{"id":24215,"date":"2025-04-15T14:11:34","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T13:11:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pyranha.com\/blog\/?p=24215"},"modified":"2025-04-15T14:11:35","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T13:11:35","slug":"new-zealand-extreme-whitewater-race-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pyranha.com\/blog\/new-zealand-extreme-whitewater-race-series\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand Extreme Whitewater Race Series"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The NZ Extreme Whitewater Race Series<\/a> consists of four events split over the North and South islands of New Zealand. This year, the full series did not go ahead, but we were able to partake in 3 events of the series: the Wairoa Extreme Race, Buller Fest, and the Citroen Extreme Race (Nevis Bluff time trial remix). Each event took place over the space of a weekend, each a week apart. Joined by Rhys Thompson and Josh Scarlett, we made our way around New Zealand, going to each event and paddling along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first of the three events was the Wairoa Extreme Race put on by Sam Ricketts of the New Zealand Whitewater Academy<\/a>. The Wairoa is located in the Bay of Plenty on the North Island. This dam releases once a week on a Sunday and provides some excellent class 4 kayaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weekend kicked off with a time trial event on Saturday, held from the river’s get-on at MacLaren Falls, down to the bottom of \u201cRollercoaster\u201d. Racers must paddle a 10-minute section of class 4, pool-drop rapids as fast as possible, and touch the banner to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Alex flying on the Wairoa – Mathew Roxburgh<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Over 40 people partook in Saturday’s time trial, who then collected themselves in the pool below the Rollercoaster for the mass start race. All 40+ people then raced 2km down to the very takeout of the river\u2026 it was chaos!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a fun day of kayaking came a delicious hog roast, plenty of beer, dancing, and a Throw Bag Olympics run by the renowned throw-bagger and rescue enthusiast Rhys Thomson. Thanks to the event sponsors for the delicious food and drink!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dusty morning setting up the course and the head-to-head race was underway. Kayakers were racing the \u201cToaster\u201d and \u201cRollercoaster\u201d rapids in a one vs. one format. Carnage followed as most racers were elbow to elbow, pushed into holes, and slammed into each other. It was awesome spectating and great to see all the work volunteers put in to making the event happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the closing ceremony, many cool prizes were given out, including some lovely new paddles! Pyranha had kindly donated a 9R<\/a> to be raffled off to raise money towards the legal fees required to fight the Kaituna dam project<\/a>. The fight against this dam is still ongoing. Please follow WhitewaterNZ<\/a> to find out what you can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The week after the event, Rhys and I returned to work but got in an after-work lap on the Aniwhenua, a dam-released section with a fun 10fter at the end. It was a great feeling to be operating on a new section to us, and it got me excited to head south!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Aniwhenua boof! – Rhys Thompson<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Later that week, after a punishing few hours of driving, a ferry ride, and a pizza, we arrived in Murchison, the home of Buller Fest<\/a>. Upon arrival, we hit up Mauria Falls, a Murch classic. This beautiful park-n-huck 20fter made for an entertaining afternoon!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Mauria 45s -Josh Scarlett<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

That evening came the Awanui Film Awards<\/a>. Plenty of beer and videography was consumed. The winning film, \u201cRPM Depreciation,\u201d was one of the funniest kayaking films I\u2019ve ever seen and will likely become a staple of kayaking films in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by Toby McDonald (@tbmcd)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>