…then give Joern Scherzer a call on 021-1250997 or email him on joern.scherzer@gmail.com.

Joern is looking for a team that needs a steerer during practice/training sessions, he is available early mornings or most evenings.

From: Wellington Water Ski Club wellingtonwaterskiclub@gmail.com

Advance notice of the North Island Water Ski Racing Championships being held February 26 and 27 at Petone. We have applied for a harbor closure to set the course in the usual position, a triangle of water with the back straight between the Petone wharf and the motorway BP. Should a southerly shift us to Evans bay we will set out an alternate course, with it’s base at the airport and the apex off shelly bay. It is described graphically in the application,  a document we are happy to share should you request a copy.

It is a showcase for ski racing in Wellington, so I encourage you to come down to the club and get a view one of our endurance activities on the water.

Lockie Stewart
President
Wellington Water Ski Club
http://www.huttcity.com/waterski-club

Tena Koutou Katoa,

Good luck to all of you dedicated and enthusiastic paddlers who have been training hard over Christmas and New Year. I wish you well and look forward to seeing our regional results. Have a safe journey and enjoy the fantastic atmosphere and competition this event offers to all paddlers in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

noho ora mai, Chris Fox

If you follow the link below to a short survey (takes 5 min), your feedback will contribute to improving future events.

The survey is now closed.

Hoe Tonga

A steering workshop will be held in the Wellington region on 19 December. Please register via your club rep and the NKOA online system.

Click here for details.

Local waka ama world champions from the recent 2010 World Va’a Sprint Championships in Noumea are finalists in this weekend’s 2010 Maori Sports Awards:
Grant Barriball of Hoe Tonga (Mana Pasifika) is reigning World Champion in W1 sprints for Master Men
Women’s crew Mairangi Mai of Golden Master Women (over 55 years of age) won all three events as a W6 crew and with their combination with another crew to for a W12 – two members of the crew are Gaylene Sciascia and Barbara Rudd of Hoe Tonga (Hawaikinui)

NZ Coordinator Marinna Millanta-Lowrey for the 280+ NZ contingent who participated in this year’s Worlds event says “for the Golden Master women the gold medal tally was a serious improvement on last Worlds competition and a tough ask for a nationally selected group who hail from Northland, Auckland, Gisborne and Wellington. Barbara and Gaylene have participated in several Worlds campaigns and use to national selections and having to travel to train, they deserve to be proud of their achievements to date. Grant Barriball he was focused on his gold performance for the 2010 championship he also shares his knowledge with a local women’s crew who are also doing really well in their competitive endeavours – a demonstration of personal commitment to a goal whether as an individual or in a team setting and the passion to do well”.

Congratulations go out to our Hoe Tonga finalists for the 2010 Maori Sprints Awards, and best wishes to all the other finalists in Mairangi Mai – good luck on the night.

Please click here to download workshop information, please register your interest with Marinna.

An event hosted by the Mana Community Grants Foundation based in Porirua (Wellington) who have provided financial assistance to a number of the Hoe Tonga contingent members for this and past World championship competitions.

The event was MC’d by Mr Ken Laban, Deputy Mayor for Porirua Letia Ah Hoi and local dignitaries featuring past Mayor John Burke, current outgoing Mayor Jenny Brash, Hon Winnie Laban, Hekia Parata local MP for National and guest speaker Mr Richard Taylor (very very entertaining and interesting athletics story).

Mandy (Hawaikinui/Mana Pasifika) and of W1 World Champion status in 2006, Grant (Mana Pasifika) current W1 Master Men World Champion and Marinna (Hawaikinui) known for her Manager and NZ Coordinator roles were each one of the three finalists in their respective categories up for grabs last week.

While not winners on this occasion they acknowledge the support of the region and their club members in their endeavours.

Special thanks go Mana Community Grants Foundation for their continued support of things wakaama, to Hoe Tonga’s regional committee for supporting their efforts and the paddling whanau who have contributed to the goal of World representation.

Congratulations to the waka ama nominees and finalists of the Porirua Sports Awards 2009-2010.

The finalists are are as follows:

Mandy Hatton – Coach of Year

Marinna Millanta-Lowry – Service to Sport

Grant Barriball – Individual Sportsperson of Year

Others nominations were as follows:

• J19 HTPWAA Worlds Team – Team of the Year
• Don’t Touch my Food – Hawaiikanui
• Kemara Hauiti-Parapara – Young sportsperson of the year

The awards will be held at Te Raupraha Arena, Porirua on September 30 at 6.30pm (tickets can be purchased from Porirua Sports Trust $90.00).