The Cook Islands Tu’aro Mā’ohi Traditional Games representatives in Tahiti are geared up for their first competition today in the timau ra’au (fruit carrier race).

Ieremia Samuela, Joshua Jim and Tamaiva Mateariki, who will be competing, have been fine-tuning their carrying techniques this week.

They have also been preparing for the other events since their arrival in Tahiti on Saturday.

Mateariki, who is also keen to participate in the wrestling event, is looking forward to the challenge.

On Saturday, the competitive and popular amoraa ofa’i (stone lifting) competition will be held.

Jim, Mateariki, and Samuela are also participating in the coconut tree climbing event on Sunday at Parc Vairai.

Cook Islands team manager Viani Tixier-Teau said Ellio Fiapa’i from Samoa, the champion of last year’s coconut tree climbing competition, was given the privilege to select the coconut tree for the event.

“This year Ellio has thrown a difficult challenge and chosen the highest point of the coconut tree. It will require much strength, skill and stamina to climb up and down safely,” said Tixier-Teau.

In 2017, when the first ever coconut tree climbing sport was held in the garden of the Tahiti Museum, Fiapa’i placed second. He was just one-hundredth of a second behind the winner, George Ioana from Nassau/Pukapuka.

The annual Traditional Games have been organised by the ‘Āmuitahira’a Tū’aro Mā’ohi Federation (FATM) since 2003 and brings together competitors and athletes from all over Polynesia including Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Hawai’i, and the Cook Islands.