30th Te Wānanga o Aotearoa National Sprints Day 1

Press Release Monday 14th Jan - National Sprints Day 1 - Karapiro
FOCUS - KIDS

30th Te Wānanga o Aotearoa National Waka Ama Sprint Championships

This morning we opened our 30th National Sprint Championships with crowds of around 1,300 people, all coming together for a Pōwhiri at the western shore of lake Karāpiro, in the Don Rowlands Centre. Karakia were offered, thanks were given, and wero (challenges) were laid in preparation for the coming week of high intensity sprints.

We kicked off, as usual, with the midgies. Today in our first day of competitions, we had 643 paddlers under 10, from clubs throughout New Zealand.
The midgets are the perfect way to start, they are the future of Waka Ama.

People throughout the Waipā district - especially Cambridge - have rolled out a warm welcome, banners are up on the main street, some shops have printed welcome messages and popped them up in the front window, people asking where they can get Waka Ama shirts and merchandise, it’s been an awesome reception.

We are excited to have 1,983 paddlers under 16 tomorrow (Tuesday), competing in 51 races. We hope tomorrows conditions at lake Karāpiro are as good as they were today.

Day 2 (Tuesday) we have:
the under 10’s finals 250m
Intermediate (11 to 13) 500m
J16 500m

Results from day 1 and Lane draw for day 2 are available from the following link https://wakaama.co.nz/stories/read/1004962

Photo’s can be found at www.facebook.com/wakaama

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