Te Wananga o Aotearoa is offering a Cerificate in Waka Ama
Information available on
http://www.twoa.ac.nz/Nga-Akoranga-Our-Programmes/Hauora-Health/Certificate-in-Waka-Ama.aspx
Please share with all who would benefit and enjoy this course. Poster for Level 4 Certificate in Waka Ama
The Motorway Classic celebrates it’s 25th year of the event on March 15.
It started with kayaks years ago….but the event really started to gain some much traction after the inclusion of waka ama in 2006 and stand up’s in 2011.
Last year the event peaked with 80 paddlers and this year the organisers are aiming for more…..but this will only occur with strong support.
This involves encouraging new people to get along and paddle the shorter distances to start off then they can aspire to do the longer distances in future years.
While the event will have paddlers that will dart off quickly over the course it’s just as much about participating watching, learning and of course blending all the paddle disciplines together.
Download the flyer below:
This was the 2015 Mana Super 6! Seven men’s teams entered this year, up from five last year (but unfortunately no women’s teams).
The weather forecasts gave organisers a hard time this year, not because of too much, but because of too little wind, rather unusual for Wellington.
The full course distance this year was about 38km, and this year the race presented the teams with key challenges in terms of endurance, mental strength and tactics. Teams started at Mana (Ngati Toa domain), then went around the southern tip of Mana Island, and then pushed North with the finish at Paraparaumu Beach.
Conditions were very varied, with a 10knot southeasterly pushing the teams north for about 10km or so from the northern tip of Mana, the wind then dying down with almost glassy conditions, and a southwesterly kicking in at the tail end of the race. All the while there was a light Southwesterly swell. Because of the southerly conditions, teams had to paddle into the tide for most of the way, this meant that the line taken from Mana Island to Paraparaumu could be decisive.
On the way to Mana Island, Team MitMasters chasing Makaira.
At the front of the field, it proved to be a tight battle between Bhutty Boys, le-ko-ko, the Avengers, and Makaira for the first 10km. But at Mana Island the field started to spread.
North of Mana Island, Makaira opted for an inside line to minimise the effect of the tide (but with more distance to cover), and Bhutty Boys staying out wider, with other teams following the lines of those two teams. The inside line was clearly working though, with Bhutty Boys turning closer to shore in the Pukerua Bay area to cover Makaira. During the last 15km, Bhutty Boys maintained their lead, but with Makaira not letting them rest up until the finish. A well-earned win for Bhutty Boys. MitiMasters took the third place ahead of le-ko-ko, with the placings only decided in the run up to the beach finish.
Replay the race at http://www.yacht-bot.com/races/6337. Tracking was done with special trackers supplied by www.yacht-bot.com. Those choosing to cut in close to the shore rather than straight-lining it had to paddle an extra 800m, but it could pay big dividends.
Check out the photos at https://www.flickr.com/photos/hoetonga/sets/72157650558995031/ or click on the picture above (all can be downloaded in full size, more photos to be added in the next few days from our second camera).
A big thank you to our boaties, the Mana Coast Guard, our land officials, all the other numerous helpers and shuttle drivers, and our sponsors.
If you have any feedback on the event, please let us know at mana.ocean.challenge@gmail.com. We hope to see you all back here next year.
Detailed results
| Team name | Club | Division | Placing | Time |
| Bhutty Boys | Hei Matau Paddlers | Premier Men | 1 | 3:11:35 |
| Makaira | Wairarapa Waka Ama Canoe Cl | Premier Men | 2 | 3:14:35 |
| Miti Masters | Mitamitaga o le Pasefika Vaa’ Alo | Master Men | 3 | 3:25:38 |
| le-Ko-Ko! | Porirua Canoe Kayak Club | Premier Men | 4 | 3:25:54 |
| The Avengers | Te Rau o Te Rangi ki Otaki | Premier Men | 5 | 3:31:13 |
| Little Bit Tipi | Toa Waka Ama | Master Men | 6 | 3:31:41 |
| Rotoiti Raptors | Te Arawa Paddlers | Premier Men | 7 | 4:00:33 |
Check out last year’s results: click here.
Follow the race live at http://www.yacht-bot.com/races/6337.
Follow the race live!
Summary
View entries
Note!
Questions? Email mana.ocean.challenge@gmail.com or call 021-1250997.
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If found please contact us on 027-411-5959
(Note that this post is NOT about inter-club W12 entries, click here to view the process for those.)
Just a reminder on the process for the selection of the paddlers for the regional W12 premier teams. As re-confirmed at the last regional meeting on 24 November, the status quo on selection largely remains in that the top two teams in the open men/women final at the Regionals will form the regional W12 at Nationals 2015.
Premier Women
Premier Men
However, at the meeting, an amendment was agreed.
With regard to point 2 above, club reps now have the chance to put forward the names of relevant paddlers. Please do so by 19 December (Friday this week), by sending an email to the HT administrator. Hoe Tonga will compile the names and forward them to the reps of the clubs with teams that came first and second at the Regionals. Those clubs and relevant team captains then have an opportunity to consider these submissions. They will then need to get back to Hoe Tonga by the end of December (or the close off of the roster at Nationals at the latest) to confirm the final line up.
Please note that Waka Ama NZ has advised a change to the rules regarding W12 teams that are formed between two clubs.
The new policy (see rule 21.7 in the Waka Ama NZ race rules) is as follows:
W12 crews can be made up of competitors from up to two clubs from the same region, but only in the following divisions:
This rule only applies where a club does not have sufficient paddlers to form their own, stand-alone, W12 crews in those age categories.
A WT12 crew made up of 2 clubs may be a combination of any number of paddlers from those two clubs. They must satisfy all other rules as specified in the race rule document.
The key change is that this rule now only applies to some divisions, not all. For example, clubs can no longer combine in the Premier division.
If your club wishes to combine with another club in the above divisions, please take note of the following:
Please click here to download the quota placings as at Saturday, 13 December, 10pm.
Please note:
Certainly a mixed package today, ranging from perfect glassy conditions in the morning, to a rather brisk 25knot Southerly and rain kicking in at about 11:20am.
An on-time start at 9am, and the flat conditions in the morning meant that we got significantly ahead of the scheduled race times, at one stage up to 2.5 hours. Apologies to those that missed their races as a result of this. However, given the forecast Southerly kicking in at lunch time, organisers had no choice but to push ahead when conditions were flat to ensure the best possible race conditions, especially in the junior divisions – as advised in the panui on Friday, and again at the race briefing in the morning. It pays to be on-site early or to be in touch with your respective club representatives.
Click here to view photos for the W1 day, or see the slideshow below (only works on some devices).
This year, the James Hapeta Club Spirit Award was won by Hikoikoi Waka Club. With few entries yet a significant number volunteers, they showed they are a deserving winner this year.
The Club Excellence Trophy was again won by Porirua Canoe Kayak Club. Their significant efforts in terms of coaching and paddler support is continuing to show great results. Below the final tally of points after both race days for participating clubs.
Lastly, but not least, a huge thank you to the large number of volunteers, without whom the Champs could not be run. Key tasks include, but are not limited to things such as planning and organising the event, maintaining and setting the race course, staffing the safety and support boats, loading bay, finish line, registration desk, setting up race infrastructure in the morning and pulling it down and cleaning up afterwards, and the list goes on. A formal thank you will follow in the next couple of weeks.
Important notice:
Ends
Hoe Tonga Pacifica Waka Ama Association 