Good things come to those who wait….and that is certainly true of the Manuka Performance Heads to Harbour Paddle Festival, which doubles as the New Zealand Surfski Championships, in Whakatane over the Easter weekend.<\/p>\n
Last year the exciting new event on the surfski calendar was cancelled because of the global pandemic but the 2021 edition to be staged on April 3 will be an occasion to be savoured, according to event organiser Fiona Cleghorn.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were gutted to have to cancel last year\u2019s race because we were so looking forward to hosting and showcasing our beautiful part of New Zealand,\u201d explains Fiona. \u201cIt was a real shame to have to call off the 2020 event but a real positive has been we have had more time to make this year\u2019s event even better.\u201d<\/p>\n
The race was dreamed up by Eastern Bay Canoe Racing Club coach Gary Waller who viewed this stretch of the ocean as providing a prime surfski environment.<\/p>\n
To test Gary\u2019s theory in the winter of 2019 his son, Tim, a rising canoe sprint paddler, former World Surfski bronze medallist Teneale Hatton and Canoe Racing NZ CE Tom Ashley paddled the proposed 23km route from the Whakatane Yacht Club to Ohope Yacht Club.<\/p>\n
The trio were all hugely impressed by the proposed race route and Fiona too believes the race is not one to be missed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe paddlers will come out the river mouth and into the harbour, which is absolutely stunning,\u201d she adds. \u2018If the wind is right on the day, the race route will be spectacular,\u201d she insists.<\/p>\n