2007 National Waka Ama Sprint Champs

2007 National Waka Ama Sprint Champs

One of the world’s fastest growing water sports returns for a third time with exclusive coverage of the 2007 National Waka Ama Sprint Champs, starting on Sunday January 21 at 2.00 PM.

Hosted by Ngā Kaihoe o Aotearoa (New Zealand Māori Polynesian Canoe Sporting Federation), the National Waka Ama Club Sprint Championships will be held at Lake Karapiro in the Waikato from January 15 to 20.

Māori Television will broadcast highlights of the competition over three weeks – on Sunday January 21 from 2.00 PM to 4.00 PM; Sunday January 28 from 2.00 PM to 4.00 PM; and Sunday February 4 from 2.00 PM to 4.00 PM.

Fast, fun and exciting, waka ama – also known as outrigger canoe paddling – has huge national participation with more than 2300 competitors expected at this year’s national championships.

Teams participate in a number of categories: midgets (7-10 years), intermediate (11-13 years), junior 16 (14-16 years), junior 19 (17-19 years), open 23 (20-23 years), open (24 years and over), master women (35 years and over), master men (40 years and over), senior master women (45 years and over), senior master men (50 years and over), kuia (55 years and over) and kaumātua (60 years and over).

Races are held over a range of courses including 250-metre, 500-metre, 1000-metre and 1500-metre sprints.

Witness the best crews in the country as they battle it out for top honours at the 2007 National Waka Ama Sprint Champs – brought to you by Stay On Top Maritime New Zealand.

ENDS

© Scoop Media