Juniors show signs of brilliance

Saturday’s sun, slight breeze and small swells provided easy conditions for race two in the junior division mid distance open ocean oe vaka race series.

Crews managed to record good times with Te Tupu o Te Manava under 19 recording the fastest time and Te Tupu o Te Manava under 16 boys edging out the gutsy Ngakau Toa Vaka. With a number of the Te Tupu o Te Manava under 19 Boiler Babes off the rock, seats were filled with under 16 paddlers who managed to come in ahead of their Ngakau Toa counterparts.

Throughout the race, crews showed pockets of paddling brilliance with good form, timing and power.

More time on the water and improved fitness are expected to improve the duration of that brilliance as the series continues.

With results giving good feedback, coaches are also using the series as preparation for Vaka Eiva 2010.

This year’s standard of mapu oe vaka VE competitors is expected to be high.

Crews from Tahiti, Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia are coming across to take on the local contingent.

With the sprints, singles and novice race series now ticked off the national race calendar, it’s also time to start on preparation for the August long distance open ocean series.

If the full car park at the Avarua Wharf Vaka Village is anything to go by, there has been a notable stepping up in club training regimes.

Another incentive to head out on the water is the chance to get up close to the visiting whales.

Look out too for more of that Muri magic with the next Corporate sprint race also due in August.

Full results – 1-Te Tupu U19 Boys 36.31.23, 2-Te Tupu U16 Boys 41.31.43, 3- Ngakau Toa U16 Boys 42.49.31, 4 -Te Tupu U19 Girls 43.27.50, 5- Ngakau Toa U19 Girls 44.26.22.