Hawaiki Nui 2019 with Team ARUE VA’A 33.
An exciting look at one of the world’s toughest paddling races on the planet, the Hawaiki Nui.
Born in 1992, the Hawaiki Nui was the idea of Edouard Maamaatuaiahutapu, a paddler that wanted to make a tribute to the beauty of the islands where he lived, and to his group of friends who loved the sea and canoe racing. This mythical race was conceived from simple criteria, to be as prestigious as the Moloka’i Hoe race in Hawaii. The difference, to make it more arduous. The race consists of 3 stops, varying between 25 to 60km, going through the beautiful islands of Raiatea, Taha’a, Huahine and Bora Bora. The entire race runs between 2 to 4 and a half hours.
Talis Crew is proud to report on the prestigous Hawaiki Nui 2019, its 28th edition, as we sit down with MAMA-TEUIRA Tamatahiarii, of the legendary MAMA Tahitian paddling family.
Please introduce yourself and tell us about you and your family.
My name is MAMA-TEUIRA Tamatahiarii (Mumma Boy). I am a Tahitian paddler and a member of the Arue va’a Crew.
I paddle since the age of 15, thanks to my biological father (MAMA Maxime) who has participated in several world championships. He is a 500m Speed Va’a World Champion and champion of the great race v1 in Polynesia, the Te aito (1988). My big brother is MAMA Heiarii, he is the coach of EDT Va’a since 2010. He is also a 500m Speed Va’a World Champion 500m (2000) and the grand winner of the Hawaiki Nui Va’a Race in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. I started paddling with my cousins.
What are the names/seat positions of the men in your crew?
⁃ 1st Fa’ahoro, Bennet Reo, Purau Brotherson
⁃ 2nd Temauri Kainuu / Mumma Boy
⁃ 3rd Solomona Teuruarii and Tanihaa Ama
⁃ 4th Leon Kevin
⁃ 5th Lanteires Raitua and Faanui Faatau
⁃ 6th Peperu, Vane Tuarau
Can you describe the event? Why is it so special?
Hawaiki Nui Va’a is a legendary race in Polynesia because it is the flagship race of the year. It highlights all the Leeward Islands (Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a Bora Bora). This race is special because all of your training, since the beginning of the year, in a V1 and V6 comes together this long waited event. It will gather all the best teams in each category to race the strongest in the world.
Day 1 (in green above) — A 45km race across the ocean from Huahine to Raiatea. The leaders will cover the distance in around 3 hours & 15 minutes, the course record — 3h 11’ 47”.
Day 2 (in yellow above) — A comparative ‘sprint’ of 26 km within the lagoon from Raiatea & Tahaa. The leaders will complete the course ‘comfortably’ within 2 hours, the course record — 1h 52’ 49”.
Day 3 (in mauve above) — A gruelling 58km race across the ocean that separates Tahaa for Bora Bora. The leaders will complete it in just over 4 hours, the course record — 4h 07’ 01”.
What is involved with your preparation for a race like this?
This race requires great preparation. (Getting up at 3 to 4am for 3 to 4 months). The beginning of the year paddlers are already training hard because in Tahiti, we have almost all week-ends of Va’a runs (V1, V6). Workouts are the same for everyone (cardio, weight training, paddling morning and evening and for those who work, mornings, noon, and afternoons for those who can afford the time). It is difficult, up to the point we do not spend time with our family (life is difficult for couples). You come home in the evening around 7pm.
What was your best and worst day of the race?
The best race in my life, in a V6, was with the Team Tubuai. (2015 and 2016) It was a magnificent race! We surprised everyone because we were not great names of Va’a, EDT Va’a Team B 2017 and 2018) I paddled with a really solid team and seasoned paddlers. It is a race that will remain engraved in my memory. I do not have a “worst day”, I just accept the bad times.
Tell about your family paddling? Your brother is the coach of EDT? Your father was a paddler too?
The paddle is hereditary in our family, almost everyone is a paddler. My big brother is the EDT Va’a coach. My biological father (MAMA Maxime) is a world champion. It gives me great pride that my father and my brother are known in the world of Va’a. I did not really have the chance to create memories with them as a child, because I was adopted at birth by the sister of my biological mother.
What is your first memory paddling as a child?
My memory of my first time on a Va’a makes me laugh when I think about it. I did not care about my Va’a, I flipped every time. The first days were hard, it was necessary to learn how to hold well.
How was your race this year?
Paddling was good, we had to work on some details, adjusted things to go even further in the ranking. We must draw out the good lessons from mistakes made to improve next year. You must take the positives in relation to the race, and the remember the negative areas, this always leaves us with the internal fire to come back harder.
What would you tell people who have never done the race?
For those who have never done this race, I recommend you try to prepare well for it. It is a magical race and an unforgettable feeling of being happy. Enjoying it with friends on the water, to paddle 120km from islands to islands, in 3 days, and to see the cultures of each island. It is a discovery at the same time, what we suffer together. You will not even think of yourself, because the emotion of happiness to finish this race comes before. The Hawaiki Nui is the best race in the world for Va’a, it is more than a passion, it is the soul of the Polynesian people.
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