Pacific

Olympian's Team Curry donate sports gear

Rarotonga children are set to have plenty of water fun early next year thanks to the generous donation of swimming equipment by Australian Olympic swimmer Lisa Curry and her Vaka Eiva masters crew. ANZ Tamariki Sports co-ordinator Ake Hosea-Winterflood is over the moon with the donation made by the oe vaka team. Team Curry have […]

Festival ends on a big high

The 2010 Vaka Eiva Festival ended on a high on Friday night with trophy presentations and the paddles up party at Avarua harbour. Friday saw the last race of the week-long paddling festival in the round Raro relay for the Pacific Paddle in the women’s division and Pacific Cup in the men’s race. Winning crews […]

Harriers run in Tikioki

Hash House Harriers will take place from the beachside at Tikioki this afternoon. Location is the Triathlon site – look for the flags and sign on the main road. Hares will be Bubbles and Interuptus. The run starts at 5.30pm and all runners and walkers are welcome.

Day 6 photos

Hawaiian girls retain relay title

The Big Island Girls crew from Hawaii have retained the Round Raro relay Pacific Paddle trophy after a thrilling sprint finish in Avarua harbour yesterday. Big Island Girls, Lara’s Lot from New Zealand and the Makana Alii crew from Hawaii battled toe-to-toe for most of yesterday’s open women’s Round Raro race, which headed clockwise around […]

Rambo's back

After shooting Vaka Eiva footage for three years, Rambo has become something of a Vaka Eiva icon to returning paddlers. Ian ‘Rambo’ Newland, who hails from the Sunshine Coast, makes a living travelling the world filming open ocean outrigger events. He’s been paddling competitively for over 20 years, and has become famous in outrigger circles […]

Premiership decider today

The Lotto Premiership soccer title will be decided today with Nikao Sokattak taking on Takuvaine, and Tupapa Maraerenga playing Arorangi at Raemaru Park. Nikao Sokattak and Tupapa are both on 28 points, however, if both teams win their games today the premiership title will be decided on goal difference. Both matches are scheduled to kick […]

Paddler's Paradise found

By Jane McKee I have paddled in races all over the world and Vaka Eiva has got to be the ultimate in outrigger race venues. No-where else compares to the combination of race organisation, choice of races, and all out fun. What I really enjoy is the schedule. There is a rest day between races […]

Muri woman roll on

Muri seem unstoppable heading into the second to last round of the women’s Edgewater Saturday morning Cricket competition. Muri have had an amazing end of season comeback, similar to that of their male club mates who were crowned Computer Man Champs last week. Arorangi who collected the first competition winners honours this season still have […]

Why it's so special

ICONIC Vaka Eiva videographer ‘Rambo’ called Vaka Eiva ‘the most fun event on the outrigger planet’ – and while my paddling experience is limited and I can’t definitively agree one way or the other, I’m inclined to believe him. This week, Rarotonga came alive to embrace oe vaka and the people who love it. In […]

Boiler Boys win Pacific Cup

The coveted Pacific Cup will stay local after yesterday’s Vaka Eiva 2010 final race – the open men Round Raro V6 relay. After his race, International Boiler Boys stroker William Vogel said he knew his crew was in it for the win. As predicted, the Boiler Boys – local Te Tupu O Te Manava paddlers, […]

Worthingtons win for dad

Paka and Tapa and crew win inaugural Round Raro race A star-studded crew called Okotai (as one) blitzed yesterday’s inaugural Vaka Eiva Round Raro race for mixed crews in what was an emotional race for brothers Paka and Tapa Worthington. The brothers will lift their late father Bob Worthington’s memorial trophy at today’s awards presentations. […]

Day 5 photos

Boys bounce back

Mixed boys crew Cook Islands International tipped over in the junior under 19 open ocean race of Vaka Eiva yesterday morning. The crew was made up of Cook Islanders, New Zealanders and Australians. They were offshore from Club Raro about 2km from the finish line in the 15km race when they were caught by a […]

Unsquashable!

Of all the crews racing Vaka Eiva this year, the Unsquashables might have the least combined paddling experience – but they’re probably having the most fun. A few months ago, a group of local squash players were having some post-tournament drinks, and spontaneously resolved to enter the biggest and most competitive paddling festival of the […]

U15 battle

Today’s soccer match will see the Under 15 girls battling it out at Raemaru Park at 4.15pm. Tupapa are currently sitting on top of the points table while Arorangi sit in third place. A win to Tupapa will see them take the Round Cup competition in the Under 15 girls division for 2010. Draw and […]

Kiwi and Hawaiian juniors win 15km

Eight under 19 oe vaka crews took on the challenge of yesterday’s 15km open ocean race in hot and calm conditions with the Kiwi and Hawaiian crew proving to be the strongest on the day. Under 19 men’s crew King Justice from Te Puu Ao Tuturu club in New Zealand cleaned up their division in […]

Battle for glory

As Muri cricketers celebrate last week’s crowning as The Computer Man top four winner, it’s over to the bottom six competitors to battle it out tomorrow for bottom six glory. Three teams are restless at the top of the table. Titikaveka Titans, Tupapa 1 and Takuvaine are all on 12 points and ANZ Avatiu-Nikao are […]

Sweet idea inspires organisers

Inspired by 17-year-old paddler Jenaya Davis, Vaka Eiva organisers are running a ‘guess how many jelly beans’ competition to raise more funds for Te Vaerua Rehabilitation Service. Before coming to Rarotonga for her second Vaka Eiva – Davis raised funds for Te Vaerua at her high school in Queensland. She raised $400 and inspired Vaka […]

Boiler brings in the money

Tuesday’s Trader Jacks charity boiler swim for all Vaka Eiva paddlers and supporters raised $800 for Te Vaerua Rehabilitation Service. Despite the wet and ‘cold’ conditions – 74 hardy swimmers took to the water for the fun annual swim around the boiler just outside the Avarua harbour. Each swimmer made a gold coin donation to […]