Paddler champ passing on skills

KATRINA BIELESKI/Waikato Times

WINNING WAYS: Leanne Haronga from Orakei Water Sports Club finishes her race at Lake Karapiro.

Leanne Haronga had barely finished her own race at the National Waka Ama Championship at Lake Karapiro when she started looking around for her sons' team.

Her interest, however, was not just as a mother but also as the coach of the Orakei Water Sport J19 team.

Mrs Haronga coached the team, which consisted of six boys under the age of 19, including two of her own teenage sons, with her husband Steve.

She was also the reigning world champion for waka ama in the women's masters section.

This year her goal was to concentrate on the boy's campaign at the world championships in New Caledonia and for them to perform at their very best.

She had even set her own shot at reclaiming the master's title aside so she could concentrate on the young men in her team.

"It took me six years to win gold and silver at the worlds. I had won silver in my first two years and got a number of national titles, but I was pretty determined in 2008 and I believe that is what you need to win. It is about being the fittest and strongest at the time and so that is what we are concentrating on with the boys."

The team this week earned a place at the world championships, which will be held in May, and they would now look at gaining more experience during the remaining days of the regatta.

The Auckland woman, who is a full-time yoga teacher, said waka ama required a high level of fitness.

She was using herself as a guinea-pig for alternative training methods, including more land-based activities.

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