2024 World Va'a (Outrigger) Sprints Experience - Written by Tom MacKay part of the 70+ Icemen crew
The paddlers faced many challenges such as poorly marked course, but the Icemen excelled despite these difficulties. They won gold in the V12 and both V-6 races, demonstrating exceptional teamwork and preparation throughout their journey.
Introduction:
The purpose of this recap is to chronicle the efforts of the 70+ Icemen to field a competitive crew for the 2024 IVF World Sprint Championships, held in Hilo, Hawaii. The process of assembling a crew and planning the steps to maximize competitiveness began in October, 2023.
Hilo: Course and Challenges
The IVF World Sprints in Hilo Bay faced significant issues with the course setup. Initially, the course layout was incomplete, and paddlers couldn’t familiarize themselves with it. The contractor was reportedly fired for setting up an English measurement course instead of a metric one, leading to the removal of lane markers. A new contractor installed a rudimentary course overnight, but it lacked intermediate lane buoys, complicating navigation. As a result, many paddlers faced disqualifications due to being out of lane, particularly in V1 races.
V-12 and V-6 Race Highlights
The Icemen had a strong showing in their races. In the V12 500m race, Team Canada narrowly defeated the New Zealand Noosa crew to secure gold. In the V-6 500m Turn Race, despite challenging visibility and lane issues, the Icemen won their heat and secured the top seat for the finals. The final was a tight contest with New Zealand and Hawaii, but the Icemen's powerful sprint in the final stretch earned them the gold by just under three seconds. In the V-6 500m Straight Race, the Icemen won their heat with the fastest time overall and edged out a strong Hawaii crew in the final to claim another gold.
Summary and Final Reflections
Securing gold medals in all crew events was a remarkable achievement for the Icemen. The journey from planning and practice through various regional races and intense preparation paid off. The team’s success was a testament to their hard work, teamwork, and camaraderie, with each member contributing equally to the goal. The absence of individual stars and the collective effort led to exceeding expectations and achieving a standout performance in Hilo.