The Canoe Slalom NZ National Championships hit Tekapo over Easter weekend, serving up epic racing and a whole lot of good vibes — all while dodging the chaos of Cyclone Tam in the North Island!

Paddlers from across the country — and a few Aussie including Kate Eckhardt, Tim Anderson, and Kayak Cross Olympic Champion Noemie Fox — turned up the heat on Tekapo’s stunning whitewater course. From future stars to masters still charging hard, every race was packed with action.

Huge shoutout to Central Otago Whitewater for hosting, the Tekapo Whitewater Trust for the behind-the-scenes mahi, and every single volunteer who with our Competitions Committee kept things running smooth. 

Key Results:

C1 Men

Fastest Overall Glass Trophy Oliver Puchner

Fastest Junior (U18, U16, U14) Smaller Fish Hook Trophy Cooper Egan

U23 Donald Johnson Cup Oliver Puchner 

U18 Lachie Harkness 

U16 Cooper Egan 

K1 Women

Fastest Overall White Water Slalom NZ Cup Courtney Williams

Fastest Junior (U18, U16, U14) Angela Hay Cup Rosie Rex

Senior DB Trophy Courtney Williams NZ

U23 Pip Arnold Trophy Khalia Cullwick 

U18 Wooden Rasdeck Trophy Rosie Rex T

U16 Pub Charity Cup Kiera Hodgson

U14 Bailey Family Cup Kaylee Verhoeven

K1 Men

Fastest Overall White Water Slalom NZ Cup Finn Butcher

Fastest Junior (U18, U16, U14) BOP Savings Bank Trophy Joseph Sampson

Fastest Master 35 - 49 yrs Hamilton Canoe Club Cup Craig Martin

Fastest Master 50+ years Alan Hoffman Cup Dai Edwards

Mst 60+ Donald Johnstone 

Mst 55+ Dai Edwards 

Senior DB Trophy Finn Butcher

U23 Ian Mercer Cup Nick Collier

U18 Wooden Rasdeck Trophy Joseph Sampson

U16 Pub Charity Cup Harry Lugton 

U14 Pub Charity Cup Nick Lugton 

C1 Women

Fastest Overall Pub Charity Cup Kahlia Cullwick

Fastest Junior (U18, U16, 14) Smaller wooden fishhook Rosie Rex

U23 Owen Hughes Cup Kahlia Cullwick

U16 Emily Nagel 

C2 Men

Fastest Overall Glass Trophy Nick Collier / Lachie Harkness

U23 Hoffman Cup Nick Collier / Lachie Harkness

U16 Quaide Balsom / Nick Lugton 

C2 Mixed

Fastest Overall CSNZ National Champion Cup Rosie Rex / James Senior

U16 Emily Nagel / Harry Lugton

CSLX

CSNZ National Champion Cup  Jayden Parker NZL

CSNZ National Champion Cup  Tess Pateman NZL 

A full list of results can be found here

We were also thrilled to award Maryanne Washer with her Canoe Slalom NZ LIfe Membership Award.

Article added: Monday 28 April 2025