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Pakiri’s Skin Atkins will be representing New Zealand at the Waka Ama 2019 World Distance Champs, held in Mooloolaba from August 9 to 17.
Atkins qualified after a convincing victory at the Long Distance Nationals at Okahu Bay. He out-paddled his nearest competitor, Filipo Brewster, by nearly a minute over the 16km race.
“I wasn’t confident about winning the singles because there was a new younger guy, Filipo, who has earned himself a reputation for winning everything. But I just thought I would give it everything, especially as I have won it three times before,” Atkins said.
Both Atkins and Brewster compete in the Gold Masters category for men between 60 and 70.
“All the guys were ahead of me at the start, but I thought if I keep it up, I will get it in the end. My strength is my endurance.
“After the first quarter of the race I got ahead. The whole time I was looking for the younger guys behind my shoulder, but I didn’t see them again.”
Atkins is chairman of the Tapara Waka Ama club in Omaha, but the club doesn’t have enough paddlers in a single age category to put together a full team, so Atkins competed in the nationals under Takapuna’s Taniwha Outrigger Canoe Club.
He got a second gold medal at the nationals for a team race with the Taniwha in the 20km gold master men’s race – along with teammate Brewster.
The Worlds event in Mooloolaba presents a different challenge, as competitors are required to use uniform boats provided to them instead of their own vessels.
“You just have to hope it runs well for you on the day. The Aussies know the boats so they can train ahead of time, but we get a couple of training runs at best.”
Glen Stirling from the Tapara club also won in his team masters (50-60) and will go to the world champs.
“It’s good to get someone to train with and push me. The hard part of the world champs will be competing with guys nearly 10 years younger than me,” Atkins says.
Atkins last won a world title 12 years ago in Hawaii and says he hopes 2019 is his year to do it again.
