Singapore World Champs are close

World Waka Ama Sprint Championships in Singapore are coming up really fast. The competition will be held in in Marina Bay, Singapore. We have a Nelson Senior Master crew and various “waifs and strays” going to worlds.

Dates:

  • 19th August Opening Ceremony
  • 20-22 August Elite V6 & V1
  • 23-29 August V6 Club Championships
  • 30-31 August Saver Days (in case of bad weather)

Who is going?

Jan Blythe
Master 75 Women V1: paddling for Aotearoa, New Zealand
Master 70 Women W12: paddling for Ngati Rehia (Far North) (Ngati Rehia – Hawaikinui)
Masters 75 Women W6: paddling for Hawaiknui Tuarua Waka Ama, Porirua (Manawaroa)
Masters 75 Women W12: paddling for Aratika Water Sports (Auckland) (Tiare O Te Moana)

Tracey Kingi
Golden Master Women W6: paddling for Horouta Waka Ama, Gisbourne (Hinewaiariki)
Golden Master Women W12: paddling for Heretaunga

VO2: Craig Allen,Phillip Harrhy, Seb Head, Stephen Ransby, Jason Hulena, Sean Timoney
Senior Master Men W6: paddling under Whakatū Marae Waka Ama (VO2)
Senior Master Men W12: paddling under Horouta Waka Ama (Paikea Masters)

Anisha Huntley
Master Women W6: paddling for Taranaki Outrigger Canoe (Hupsters)
Master Women W12: paddling for Taranaki Outrigger Canoe (Hine Wairere Hupsters)

Callum O’Leary
Open Master Men W6: paddling for Pineula, Auckland (Team Pineula)

Want to know what sprints involves?

Come to the Singapore Send off, an event to show you what is involved in sprint racing and to cheer our Te Tauihu paddlers on.

Type of Waka

W6 – Hydra

For the World Champs the W6 is is a Hydra by Kai Wa’a. It is very different to a mahi-mahi, lighter and more ‘twitchy’. Paddling technique really affects the steering of this waka so all those technique sessions with Sean will pay off for those of us who have been out on a Wednesday with him.

My crew, Manawaroa MW75 has been very fortunate to have had some time in a couple of these waka over the last 2 months. It’s a very light canoe (6 older ladies can easily carry it) and very responsive. We have heard tales of how tippy it is but I haven’t noticed that. With our crew it has felt quite stable in both Lake Taupo and the Winstones Lake at Ōtaki. It does need to be loaded out differently. Seats 2 and 4 in first, then seat 3, then 1, 5 & 6, as we have heard it can huli end over end:(

Ōtaki Waka Hoe have just received their brand new peptobismal pink Hydra. They took it racing on Saturday and it did tip them out. When we went back to use it on Sunday we noticed that the ama was set to a more stable setting.

An interesting feature is that the gunnels on the left are lower than on the right to assist in re-entry for change over races.

V1 – FaiS4 single

The V1 being used is a FaiS4 which is a clip-in unruddered waka. It is beautiful to paddle.

Some Useful Links