Samoa 2023: World Long Distance Rowing Championship with Wallis and Futuna Rowers

2023-08-11 00:08:49

28 countries and nearly a thousand rowers converge on Apia, capital of Western Samoa from August 10-20, 2023. The city is hosting the third World Long Distance Rowing Championship. Wallis and Futuna responded with 40 rowers in V1 and V6.

Stéphanie Vili • Published on August 11, 2023 at 12:08 p.m., updated on August 11, 2023 at 12:19 p.m.

“To participate in the world is to enter the big leagues!”

This replica is that of a young Wallisian rower discovering the Bay of Apia and its canoes.

This Thursday, August 10 is the first day of training for all rowers.

Samoa 2023 Junior Wallis and Futuna • ©Mélodie Sione

All the V6 and V1 canoes were blessed the same morning. This ceremony marks the start of the World Cup, two days before the official opening ceremony.

High seas and new canoes

On the beach, Haumana, the captain of the V6 Junior boys is stressed.

His team will open the competition on Monday August 14: a 24 kilometer course, as for adults.

Unlike Wallis, Apia’s body of water opens directly onto the high seas.

samoa 2023 • ©Samoa IVF

Despite the apprehension, the advantage is that everyone knows each other. The boys come from the Havili Siliva club in Wallis. They are the ones who will represent Wallis and Futuna in the under 19 category.

In the water, the boys evolve easily trying to stay focused. The instructions are clear: only the captain gives instructions.

Each crew is only allowed one hour of practice.

The delegations take turns on the canoes to familiarize themselves.

Back from the train, the Haumana team seems exhausted but calm.

It’s really super! nothing to do with the canoes of Wallis! These are lighter and easier to handle!

Sanele, rower V6 Junior19 Wallis and Futuna

These are the same canoes as those of the last London 2022 speedboat worlds.

After this first training, rowers in V6 have only one last slot Saturday August 12th.

A formative challenge

For the V1s this Thursday was the only opening to test the canoes and the race course.

Laurianne Toafatavao, 14, is the youngest of Wallis and Futuna’s 8 individual rowers.

She enters the competition Thursday, August 17 in the morning on a course of 12 kilometers.

The young girl finishes stretching under the gaze of her mother and her trainer before joining the water.

samoa 2023 • ©league of va’a Wallis and Futuna

Mélodie Sione is also taking part in her world debut in both V6 and V1 in the Open Women’s category.

Climbing on her V1, she looks back on her outing in V6, a few hours earlier:

It’s the first time we’ve rowed on the high seas! There’s a swell, a crosswind, a lot of current so it’s a very interesting body of water!

Mélodie Sione, rower V6 and V1 Open Woman Wallis and Futuna

samoa 2023 V6 Open Femme Wallis Futuna • ©Melodie Zion

Training at sea is not enough. The rowers have daily fitness sessions given by a sports coach directly at their hotel.

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