for me on an earlier paddle.
If you’d like more details on nutrition and hydration for long distance waka ama paddles read my post on GoMinimal.
About the Queen Lili‘uokalani Long Distance Canoe Race
The 2017 Queen Lili‘uokalani Long Distance Canoe Race – the world’s largest long distance outrigger canoe race – welcomes paddlers from around the world to its starting line for five days of exciting canoe racing Aug. 31 through Sept. 4, 2017.
The signature 18-mile long distance race is slated for 2nd September 2017.
As the state’s official team sport, outrigger canoe racing is a significant and fundamental Hawaiian cultural event in Hawai‘i.
Kona’s place in canoe regatta history is unrivaled and for the last four decades, the Queen Lili‘uokalani Long Distance Canoe Races have continued to share Hawaiian culture through the sport of outrigger canoe racing with the world.
During five days of racing, Queen’s Race participants are immersed in culture and history, including the spectator-friendly 18-mile race on Saturday that follows a historically and culturally significant course between Kamakahonu Bay, a National Historic Site and Pu‘uhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park.
Its never too early or too late to start paddling waka ama
We always welcome new members to the Maitahi Outrigger Canoe Club.
We have social and racing waka ama crews catering for a wide variety of ages and abilities.