All the records look like being broken at this year's Steinlager Vaka Eiva.

When the event was first held in 2004, just over 200 paddlers took part. Growth in numbers reflects the rapid growth of the sport not only in the Cook Islands but worldwide.

This year's Vaka Eiva will be held between 17 and 23 November and already 54 teams have registered including 13 teams that will only be competing in the ironman (individual) and sprint (short distance) races as all spots were filled for the main round Raro teams race.

In fact, there were enough crews to fill the 2007 festival quota before the 2006 Vaka Eiva Festival had even finished.

Vaka Eiva organising committee member Victoria Dearlove says they are delighted with the calibre of the crews that have signed up this year.

"We are talking about the best crews in the world. It's very exciting and a huge compliment for us that they want to come to Vaka Eiva especially as we don't offer prize money, not that we need that to tempt them to come to Raro for a fun filled week of paddling," says Dearlove.

This weekend the managers of the professional Tahitian Shell Va'a team, who are undoubtedly the top team in the world, are visiting the island to check on facilities, canoes and accommodation, and to talk with the organising committee about this year's programme and who is attending.

"The fact that we have top crews from New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii coming is a huge pull for them (Shell Va'a) as they can race them on neutral ground. It would be a huge coup for us to get them here as they usually just participate in events that offer prize money," says Dearlove.

Team Hawaii, another top ranking crew, will be coming to Rarotonga on a chartered flight and includes Hawaiian Kai Bartlett who is the current Molokai World Champion.

Top teams Mooloolaba from Australia, Team Goodyear (last year's winners from New Zealand) and Te Tupu's Boiler Boys will all be keen to race these top crews from Tahiti and Hawaii.

Of the 54 teams registered, 15 are junior teams who will compete in the first official juniors division. In this division a top team from Tahiti called OPT have confirmed an entry. The local junior crews will benefit hugely by competing against this top team.
Dearlove says that the Cooks can comfortably host this huge festival with five crews from New Zealand bringing their own canoes and new canoes being built by Rarotonga Outrigger Canoes.

Helping make the festival a reality are major sponsors including the Pacific Resort who are the major sponsors of the junior division. Trader Jacks, Steinlager and The Bond store are sponsoring two brand new canoes that will be paddled by two top international crews being Team Hawaii and hopefully Shell Va'a.
Pacific Forum Line and Toa Petroleum have also confirmed their sponsorship.

"We would not have put ourselves in a position of taking more crews than we had canoes for and we also have to remember that we have a limited number of support craft on the island for accompanying each crew in the round Raro relay race," says Dearlove.

"This year will be a turning point for the event as the numbers have increased significantly. We are confident that we will still run what is already known as one of the most professionally run, well organised and fun filled paddling events on the international paddling calendar." - Matariki Wilson

Vaka Eiva 2007 lineup
Open Men: Te Tupu (CI), Ngakau Toa (CI), Mooloolaba (Aus), Team Xylo (Aus), Team Hawaii (Hawaii), Hui Aloha (Hawaii), Shell Va'a (Tahiti), Team Mako (NZ), Team Goodyear (NZ), Hokianga Natives (NZ) and Tahiti Pirae (Tahiti).
Masters Men: Fluffy Slippers (NZ), Kai Ngaru (NZ), Mitamitaga (NZ), Team Toru (NZ), Taniwha Grizzlies (NZ), Hawaii Anuenue, Sunshine Coast (Aus), Noosa (Aus), Team Forbes (Aus) and Northcliffe (Aus).
Men's Iron and Sprints: Taniwha Grizzlies Snr (NZ), Matuku (NZ), Mitamitaga (NZ), Te Tupu Masters (CI), Brisbane Outrigger (Aus), HI Team Hawaii, Sunshine Coast (Aus), Kai Ngaru (NZ) and Team Xylo (Aus),
Open Women: Te Tupu (CI), Ngakau Toa (CI), Mooloolaba (Aus), Pacific Dragons Wahines (Aus), Team Xylo (Aus), Ta'faga (Fiji), Tahiti ROC, Waitakere ROC (NZ), Titoki Namaka (NZ) and Goodyear Girls (NZ).
Masters Women: Kaha Wahine Aotearoa (NZ), Mitamitaga (NZ), Hine Mua (NZ), Northcliffe (Aus), Team Forbes (Aus), Sunshine Coast (Aus), Noosa (Aus) and Quozzies (Aus).
Women's Iron and Sprints: KAHDAJ (NZ), Team Golden Girls (Aus), Te Tupu Masters (CI) and the Taniwha Wahinez (NZ).
U19 Junior Men: Te Tupu (CI), Ngakau Toa (CI), Sunshine Coast Juniors (Aus), Sunshine Coast Juniors (Aus), The Natives (NZ), Tahiti OPT, Mitamitaga (NZ), Manganuiowae Broadwood Area School (NZ) and Tahiti Pirae.
U19 Junior Women: Te Tupu (CI), Ngakau Toa (CI), Sunshine Coast Juniors (Aus), Sunshine Coast Juniors (Aus), Sunshine Coast Juniors (Aus) and Tahiti Pirae.