Tauranga schools are preparing to fend off a strong South Island challenge at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Canoe Slalom Championships starting today in Kawerau.

Tauranga schools have traditionally dominated the national event, with Tauranga Boys' College looking for a 14th consecutive overall winner's title, while Tauranga Girls' has won the top girls' trophy for the last nine years.

Tauranga Girls' College team captain Anna Higgins.
Photo: Glenys Travers.

A large contingent of Central Otago paddlers is looking to change this and has already indicated a strong challenge for titles and team spots.

The secondary schools championships run until Thursday, and are followed by the New Zealand Canoe Slalom Nationals on Saturday and Sunday. Both events are being held on the Tarawera River.

Canoe slalom is a race against the clock that sees paddlers navigate gates similar to slalom skiing on rapids, and is one of two canoeing disciplines in the Olympics.

The canoe slalom national championship event is the last New Zealand event for the senior team before it starts its European campaign and build up to Olympic qualification in September.

The kayaks are swapped for a longer version, more like a multisport kayak, for the down river event. A short, sprint event sees paddlers navigate the rapids, picking the best line over a short course, while the classic event requires more stamina for a 15-20 minute paddle through the white water.

Australian canoeing is sending two teams to compete in both slalom and down river.

Added to the line up this year is the inaugural NZ Secondary Schools Freestyle Champs. Flips, spins and other tricks are performed in a plastic, stumpy kayak on a ‘play wave' and competitors are judged on the quality of their moves within the allocated time.

The Kaituna River has the ideal spot for this event below Okere Falls, near Rotorua.

The three events are combined to make the Bay of Plenty's biggest ever kayaking event,

CanoeFEST BOP, using three rivers.

For kayakers just wanting to play on the rapids and do the extreme white water stuff over Easter there is a three day release on the Wairoa River, near Tauranga, when water will flow 10-4pm.