Dunedin – A city of firsts- Te Waipounamu Regatta Never Disappoints!

Fire in Ice Outrigger Canoe Club Dunedin will hold their annual Icebreaker Waka Ama Regatta this weekend June 2nd and 3rd.

This is the 18th year the event will be held and over 90 paddlers will compete during the weekend. Paddler numbers have quadrupled some years since the first event hosted in 2001.

Saturday’s competition will have W6 and W1/W2 paddlers racing 10K to St Leonards and back from the Otago University Aquatic Centre.
Fire in Ice Outrigger canoe club welcomes spectators to watch races from the warmth of the spacious venue located at the end of Magnet Street. ”If you like the idea of paddling in a six person canoe in winter temperatures then you are definitely a prospective club member!” exclaims club president ,Victoria Bryant.

On Sunday morning the W6 women’s teams will race 18K around the upper harbor via Vauxhall, Macandrew Bay, and back to the Otago University Aquatic Centre. In the afternoon the W6 Men will race 21k around the upper Otago Harbour heading downs towards the Harbour molars before joining up with the women’s course.

The 21 km race is called the Port Otago Challenge and this year marks 15 years that Port Otago has supported the regatta and our valued and loyal sponsors are integral for running a first-class event.

The event always tests our competitors and we are hoping the weather conditions are conducive to some exciting racing.
Fire in Ice Committee member, Kim Thomas, recalls being the first South Island club to host a waka ama regatta- “We kicked off South Island regattas in 2001 with our signature extreme event and paddlers keep coming back year after year to experience the warmth of the Dunedin hospitality and the challenge of the conditions.”
Living in a city that can claim many firsts the club is proud to add to Dunedin’ reputation for forging trails.

The organizing committee sincerely acknowledges the support of event sponsors - Port Otago Limited, Select Recruitment, Mohua, Stevenson and Williams, Easysteel,Southern Planning Solutions and all of the volunteers and paddlers who spend their Queen’ Birthday weekend with Fire in Ice Outrigger canoe club-Kia ora everyone.

Vivienne Harvey
Fire in Ice Outrigger Canoe Club Icebreaker Committee

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