With a growing interest from younger competitors, there is a good feeling among the Waka Ama community about the future of the sport in the Eastern Bay.

Although winning medals is nice, those involved in the sport say the focus is on having fun and ensuring the children enjoy the experience.

The Tarawera Outrigger Canoe Club, which the children’s teams compete under, is hoping, though, to continue the strong form from last year’s successful campaign.

This year, the squad have increased, with two intermediate teams and four taitamariki teams heading to nationals at Lake Karapiro in Cambridge.

Tarawera Outrigger Canoe Club member and junior coach Hemi Wahapango said it was exciting times for the sport at the junior level.

“This will probably be one of the largest contingents of paddlers attending nationals from this club and area for years. The kids’ programme originally started under former local schoolteacher Jamie Pere, who has since moved away from the area, but the kids wanted to keep paddling, so I decided to continue with them because I could see the passion and drive these kids have for the sport. As adults, we often only think of bettering ourselves, but the growth and sustainability of the sport is in our kids.”

He said gratitude must go to the parents and families who bring the children along to training.

“A lot of the kids’ participation and success comes down to whānau support. The parents bringing the kids to training and competitions ensures success.”

A recent event showed some great progress the junior teams were making on the water.

“The regional sprints were held recently at Lake Karapiro and showed some positive signs for our programme with top results in the team competition. I think within our squads we have high hopes of taking home some medals.”

Wahapango said the club was excited to have teams in multiple grades.

“Our intermediate girls’ team is steered by the winner of W1 intermediate women’s race at regionals, Awa Thrupp, and looks promising to do well at nationals, while she could also be an outside medal chance in the junior singles.”

He said the teams had all shown signs of improvement.

“The team is coming along well and has only been together for just over two months and are looking good. As a coach, my expectation for the kids to get medals is very low as my focus is around having fun and getting experience, but once they are ready to go to the next level, we will be ready for them.

“Our approach has been casual, with intermediates training twice a week and our taitamariki training once a week. I learnt from last year that if you push and push, they get over it quite quickly, so that’s why we have kept it simple this year.”

Tarawera Outrigger Canoe junior teams will take to the water from January 12 to 14, followed by the singles’ races, in which they have a handful of paddlers competing.

The adults race from January 16 to 18.

Wahapango said it was going to be a full-on week at nationals.

“It will be a busy week for myself, doing the kids then doing my singles and on to the team racing but I’m looking forward to it. Seeing the kids on the water and doing well, you couldn’t ask for much more.”

The youngsters will compete in races over 250m and 500m distances.

“Along with my junior teams, our club also has an intermediate girls’ team, coached by Tui McCaull, and a junior women’s team coached by my teammate, Mark Roozendaal.”

Also attending nationals is the new club in Ōpōtiki, Kura Ki Tai, and they have four junior teams and two adult teams competing.

Once the nationals are over, Wahapango goes straight into getting the high schools prepared for secondary schools’ nationals in March.

“Our region is growing, and we are really looking forward to what we can produce,” he said.

Wahapango is full of praise for Kaedyn and Richard Thrupp, Brandon Wilson, Mātaatua Sports Trust, GeeOne, and the whānau who support the tamariki.

Teams and their members are:

Taitamahine (girls 6-9 years) – Wairaka: Amaia Hobson, Ny’el Stewart, Sailor Stewart-Rangihika, Haylee Wahapango and TeAomarama Martinovich.

Taitama (boys 6-9 years) – Toroa: Tristan O’Brien, Tyran O’Brien, Teilan O’Brien, Mihaere Hata, Kaiaio Porter, Eastan Stewart-Rangihika.

Irakewa – Rangitaamiro Apiata, Rico Hunt, Irie Stewart, Tamakahukore Stewart, Toby Te Whata.

Mataatua – Matia Tutaki-Kirkwood, Whare Thrupp, Wairangi Te Aomarere, Wetini Raharuhi, Jyriah Pinono.

Intermediate (girls 10-13) – Whakaari: Kohamairangi Apiata, Te Waipounamu Black, Waikahurangi Hunt, Harmony-Jo Tapsell-Winitana, Beau Te Aomarere and Awa Thrupp.

Intermediate (Boys 10-13) Gee One – Maitaiao Apiata, Alec Coake, Ozias-Reign Kingi, Kauika Stewart-Rangihika, Hikawera Tawhai, Tamahae Tawhai and Eli Te Whata.