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In 2024, I competed at the IVF VAA World Sprint Championships, a major international waka ama event that brought together crews from around the world. Our team, Kaiarahi Toa, raced in the Open Women’s division, facing strong competition from acrossAotearoa and overseas in an event that highlighted the speed, skill, and competitiveness of the sport.

I’m a member of Kaiarahi Toa, a team that works hard and supports one another. Racing at the IVF VAA World Sprint Championships allowed us to put our training to the test against crews on a global stage. I place 2nd in the individual OpenWomen’s race, and our team took 1st in the Open Women’s 500m W6 team race - a highlight that reflected the dedication and effort we’ve put in throughout the season.

This kaupapa was also an important step in my own haerenga. It pushed me closer to my personal goals and allowed me to focus on refining my sprint performance, testing my speed and technique under pressure, and pushing my limits in every race. Competing at this level challenged me to perform at my best and highlighted areas I can continue to develop as a paddler.

The experience at the IVF VAA World Sprint Championships was a major milestone in my paddling journey, giving me the chance to measure myself against top-level competition and learn from every race. I’m grateful for the support of my team, whānau, and iwi, and I’m excited to keep building on this momentum in future races.

 - Akayshia Williams

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