Over 120 paddlers - young and old, from 7 clubs in Suva and Nadi turned up for the first Fiji Outrigger Regatta held at the USP Lower Campus.
Fiji Outrigger President, Biu Kacimaiwai says their focus is now on their juniors as they are 3 years out from the Pacific Games in Tahiti.
Kacimaiwai says 2023 was a good year for them as they equalled the number of Pacific Games medals they had won in the Games.
He says coming off that, they realized they focused on the elite and national squads.
He says they are starting off their year with the marathons where they have the juniors, mixed, open women and open men in the V6's where there are 6 people in one canoe.
He says the junior boys and girls are competing in the 8 to 9 kilometre races while the open grades competed in the 16.5 kilometre race.
Kacimaiwai says this is the first of at least 10 regattas where they will be moving the location of each meet to the Suva foreshore, Wailoaloa in Nadi and even to Vuda throughout the year.
Fiji Outrigger Treasurer, Ilaitia Tuinamoala highlighted to fijivillage News that they are encouraging a clean games policy at all their events.
Tuinamoala says they are changing the behavior of people even though its small and it's a start.
He says they ensure they clean the USP Lower Campus foreshore before and after the races.
The 7 teams present at the meet were Taf'aga, KaiWai, Takia, USP, Vai, Lami and Nadi Bay.
Nadi Bay Paddling Club won the U16 grade as they were the only team to field a team in that category.
In the U19 Girls, Taf'aga came first with Takia second and Nadi Bay coming 3rd.
The U19 Boys title went to Takia just pipping Taf'aga at the end and KaiWai in third.
Takia Club won the open women's race with KaiWai came second while the Taf'aga open men's put on a dominating performance to win with Nadi Bay in second and KaiWai settling for third.
