We are enjoying sunny spells and sunny hospitality here in Suva for the Wai Tui Fiji International.
First held in 2003, this has become an annual event which offers Fijian paddlers the chance to flex a little muscle and for overseas paddlers to enjoy the 'Bula' experience of Fiji. Organizer, Colin Philp, has since founding this event, come to see it as a grass-roots event, not so much for the elite but for those who merely wish to experience the sport in a mellow, tropical environment, where simply being a part of the event, will warm you to the sport if you have grown cold of red tape and the absence of 'Aloha' which paddlers speak of, but rarely feel.
Here's a note from Claire from Port Stephens Aust: "Hi Australia - Claire H from PDs here i've just hijacked the race organizers laptop - Its awesome here! Everyone should come next year. We got a mention on Fiji TV last night, and Linda is racing OC1 marathon this afternoon. Bring it ON!!"
OK, I'm back...having moved a few times in its short life, being in Nadi (Nan_di) last year, the event has now moved to the University of the South Pacific just outside of Suva, a site used for the 2007 Hobie Worlds. Protected by a rock wall, the harbour area is proving to be a great sprint course for the V1 races currently underway, with paddlers from Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa, Samoa and Fiji competing. Conditions are hot and humid and apart from the occasional threatening storm cloud drifting past the fringing reef on the far distant horizon, conditions are calm.
Mandy and I are paddling with American Samoa, between taking photos and interviewing for http://www.kanuculture.com and Pacific Paddler magazine. We are guests of the Fiji Visitors Bureau and the Holiday Inn Suva to whom we thank for their support.
The event will run from today, Thursday 17th to Saturday 19th. V1 events today, and V6 events over Friday and Saturday, including Sprints and Marathon races. More later.
Vinaka
Steve West
Submitted by Steve West on Wed, 04/16/2008 - 2:11pm
wish i was there, we will be folowing the event through your website.
mahalo and have a great race all of you!
#1 Wed, 04/16/2008 - 2:31pm
http://www.fijiwebcam.com for live images
As for the rest of the day...the V1 500m rudderless events continued on through the day, with some increased wind and shower activity, leading to the U16 and U19 V6 marathon races in the latter part of the afternoon. NZ U19 Hemi Wahapango paddling with the Portage Crossing, winner of the World Sprints in NZ, continued good form to win in 2:32:09 and also backed up to win the Open event in 2:46:09 in strong blustery head winds. Richard Thrupp from NZ finished runner up to Hemi in both events. Maia Davis (NZ) won the U19 500m V1 in 3:07:99 followed by Carley Eklund also of NZ, demonstrating the depth of their Kiwis V1 paddlers in the junior divisions.
Encouragingly the event also included an U14 division. Fiji is strongly behind their juniors seeing that in order to compete with some emerging Pacific island paddling regions, that this is essential to their future success on the international scene and in building a culture of paddling amongst the community. The U14 mixed, girl and boys teams paddled over 6km, with strong performances from the Nadi team winning all events and PNG collecting silver in the mixed and girls event.
The U19 marathon over 15km took the paddlers outside the reef, where massive Pacific swells pounded on the reef and challenged the paddlers and steerers, especially when rain squalls, salt spray, mist and a setting sun made for limited visibility. The U19 girls race was won by Portage Crossing in 1:47:53, followed by their second team and in the U19 boys event also by Portage Crossing in 1:30:25 followed by an excellent performance by the Port Moresby Canoe Club PNG 1:37:52.
With the importation of Hyper Canoes into Fiji, these ruddered light weight canoes have opened up open ocean paddling and paddlers enjoyed the large swells outside the reef, organiser Colin Philp returned to shore all smiles and stoked at surfing the 10-15' faces.
A great first day. Time for Fiji Bitter and prize giving.
Update on Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 04:23PM
Day 2 - It's raining but not windy. V6 500m and 1000m races with 1500m for the open divisions. OC1 marathons this afternoon. More later.
Steve West
http://www.kanuculture.com
#2 Thu, 04/17/2008 - 3:13pm
Thanks for writing this up. We appreciate it!
Mahalo
#3 Thu, 04/17/2008 - 11:18am
I haven't checked with Steve, but i think the WebCam link is www.fijiwebcam.com The original one Steve posted is no go.
Looks like the rain has stopped for now, i can see some OC1's on the beach rigging.
Have fun Westy, Mandy.
Rambo
#4 Thu, 04/17/2008 - 12:41pm
So the V6 sprints are over with, the open and U19 events dominated by the Kiwi's but some fine performances by many relative newcomers, including the PNG youngsters and the local Fijians. The tropical downpours have cleared for the moment and paddlers are feasting on plate lunches and browsing the stalls. OC1 marathon races are later this afternoon conditions look much the same from the beach, though additional buoys are being laid out at the reef pass to keep paddlers well clear of the imploding sets which would make easy work of canoe and paddler. Wherever you race in the Pacific, from Guam to Fiji, Cook Island to Tahiti, racing along the backside the reef line with a prevailing swell, is always 'interesting'. Often you will be unaware of the size until you hear the wave 'boom' on reef beside you, which can be a wake up call. Tomorrow the V6 Marathons will bring the event to a fitting climax, followed by 250m V1 races for those with energy to burn. Cheers.
Steve West
http://www.kanuculture.com
#5 Thu, 04/17/2008 - 3:14pm
how great is this live video?
congratulations to organizers and sponsors, real deal!
hats off!!
mahalo nui loa!
Mariano.
#6 Thu, 04/17/2008 - 4:52pm
Todays Open womens marathon was won in blustery and at time rough conditions in 2:02:02 Kai Wai (Suva) over 20kms with Sydney paddlers 'The Flip Side' (Port Stephens) finishing 2nd 2:02:43, then Nadi Bay 2:08:48. The first 5km was spent punching into a 20km head wind, then making their way out through the passage into open water and a long long leg along the reef with a SE Trade win pushing them along. Kai Wai led from the start, though the Flip Side made a valiant effort to pull back. Steering was difficult at times, as heavy swells rolled in from the East. Back in the through the reef, Kai Wai pulled away to a comfortable buffer to win.
In the Open mens marathon, the wind had eased marginally, but the heavens opened up, torrential rain limiting visibility. Team Camakau (a young Kai Wai team) team pulled away from Colin Philps' older, though more experienced Kai Wai crew. In open water running along the reef, Kai Wai pulled up to and past Camakau by about 100m. A two horse race all the way, the younger Camakau came back to over take once through the pass to win in 1:36:08 from Kai Wai in 1:36:20. 3rd place went to Nadi Bay in 1:40:25. Clean and at times glassy swells, made for some good surfing conditions.
It's pouring here, but regardless everyone is making the most of it. Some V1 3, 6 and 10km races were held this morning for U14,16 and 19 age groups and the last event to culminate todays racing and the event, is a 250m V1 dash for cash.
Photos and more to come asap (when I return),
Vinaka
Steve West
http://www.kanuculture.com
#7 Fri, 04/18/2008 - 4:44pm