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Wai Tui Fiji International Press Release
- Thursday 01 April
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Wailoaloa Beach in Nadi will be the battleground this Easter weekend for the 2010 Wai Tui International Outrigger Championship , the biggest local event for outrigger canoeing. Nearly 150 canoe paddlers from as far offshore as Guam and Hong Kong will converge at Wailoaloa to battle local teams from Suva, Savusavu, Nadi and Vuda.
240 medals are up for grabs at this year’s event, with 42 different races organized over the three days of competition. “We see the Wai Tui International as a great build-up for the upcoming Outrigger World Sprints,” said Fiji Outrigger President, David Eyre. “It gives our local paddlers a chance to test their skills against overseas teams and raise the level of their own performance.” This year’s Outrigger World Sprints will be held in Noumea, New Caledonia in May.
Seasoned paddlers as well as Under 19 boys and girls will all be competing at this year’s Wai Tui International. Events include the sprint races, 500 and 1500 meter races, as well as marathons for both the six person canoe (V6) and the single person canoes (V1).
“The short races are exciting for spectators to watch,” said Eyre. “The race course is so close to shore you just sit on the beach and cheer for the team of your choice.” This is the fourth (?) Wai Tui International to be held in Fiji, with each year providing a different set of .
Races kick off at 9:00 a.m. on Friday morning, with both the V6 (six person) and V1( one person) sprint events. This is capped off with a Fire Dance Show put on at Traveller’s Beach Resort at 6:00pm and then a buffet dinner where spectators can mingle with the paddlers for some fun and food.
Camaraderie, fun and competition are the hallmarks of the Wai Tui International every year, where grueling races like the marathon are followed by a series of fun events. As one of the only truly Pacific sports, outrigger canoe racing also has cultural aspects that one can only appreciate down at the race site. There will also be Polynesian Dance Group performances on the last night (Sunday) right on the beach.
The final night will feature the closing ceremony and medals presentation as well as Traveller’s Beach Resorts famous BBQ dinner and entertainment until the wee hours of the morning. “If you want to see what outrigger canoe paddling is all about, then the Wai Tui International is really the place to see it first hand,” said Fiji Outrigger President Eyre. “I don’t think anyone will be disappointed.”
For more information on the event, log onto the website www.fijioutrigger.com, or contact Sheena Hughes at secretary@fijioutrigger.com
240 medals are up for grabs at this year’s event, with 42 different races organized over the three days of competition. “We see the Wai Tui International as a great build-up for the upcoming Outrigger World Sprints,” said Fiji Outrigger President, David Eyre. “It gives our local paddlers a chance to test their skills against overseas teams and raise the level of their own performance.” This year’s Outrigger World Sprints will be held in Noumea, New Caledonia in May.
Seasoned paddlers as well as Under 19 boys and girls will all be competing at this year’s Wai Tui International. Events include the sprint races, 500 and 1500 meter races, as well as marathons for both the six person canoe (V6) and the single person canoes (V1).
“The short races are exciting for spectators to watch,” said Eyre. “The race course is so close to shore you just sit on the beach and cheer for the team of your choice.” This is the fourth (?) Wai Tui International to be held in Fiji, with each year providing a different set of .
Races kick off at 9:00 a.m. on Friday morning, with both the V6 (six person) and V1( one person) sprint events. This is capped off with a Fire Dance Show put on at Traveller’s Beach Resort at 6:00pm and then a buffet dinner where spectators can mingle with the paddlers for some fun and food.
Camaraderie, fun and competition are the hallmarks of the Wai Tui International every year, where grueling races like the marathon are followed by a series of fun events. As one of the only truly Pacific sports, outrigger canoe racing also has cultural aspects that one can only appreciate down at the race site. There will also be Polynesian Dance Group performances on the last night (Sunday) right on the beach.
The final night will feature the closing ceremony and medals presentation as well as Traveller’s Beach Resorts famous BBQ dinner and entertainment until the wee hours of the morning. “If you want to see what outrigger canoe paddling is all about, then the Wai Tui International is really the place to see it first hand,” said Fiji Outrigger President Eyre. “I don’t think anyone will be disappointed.”
For more information on the event, log onto the website www.fijioutrigger.com, or contact Sheena Hughes at secretary@fijioutrigger.com