On Saturday, being at a loose end mid afternoon, I wandered out to the Wairoa River to catch some of the National Kayaking 10 kilometre championships. While it was a dismal wet afternoon, it didn't deter the committed competitors who raced around laps of a spectator friendly course.

Flat water kayaking enjoys a reasonably high profile in New Zealand for a sport that has never had a huge number of competitors. Being an Olympic sport certainly raises the profile, as Kiwi teams hit Europe chasing Olympic qualification.
In New Zealand, the sport is intertwined with surf lifesaving, as a number of ski paddlers make a transition to kayak racing each season. The relationship between the two sports goes back to the 1984 Olympics, with all four Kiwi paddlers of Ian Ferguson, Paul McDonald, Alan Thompson and Grant Bramwell winning four gold medals and going down in kayaking history forever.
In surf lifesaving competition, there is no event that tests stamina and endurance more than the ironman competition. First introduced to the Surf Lifesaving Nationals in 1969, the endurance race consists of three sections comprising swim, paddleboard and ski legs.
Add in what are often turbulent surf conditions, and you have a race that requires courage and determination in spades. It's an interesting coincidence that three of the four Kiwi paddlers to taste gold medal success at Los Angeles won the gruelling ironman at NZ Surf Lifesaving championships.
Before the arrival of Cory Hutching who won the World Ironman title three times, and New Zealand crown an incredible 11 times – Ian Ferguson was the man to beat in the early days of the event, first winning the ironman crown in 1972 before stringing together a three peat in 74, 75 and 1976.
Alan Thompson and Grant Bramwell, who both still live in Gisborne, each won the title on one occasion.
With summer on the horizon, the surf lifesavers and surf clubs within the Western Bay are gearing up for another season. Labour Weekend to Easter has always been the traditional season, with plenty of training and preparation taking place right now.
Surf lifesaving is unique in that it is both a sport and a community service. The first surf bathing clubs, as they were known, were largely formed by members of swimming clubs with the first recorded around the 1910-12 period.
Today, surf lifesaving clubs provide an essential service at the popular beaches throughout New Zealand, providing volunteer patrols during weekends and public holidays.
A number of the competitors from last weekend's kayak racing on the Wairoa River will be on patrol this summer as volunteer lifeguards. While all surf sport competitors are required to patrol – this is seen by most as a contribution to the community good.