Eager junior paddlers were thrilled to finally hit the water at Nikao Beach for the Vaka Eiva Junior Sprints yesterday, having missed their Saturday race due to unfavourable sea conditions.

Rarotonga’s Te Ngakau Toa Vaka and Te Tupu O Te Manava and Te Wharekura o Mauao from Aotearoa New Zealand participated in the junior sprints’ races.

Cook Islands Canoeing Association (CICA) president, Teina Taulu, stated that Vaka Eiva did not have a junior programme this year since they are “regrouping”. However, junior competitions will resume next year.

New Zealand still expressed interest in bringing their junior team and entered them in both the main 12-kilometre course on Monday and the mixed race.

Taulu noted that there are many eager 12 and 14-year-old paddlers on the island, and the junior sprints races provided them with a valuable racing opportunity.

“The 12-year-olds paddled a V3 (canoe for three people) for the first time. This is a way to get our young ones involved and to get a feel of what it’s like,” Taulu said.

“Everyone wasn’t too fussed as long as the kids got a paddle.”

Te Tupu O Te Manava’s junior coach, Emilene Taulu-Amo, described the sprint races as a fun outing for the kids, saying, “it was a nice day for them to race against the other clubs”.

Ngakau Toa Vaka junior coach Mata Vogel said the kids were just eager to hit the water in Nikao after their Saturday race was cancelled.

“Our juniors have committed themselves to oe vaka training for the past few months and had been looking forward to their 12km long distance race that Saturday.”

She said yesterday’s junior sprints increased NTV young paddlers’ passion for the sport, adding it was also their first race competing with a team from overseas.

“They are our future oe vaka representatives, and they are on a great journey starting at a young age.”

Ngakau Toa Vaka U19 paddlers Pourie Kaina and Maddyson Spurle-Lowe both enjoyed the sprint races, saying it was nice to have some competition and race against other teams.

The two also hit the rough ocean water on Monday with their U19 team in their first race in the 12 km course, winning it in a time of 1.27.38, up against Aotearoa New Zealand’s team Pikirangi (1.50.09).

The two paddlers also braved the rough ocean conditions on Monday, joining their U19 team for their maiden 12km race. They emerged victorious, clocking in at 1:27.38 hour, ahead of Aotearoa New Zealand’s team Pikirangi (1:50.09).

Kaina said: “It was rough out there, but we had fun too surfing the waves and it’s always good to compete.”

Spurle-Lowe said the 12km course was so much fun.

“It wasn’t as scary as we have seen and it was amazing winning the race as this was our first win as the U19.”

Despite the rough sea conditions, Vaka Eiva managed to complete the scheduled races on the programme. However, the highly anticipated Boiler Swim, initially planned for yesterday, has been rescheduled to Thursday.

Taulu said: “It has been trying on our safety because of the weather conditions.”

“However, the locals are loving it as well as the more experienced crews like the Hawaiians and New Zealand crews who are really good at going hard into the wind.

“There have been some good battles out there on the water.

“Roly (Rolleston) and the safety team are doing an awesome job out there in keeping everybody safe.”

Taulu noted that it has been fascinating to observe the diverse strategies employed by the teams, such as Hawaii’s Anuenue team’s unique technique of securing a rope around their canoe to facilitate the retrieval of the ama in case of capsizing.

This morning, the Anuenue mixed crew, which includes an 80-year-old member, will be paddling in the Mixed V6 Round Rarotonga Race, starting at 8am from Avarua harbour.

The junior teams are also scheduled for their races this afternoon after school finishes.

Thursday is a rest day, and the Boiler Swim for charity is anticipated to start in the afternoon.

On Friday morning, the women’s Round Rarotonga race will start followed by the men’s in the afternoon before the closing dinner.