Team Tai
Team Tai
Tupuria King
Years paddling: 25 years
Club: Ngā Hoe Horo – HOT / Team Tai Aotearoa
Padding Highlights: Coaching the Elite Men’s team across the last four campaigns, including gold medal finishes. Multiple world sprint titles with Herbert’s on Tour (Australia & London). Top 10 super Aito Tahiti. Sprints 12× New Zealand National Sprint Champion.
International success with Paddling Connection (2015–2018), Hawaiki Nui, and Catalina, plus time paddling with Ka Lahui Kai and Team Oceania.
Paddle Design for Sprints: Hybrid Broadbill or Kingfish
Paddle Design for long distance: Hybrid Broadbill and a new model yet to be released!
Team Tai
Ngatuire Hapi
Years paddling: 8 years
Club: Te Arawa Waka
Padding Highlights: coaching our next generation of kaihoe speaking our Reo. Connecting with kaihoe around the world
Paddle Design for Sprints: Hiku, but I think it may be Kingfish next!
Paddle Design for long distance: Hiku
Advice for new paddler: Paddle because you get to, not because you have to.
Team Tai
Kacey Ngataki
Years paddling: 15 years
Club: Manukau outriggers since 2016
Padding Highlights: Racing Hawaki Nui, Racing and travelling to Europe for World champs 2022. World kayak championships 2022-2025. Racing with Team vakamanu and being apart of the 10x NZ 500m V6 winning team.
Paddle Design for Sprints: 50 1/2 Broadbill
Paddle Design for long distance: 52 Broadbill + 51 Full carbon broadbill
Advice for new paddler: Few things I’ve gained over the years, first to enjoy the water and training make sure you are having fun.
Team Tai
Hine Brooking
Years paddling: 7 years
Club: Horouta
Padding Highlights: Travelling around the world and making lots of friends and networks.
Paddle Design for Sprints: 50 Full Carbon Broadbill + 50 Half Wood/Carbon Sleeve
Paddle Design for long distance: 50 Full Carbon Broadbill + 51 Hybrid Carbon Broadbill
Advice for new paddler: Take every opportunity you can, make lots of friends and networks and lastly enjoy it even the difficult and hard trainings. Enjoy the journey!
Team Tai
Manawa Irwin
Years paddling: 15 years
Club:
Padding Highlights: Being apart of the first ever tai paddles team that travelled to Australia.
Paddle Design for Sprints: 51 1/2 Hiku
Paddle Design for long distance: 51 1/2 Niwha
Advice for new paddler: One race doesn’t define you, so learn to enjoy the ups and downs.
Team Tai
Te Rina Leubert
Years paddling: 7 years
Club: Haeata Ocean Sports/Taupo Waka Ama
Padding Highlights: Being able to compete along side the athletes that have inspired my journey.
Paddle Design for Sprints: Full carbon Kingfish
Paddle Design for long distance: Full carbon Hiku
Advice for new paddler: Every paddler you surround yourself with has something to teach you - be curious and absorb as much as you can.