Entries have now opened for the 2021 Kahawai Paddling Championships – a brand new Canoe Racing NZ event designed to develop the next generation of paddlers.

Liam Lace successfully battled the stormy weather and the gruelling 26km distance to claim a thrilling victory at the 2021 New Zealand Kayak Marathon Championships in Tauranga at the weekend.

An attractive location on the Wairoa River this weekend will play host to the 2021 New Zealand Kayak Marathon Championships in Tauranga, which promises to serve up a genuine test of skill and endurance for all competing paddlers.

Ben Keys mounted a successful defence of his open men’s title and Danika Mowlem toasted victory as the overall open women’s champion following the conclusion of the 2020-21 Darcy Price Series.

In his third ever surf ski race, Tupu King captured the New Zealand men’s surf ski title while Rachel Clarke claimed her tenth successive national women’s title at the Manuka Performance Heads to Harbour Paddle Festival in Whakatane today.

The cream of kiwi surf ski talent will descend on Whakatane on Saturday to feature in the Manuka Performance Heads to Harbour Paddle Festival and New Zealand Surf Ski Championships.

Now the chequered flag has been waved on the 2021 New Zealand Virtual Paddling Championships we take a look back on some of the trends that have emerged during the successful month-long competition.

Rookie surf ski paddler Jay Marlowe has participated in the New Zealand Virtual Paddling Championships to build up vital experience as he looks to target the Nugget Multisport Festival in Waihi in May.

As the 2021 New Zealand Virtual Paddling Championships reaches a climax we chat to two paddlers – Ben McCallum and Ana Swetish – who have made it to the top of the standings in their respective paddle craft.

On a momentous night at the glittering Halberg Award Decade Champions ceremony in Auckland last night, the sport of canoe sprint toasted two awards as Lisa Carrington took out the Sportswoman of the Decade award and Gordon Walker was named Coach of the Decade.

A Tokyo-bound Olympic K1 sprinter might be an unlikely prospect to compete at the Manuka Performance Heads to Harbour Paddle Festival in Whakatane on April 3.

Using events like the New Zealand Kayak Marathon Champs (April 10-11) that fall between now and sprint nationals is also a good way to keep focused on racing and rack up valuable kilometres in training. CRNZ Development Coach Craig Mustard, who has a strong background in marathon racing having worked with a clutch of the world’s best marathon paddlers in South Africa, offers his four key marathon racing tips.