Tauranga paddling hotspots at Wairoa River and Lake McLaren are becoming well-known for nurturing and inspiring New Zealand's top canoe and kayak athletes.

On Sunday, August 4, two of the largest canoe slalom clubs in the country got together for an off-season flat water race.

Local club, Canoe Slalom Bay of Plenty, where Olympic athlete Luuka Jones was once a beginning paddler and is now Club Patron, hosted the Matamata Kayak Club at Waimarino on the lower Wairoa River.

"A lot of the competitors have their sights on AIMS games only a month away while some other more senior paddlers have just returned from racing in the U18 and U23  World  Champs in Augsburg in Germany," says Canoe Slalom Bay of Plenty chair Anna Swindells, who together with Jackie Lugton organised the day.

Race briefing. Photo: Bec Harrop.

"This was an inaugural event, with a race format that looks a bit like a flat water version of the Kayak Cross that appeared at the Olympics for the first time ever in Paris."

Anna says competitors raced first in head-to-head time trials. Then they raced head-to-head around a series of gates which involved them criss crossing each other and the inevitable game of bumper boats.

"Each competitor gained points for their club depending on how far they progressed in the knockout stage."

The Matamata Kayak Club was the overall winner.

Individual winners were:
Open Girls Tess Pateman CSBOP
U14 Girls Emily Nagels MKC
Open Boys Joseph Sampson CSBOP
U14 Boys Nick Lugton MKC and Marlie Sykes CSBOP tied.

On the water at Wairoa River. Photo: Bec Harrop.

"The weather was spectacular for a midwinter day, and a barbecue and prizegiving was held on the river bank afterward," says Anna.

"The following evening, we all witnessed our country's best kayakers, Luuka Jones and Finn Butcher racing in the Kayak Cross in Paris, Luuka coming fifth and Finn bringing home the gold medal in his first Olympics.

"Inspiring stuff for our aspiring athletes."

More local kayaking action is coming up with the AIMS games slalom event set to take place at Top Flat at Lake McLaren from Sept 6 - 9.