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3rd Wananga prepares Rangatahi |
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Written by Lee Ryan
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Tuesday, 12 October 2010 |
 Ohako Marae in Manutuke, Gisborne was the venue for the final Rangatahi Maori Surfers Development Wananga. Fifteen of New Zealand’s up and coming Maori junior surfers were selected to attend an Elite training camp under the watchful eye of Surfing New Zealand High Performance Coach Lee Ryan and Maori Development Coach Daniel Procter (Ngati Uepohatu).
This is the 3rd wananga that we have had to work and train these surfers commented Surfing NZ Maori projects manager Steve Ria (Ngati Ruapani / Rongowhakaata). They are amongst the new generation of Maori surfers that we have identified as having potential to develop into the top surfers in their age groups and potentially become national champions and New Zealand team representatives. It has been exciting and satisfying to see them adapt and utilise the knowledge that has been passed on to them.
Our focus for this wananga was on familiarisation of competition rules, judging criteria and tactics along with lectures on motivation and visualization techniques said coach Daniel Procter.
We also utilised the Gisborne Olympic pool and did some Hypoxia training to increase their lung capacity and worked on building up their leg strength with various drills using kick boards.
We also ran a mini-competition and a tag team event which each rangatahi had to participate in as a judge which was a good opportunity for them to gain knowledge of the judging criteria and learn about wave values.
An emotional ending to the Rangatahi Maori Surfers Development Wananga was felt during the mihi whakamutunga as all surfers, parents and the local iwi thanked Te Puni Kokiri, Surfing NZ and the coaches for sharing their knowledge over the three wananga. I have seen some great friendships develop amongst the rangatahi and parents said Lee Ryan, friendships that are going to last a lifetime. The rangatahi have shown a significant improvement in both their surfing technique and their inner confidence as well as their knowledge of Maori Tikanga and Kawa and I am honoured to have been able to assist them on their journey to challenge themselves and become the best that they can be. The wananga was not only about them learning but about all of us learning to work together as a team and as a whanau.
Surfing New Zealand would like to thank Te Puni Kokiri for the support they have provided to make these training camps possible.
For more information contact Maori Project Manager Steve Ria by email on steve.ria@surfingnz.co.nz or visit www.surfingnz.co.nz
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