Pacific Paddler February, 2016 - (Page 22)
PHOTOS BY MATARIKI WILSON AND HARVIE ALLISON
Big seas enhances
Vaka Eiva thrill
BY MATARIKI WILSON
Big sea conditions and tough thrill-seeking
outrigger paddlers made for another successful and
action-packed Vaka Eiva paddling festival on the
island of Rarotonga in 2015, setting the stage for
more excitement on and off the water in 2016.
Sponsored by international shipping company
Matson, the annual outrigger festival, run over a
week, transforms the island paradise into 'paddling
heaven' for both returning and first time paddlers
in Cook Islands waters.
The promise of plenty of paddling action in
balmy seas and genuine Cook Islands hospitality
and culture woven into the weeklong paddling
festival drew more than 500 paddlers from across
the globe - all with the one common love of
outrigger canoeing.
Paddlers from as far as the snowy mountains
of Canada to the neighbouring isles of Hawaii,
where it is said that every child is practically born
with a paddle in hand, plus everywhere in between
converged on the island for a week of paddling
adventures, camaraderie and cultural exchange.
Returning Hawaiian outrigger paddling legend
Nappy Napoleon and his crew from the iconic
Anuenue Canoe Club, who have been attending
the Cook Islands paddling festival since its inception in 2004, were once again on hand to share
paddling tips, techniques and to support festival
paddlers keen to learn from the masters of the
Polynesian sport.
In fact, the experienced paddlers added to the
magic of the Vaka Eiva festival by adopting the
visiting Canadian team who were grateful for the
mentorship and inclusion of Nappy in their vaka
during the marathon races which gave the crew the
courage to navigate their way through the Pacific
Ocean.
22
PACiFiC PADDLER digital edition
In between serious paddling, visiting paddlers
were encouraged to explore the unspoiled island of
Rarotonga with the Vaka Eiva schedule allowing
for plenty of relaxation and shopping time in
between the action-packed paddling sessions on
the water.
Cultural entertainment, local foods, trade day
markets and visits to local schools were some of the
highlights enjoyed by paddlers off the water.
On the water, predictions of a storm on the
horizon in the week leading up to the 2015
outrigger paddling event brought a mix of excitement and nerves.
While organisers ensured that the safety of
paddlers was the upmost priority, seasoned
paddlers prayed the weather gods would bring big
surf for high octane paddling action on the unpredictable sea.
In true Polynesian spirit, traditional blessings of
canoes and paddlers, as well as prayers of protection were offered before the on-water action got
underway on Saturday with the individual iron
races in the V1 and OC1 class canoes.
'Paddling central' is set up at Avarua Harbour
in the main town of Rarotonga where the island's
most iconic watering hole and eatery Trader Jacks
is also conveniently located. This location also
offered a spectacular viewing point for the pre-race
briefing, canoe checks, plus the start and end of
the races, allowing spectators and supporters to feel
part of the festival.
With safety the main priority and sea swells
building, organisers had the tough task of mapping
new courses to accommodate for the conditions
and making last minute decisions on direction of
the course depending on the daily forecast.
Organisers opted to shorten the 18km indi-
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Paddler February, 2016
Kanaka Ikaika
Pacific Northwest
OIA
Cook Islands - Vaka Eiva
California Paddling
Wetdashe Dry Change Race
Ikaika Waterman: Kai Wilding
Breathing Mechanics for Paddlers
Vaka Taumoku
Pacific Paddler February, 2016
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