The New Zealand elite teams have been named for the world championships in Australia in May. Paddlers have been selected from all teams.
The men's team includes Tupu King, Brad Anderson, Tyrin Thomas and the Herbert brothers and Richard Pehi. Pehi is New Zealand's Masters W1 champ and has still managed to make the open men's team for the worlds.
The women's elite team includes Vesna Radonich and Kiwi Campbell leading the bunch.
Another year, another gold for Kaiārahi Toa.
They also dominated in the W6 500m final and grabbed two golds for the day.
Kaiarahi Toa have won over 20 golds at nationals throughout the years but the focus now turns to the worlds.
In the men's W6 1500m final, Pure OCC was in lane one.
But it was their fellow Hei Matau Paddlers Bhutty Boys who blitzed the competition today.
Tyrin Thomas of the Bhutty Boys says, “Our team is basically based on stamina and we do lot of long distance racing and I knew we would have that in the race but it was just the turns practicing turns we haven't done much as a team but nailed on that one and let the stamina take over.”
In the W6 500m final, Vaka Manu was looking for their 4th gold in a row.
Despite the tough competition the Manukau team reigned supreme again.
Just like Kaiarahi Toa, this champion team will now concentrate on the upcoming worlds in May.