School Vaka Paddling Competition, Muri Lagoon Cook Islands.
In my first week in Rarotonga, I drove past the outdoor storage shed at Trader Jack’s. This isn’t just any storage shed – this shed is filled to the brim with beautiful ocean outrigger canoes. When I saw all those outriggers, I only had to look out at the ocean to know, I had to get myself involved in the outrigger canoe, or Vaka paddling community in Rarotonga.
Fast forward a couple of months and I am now a member of the Cook Islands Canoe Association and have the great pleasure of heading out in a 6-person outrigger on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Though a recent person described Vaka paddling as ‘jogging on water’, I totally disagree.
For me it is about being close the ocean; it is about socialising; it is about exercising; it is about trying to perfect the perfect stroke and it is about having some fun. In short – I love it.
Last Thursday evening I was paddling at Muri Lagoon with a crew, when I found out that the very next day, the Vaka School Paddling Competition was to be held at the lagoon. Three hundred competitors where expected, with races throughout the day.
As a photographer, who lives less than 10-minutes away, it was a no brainer. I had to turn up to photograph the event.
Below are some favourites from my time covering the event on Friday. It was a great warm up for the big Vaka Eiva event, to be held this coming November.
Competitors exiting their outrigger after a racing heat, Muri Lagoon, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com
Portrait of a young Vaka competitor, Muri Lagoon, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com
Repositioning a boat between Vaka racing heats, Muri Lagoon Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com
Spectator at the Vaka paddling competition, Muri Lagoon, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com
Decoration on the leg of a Vaka paddler, Muri Lagoon, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com
Teenager bringing out a replacement paddle for a Vaka crew, prior to a race heat, Muri Lagoon, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com
School boys watch the Vaka racing action in the shade of a tree, Muri Lagoon, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com
School girls watching Vaka competitors as they paddle out to the start line, Muri Lagoon, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com
A team of boys paddling hard for the finish line, Muri Lagoon, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com
Food stall at the Vaka paddling competition, Muri Lagoon, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com
Toddler playing on an outrigger canoe, between racing heats. Muri Lagoon, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com
Dog looking for fish with Vaka paddlers in the background, Muri Lagoon, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com
That winning feeling. A crew of boys celebrate winning their paddling heat, Muri Lagoon, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com
Vaka racing medals, Muri Lagoon, Rarotonga. © www.thomaspickard.com
The Aitutaki mixed crew take out the overall Vaka Paddling Championship, Muri Lagoon, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com
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