We have received some great photos and news about two of our paddlers who have had great success recently.

A contingent of young athletes, including our Hinekahukura and Az, was involved in a 2-week training camp consisting of j16, j19, open and masters age group paddlers mostly from Horouta Waka Hoe. The first week was spent on the island of Huahine coached by Kevin Ceran Jerusalemy. The second week was in Tahiti (Papeete) coached by Tamatoa Perez, Mario Cowan and son Tahi Cowan. The majority, if not all of the training camp, were adapting to a more long-distance open ocean style and technique of paddling.

The crew returned to Aotearoa and went directly to Whitianga where the Long Distance Nationals were held, which was also the qualifying event for Long Distance Worlds which will be held in Samoa in August this year. It was tough conditions for all paddlers at LDN’s however a lot of them did very well qualifying to represent Aotearoa in Samoa. 

Congratulations to Aislinn Tahiwi who made the Elite j19’s team to represent Aotearoa in Samoa. 

Congratulations also to Hinekahukura Brooking who won the j16 Women W1, as well as her and her team Puhi Kaiariki winning the j16 Women W6 division and will be heading away to Samoa also.