Wow time Flies !
Welly Paddlers 21st birthday is October 15, 2024
It all started when we organised a harbour surfski and waka ama series for paddlers in Wellington.
The series kicked off in October 2003 with 8 km to 12 km distances over the Spring / Summer window. As times changed we then morphed into a winter series and also included multisport kayaks as we tended to use sheltered bays and waterways between Porirua Harbour and Wellington Harbours. The sheltered areas rational was all about ensuring we had a relatively sheltered place to start, finish and also paddle, winter is not a time for heroics and beating ourselves up paddling is the worst conditions. It was also about looking after all the paddlers (and their varied skill levels) that we welcomed into the series.
You'll see write ups and photos in several of the old Welly Paddlers blogspot posts......just head to the right hand bottom of the main page and click on "older posts"
Over the years we picked up the organising of the Motorway Classic in 2009 and the Foxton Loop Race in 2019.
Motorway Classic
1990 - 2007 The event was organised by Mark Watson, followed by John Cussins and Paula Strickson and then the Mana Kayak Club following their formation around 2002. It was held between April and June with the original distance being 13.3 km
2008 The event was not held
2009 Welly Paddlers took over the custodianship of the event.
2009 waka ama were included
2014 SUP's were included and the 7 km and 3.5 km distances were added.
2015 was an event peak with 115 paddlers, ICF World Ocean surfski Champion Sean Rice raced and also ran Coaching Clinics
2019 12 x Molokai World Ocean Racing Champion Oscar Chalupsky raced and also ran Coaching Clinics
2021 the 30th anniversary Motorway Classic reached another peak with 190 paddlers
2022 the event was not held due to Covid / Parliament Grounds Invasion / Protest
2023 Due to the Te Ara Tupua walkway cycleway project the venue changed with the new distance extending to 14 km
2023 Welly Paddlers organised their last Motorway Classic
2024 the event was organised by the Mana Kayak Club
There are results on our blog from 2009 - 2018 and then on Webscorer from 2019 - 2023
Foxton Loop Race
1991 - 2016 organised by the Ruahine White Water Club
1991 The original course was from Foxton out the wide section of the loop to the Whirokino bridge then back to Foxton via the narrow end of the loop (17km)
2008 In the 2000's era a tidal gate blocked the loop (at the Farmers bridge) so the start changed to Foxton Beach with the course heading to Foxton and back (18 km)
2010 an 8 km short course option was added
2017 - 2018 event not held
2019 Welly Paddlers restarted the Event with 12 km / 6 km / 3 km courses the long course headed out the wide section of the river loop and turned anti clockwise around the first island ( 1 of 3 islands) prior to Whirokino boat ramp.
2022 It was no coincidence that the long course turned around the first island, because directly across from this is the opening to the narrow end of the loop. Two massive floods prior to the race cleared the vegetation overgrowth so we raced a 12 km / 10 km / 6 km and 3 km courses. The 10 km paddlers raced clockwise heading out the narrow end of the loop just as the 12 km paddlers were turning around the island. Timing is a wonderful thing !
2020 event peaked at 90 paddlers
2023 Welly Paddlers organised the event for the last time.
2024 organised by Daniel Cudby and the Foxton Surf Life Saving Club
Results for the Foxon Loop Race from 2019 forward are all on webscorer.
Welly Paddlers media and services
2008 The Welly Paddlers blog went live.
2014 Welly Paddlers page set up on Facebook
2017 Welly Paddlers Group set up on Facebook
2022 Welly Paddlers on Instagram
2019 supply of non slip boat ramp mat to the Porirua Grand Traverse multisport event
2020 supply of water support to the PGT
2020 supply of non slip boat ramp mat to the Finesigns Crazyman multisport event
Historic post from the Welly Paddlers blog
Monday August 4 - 2008
Hi, you've reached the blogspot of the organisers of Wellingtons surfski & waka ama series.
Chester Burt and Sharlene Winiata are now in their 5th year of organising these events for Wellingtons paddling community. We started back in October 2003.
In New Zealand the first surfski series started in Auckland about 7 years ago and from this we were inspired to do something similar in Wellington.
The Wellington series has always had the majority of paddler numbers coming from the waka ama community, surfski numbers have been slowly picking up over the last 12 months which has been encouraging.
The main aim of the series is to have races for all paddlers from various water sports to particpate in. We encourage everyone to participate, and it doesn't matter at what pace you go at.
Our next update will contain more information on this years series. Currently our series schedule is in draft and we are working with Raukawa Comerford at Hoe Tonga.We are aiming to have our first race on September 14.
