Regional

Main race times to beat

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

Memorial race round island

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

Mixed crews are this year racing around the island in pursuit of the Bob Worthington Memorial Mixed Trophy. Last year, Te Tupu O Te Manava 2 won the trophy in the V6 Avana Iron Mixed Race – this year marks the first year that paddlers will circle the island to win Worthington’s namesake. Mixed crews […]

Boiler swim in aid of Te Vaerua

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

Paddlers, supporters and the general public are invited to swim the 750 metres out to the iconic Boiler in front of Trader Jack’s and back to raise funds for charity. The swim will be on Tuesday at 5pm, and anyone is welcome to join – all you need is a gold coin and your togs. […]

Security warning

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

While police and security officers are stepping up their patrol presence during Vaka Eiva, paddlers and supporters are still advised to take ‘commonsense’ safety precautions, as it will be one of the busiest weeks of the year. Police will be doing extra patrols – day and night – during Vaka Eiva and will be posted […]

Beware of the nasties!

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

Paddlers should be wary of stonefish and bluebottles and should know that local paddlers have recently been stung by both – by stonefish on the slipway at Trader Jack’s and by bluebottles during water changeovers. In the past two weeks, nurses have treated a number of bluebottle stings. So be on the lookout for bluebottles […]

It will make $2m

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

This year’s Vaka Eiva 2010 is expected to generate almost $2 million for the local economy, on par with last year’s week-long festival which brought in an estimated total gross economic revenue of $1.92 million. Last year 801 participants from five different countries participated in Oe Vaka events in the waters of Rarotonga. This year […]

Don't touch Horouta's kai!

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

Don’t Touch My Food is a junior boys team from New Zealand that will be competing this year in the 12km from Avarua to Matavera and back, in Tuesday’s sprints at Muri and in the 15km on Thursday. Don’t Touch My Food are the current NZ J13 sprint champs – though some paddlers have moved […]

Carved pearl medals and arapitia trophies

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

Vaka Eiva winners will walk away with beautifully engraved mother of pearl medals and trophies carved from arapitia or albesia – the same wood that traditional canoes are carved from. The carvers and artists at the Island Craft workshop in Tutakimoa have nearly completed the order of 800 pearl shell medals and 43 engraved wooden […]

Cramming!

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

Zane Mataora and Bradley Heather have a busy few weeks coming up, with training for Vaka Eiva being squeezed in around a revision timetable. This year is their final year of exams at Tereora College as well as a big chance for them to do well in the sport they love. Mataora and Heather are […]

Big action guaranteed

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

Rivalry and competition heats up for 7th Vaka Eiva Big seas and big action are again expected in this year’s Vaka Eiva racing programme with 800 international and local paddlers to contest the various race divisions. The Aussies are back in force and the Kiws have brought their best while the Hawaiians and Tahitians are […]

This teen keeps coming back!

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

Jenaya adopts the Cooks and raises money for Te Vaerua Jenaya Davis is one of many international paddlers travelling to Rarotonga to take part in the annual Vaka Eiva competition – the difference is Davis is on a mission. The determined 17-year-old has been busy fundraising at Urangan State High School in Queensland to raise […]

Challenging conditions for the start

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

While it’s still too early to accurately predict next week’s weather, our local champion Reuben Dearlove has been studying tried-and-true weather websites to get a feel for what this year’s Vaka Eiva conditions will be like. Saturday is forecast to be 29 degrees and ‘breezy’ with 25 km/hr easterly winds and a 1.5-2 metre east-southeast […]

Juniors step up to challenge

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

More than 25 juniors teams are competing at Vaka Eiva this year, and one team – Te Tupu O Te Manava U19 boys – is even entering Friday’s Round Raro Race to battle it out with the big boys. Mapu oe vaka continues to grow, a positive indicator that the sport won’t die out anytime […]

He wouldn't miss it for the world!

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

For career photographer and veteran outrigger paddler Harvie Allison, Vaka Eiva is a chance to fuse two passions. Armed with some heavy camera artillery, Allison arrived on Rarotonga last week to catch up with old friends, visit his wife Shanta’s Cook Islands (Henderson) family and get ready to shoot one of the island’s biggest sporting […]

Born to paddle

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

Ngakau Toa steerer Tupuna Amo, of Avatiu, will participate in six race events during Vaka Eiva 2010, including his favourite – the 18km Avana Iron Challenge on Saturday. The Tahiti-born 20-year-old competed as a paddler in last year’s Pacific Mini Games 2009 held on Rarotonga. He has travelled to Tahiti for the sport, and this […]

Keep it green

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

Kia orana tatou katoatoa, Welcome to you all, from all over the Pacific, to the Cook Islands for the seventh international Vaka Eiva. Once again we have an action packed programme of lagoon and open ocean racing for everyone from junior paddlers to our Senior Masters! We hope that you will have a fantastic week […]

Boiler babes want 3rd win

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

The Te Tupu O Te Manava Boiler Babes are back again, shooting for the U19 championship title for the third consecutive year. Boiler Babes captain Raukura Ellison said that while she’s under pressure, felling the heat as steerer she’s looking forward to racing in her fourth Vaka Eiva. “We’ll just try our best and have […]

Team lives up to name

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

With a team name like ‘Hoops! There it Is!’ – it’s no wonder this mixed basketball team took out the recent social mixed tournament. The team made up of Danny Williams, Geoffrey Halston, Conrad Piri, Henry Koteka, Charlie Hosking, Marlon Manglit, Moari Allsworth-Halston, Nana Manuela, Maire Browne and Tania Kermode were the team to beat […]

Green as!

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

Canoeing Association enlists Eco Partners Vaka Eiva 2010 Eco Partners are ensuring this year’s tournament will be the most environmentally-friendly to date. The Cook Islands Trading Corporation (CITC), Snowbird Laundry, Vaima Water, Cook Islands News, and Club Raro have each implemented green-themed initiatives to be run in conjunction with the week-long international paddling competition. Vaka […]

Tennis fundraiser success

Wednesday 17 November 2010 | Published in Regional

The recent junior tennis tournament was an outstanding success with $3500 raised from food sales, tournament fees and generous donations. The Saturday fundraiser saw keen tennis players take to the courts for fun and competitive tennis games followed up with scrumptious kai prepared by the tennis kids and their parents. The funds raised will be […]