If you are into white water rafting, there's only one place to be next year...
White water rafters from around the world are looking forward to the IRF World Championships in Rotorua and Kawerau, in the heartland of New Zealand’s North Island from November 13 to 24, 2013.
And in a short time, some of them will get a preview of the conditions, the courses and the rivers the world championships will be raced on next year.
A Pre-Worlds event will be run from Friday October 19 to Sunday 21.
On Friday October 19 the Sprint and Head to Head race will be on the Kaituna on Friday.
On Saturday, the Slalom will be raced in Kawerau on the Tarawera.
The finale will be the Down River race on the Rangitaiki, on Sunday.
Up for grabs will be selection for the New Zealand team for 2013 and the Australian National title.
“We are coming over to win that Aussie title and make sure we are at the world champs, next year,” says Kris Kingston, from Team Cairns in Australia. “We are really hungry – three of us competed in Bosnia in 2009 and would love to compete at another worlds, especially one on our doorstep.”
It is also a chance to assess where they stand against other top international teams.
“Team Japan are coming to the pre-worlds and they’ll be a benchmark for where we need to be in 2013,” adds Kingston.
It’s a homecoming for him. He’s originally from Tauranga and grew up rafting on the rivers of the region.
"I have a bit of experience with rivers in the North Island, but it’s a while ago," says Kingston. "For the rest of the team, it’s all new, so they are really excited."
Takuya Ikeda from Team Japan is keen to experience the world championships rivers - and also a slice of Kiwi lifestyle.
“It’s always a pleasure to get close to New Zealand nature," says Ikeda. "And to meet the locals and experience the culture."
Ikeda has rafted in New Zealand before.
"I was a river guide in Queenstown twelve years go and I am really glad to be returning to New Zealand."
For Michal Rasek, from the Czech Republic, the chance to race on the same rivers as next year was too good to miss.
“We love competing against strong teams like Japan and the local teams on their own territory,” says Rasek. “We know New Zealand is a beautiful country with fantastic rivers so we are looking forward to the trip, having fun and catching up with friends in the other teams.”
For Raewyn Larcombe, of the New Zealand Rivers Association, having teams from around the world here is a dream come true.
“Our crews are very competitive and successful and racing against the world’s best on our own great rivers is a real opportunity for not just gold medals, but also to build the sport in New Zealand,” she says. “We are seeing exciting growth at the youth level and throwing them in the deep end at the worlds will only help their development.”
It is also an exciting time for New Zealand paddlers, like Paul Roozendaal.
He’s competed at World Championships in crews that won bronze medals in 2003 and 2010 and who were just seconds out of the medals in Costa Rica in 2011.
“Getting the exposure on home ground will definitely help introduce the sport to New Zealand,” says Roozendaal. “With up to 60 different countries coming here to paddle our awesome rivers at the World Championships next year, it will also boost our tourism and rafting industry.”
Roozendaal feels international rafters will enjoy the experience.
“Our rivers are so clean with some flat sections and exciting rapids and all close to Rotorua,” he enthuses. “And it’s not just the water they’ll like, but the ferns and all the native bush that surrounds the rivers - and of course there are no spiders or snakes,” adds Roozendaal with a laugh.
“I’m really looking forward to having all the friends I have made in the sport in my home town.”
