Source: Wairarap Times-Age
22.01.2008
By Jo Moir

Waka Ama under-16's coach Joe Nuku said he is thrilled with the boys' success at the nationals and it's a reflection of their own commitment.

"They were up against elite racers when they took out the bronze in the 500-metre race. These are guys who have been racing for 10 years and our boys were competing for the first time."

Mr Nuku said this is the first time Wairarapa has experienced double-medal success in Waka Ama and the competition was also opened up to international teams for the first time.



"There were teams from Australia and the Cook Islands competing and in the under-16's competition alone there were over 100 teams.

"Waka Ama has been running competitively since 1990 but it's really a professional sport these days. There were over 1000 paddlers at the event and it was incredibly organised to the point where it felt like you were at the rowing world champs."

A squad of 12 was taken to Karapiro under two teams  The Bush Boys and Wairarapa Ki uta, Kitae Tae.

The second bronze was won in the W12 final, which involves 12 paddlers, he said.

"They stood up before the W12 final and said this race was for everyone who supported them and for Wairarapa."

"It was unbelievable how much they matured throughout the past few months and the training they put in showed their commitment."

Mr Nuku said the squad was training five times a week including the Christmas and New Year period and in the two weeks before the competition they were training twice a day.

"There was a point over Christmas where we knew they could be competitive against the other teams and we made it clear that it was up to them to go the extra mile and finish it."

The paddlers had strife earlier on in the season when the waka donated to them by Masterton District Council and Hauora Matua Whangai, was vandalised at Queen Elizabeth Park, he said.

"The boys put in the hard yards and went to Porirua to train while they didn't have a waka and then they painted and helped fixed the vandalised canoe."

Mr Nuku has been paddling since he was 17 years old and has been organising and coaching Wairarapa Waka Ama for the past four years.

"People say you can't win medals in your first year but these boys proved them wrong and their success is reflected in their training."

For some of the team this is the ultimate achievement of their lifetime so far and for others it has spurred them to think about qualifying for the world championships, he said.

"They're just over the moon and to see them standing up on the podium with not one but two medals was just amazing."

Several sponsors helped the boys in their success and without them and all the whanau that came along it would not have been possible, he said.

David and Leigh Wairarapa Shearing, E.N.A.R, CLM, Ngati Hamua, Kohanga Reo, PHO, Cancer Society, Ray Southey, Masterton Trust Lands Trust, Anderson Meats, Whaiora Whanau and Street Youth Ministries all contributed in some form or another, Mr Nuku said.

Waka Ama is always looking for new paddlers and anyone who is interested can contact Tia on (021) 257-3734.

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