Tekapo White Water Course

Fantastic weekend to finish the season. Lots of happy boaters and nice sunny weather.
The Japanese men's rafting team turned up, and it was fantastic seeing them powering a 4 man raft cleanly through gates that challenge regular slalom paddlers, and even doing flat spins in all the play holes. They finished the weekend with big smiles and saying it's one of the best courses they have been to.
Nice.

Last Tekapo release for the season this weekend.
Sat 10 till 4
Sun 9 till 3

And if you see a bunch of people doing laps in a big raft, it's probably the Japanese Rafting Team doing some training. Nice

Fantastic weather and a happy crowd of paddlers. University weekend was a cracker

The social slalom weekend was great fun, though the almost winter weather deterred lots of people it seems. Yes, it was cold, but that made the water feel warm.
The racing was enthusiastic. A mass start downriver race saw everyone all trying to get round the start rock simultaneously. No tactics, just chaos. Spectator enjoyment.
Phil set a nice slalom course for Sunday with a good mix of challenging and achievable gates. Some had great runs. Some had blowouts. For many this was their time at trying slalom gates, and good to hear it was enjoyed.
Then the weekends racing was rounded off with a novelty beach-ball race. Lots of time for people and the balls getting stuck in the course holes, dirty tactics, and constantly swopping lead teams. This should be an Olympic event.

Thanks to Kelly and Phil for organizing the weekend.

Despite a poor weather forecast it turned out to be good weekend.
Lots of people from right round the island, from the West Coast to Dunedin & Wanaka & Christchurch. Near beginners to world-class experts, there's something for everyone. This course really is an asset to the whole paddling community.

A few photos from the 2025 working bee. Thanks to Kirsty Hoffman for taking these

Huge thanks to all those who came to the working bee. Fantastic effort by
Matt, Emm, Phil, Hamish, Gordon, Ricky, Bruce, Shannon, Fraser, Darren, Nick, Duncan, Erin, Karen, Max, Quinn, Helena, and three generations of the Hoffman clan. Amazing to see Kirsty, Mike and the kids still putting time into the course. (I hope I got everyone)

Lots was achieved, and it was a busy day. 3 new eddies concreted, lots of bank will be less rough or eroding, 4 posts replaced on the main-wire, slalom wires reset, lots of baby pines removed, and a stirling effort by Shannon, Ricky and Fraser to pull down the old damaged lean-to roof and major progress on its replacement.

Then many even did a late afternoon decent of the normally dry Tekapo River section below the power station.

Photos to follow, I was too busy to take any, but others did.

Thanks again everyone.

What a great way to start this season of Tekapo releases. Lots of people, fine weather, even the water wasn't too icy.

Release Dates 2025/2026

10 & 11 January

17 & 18 January

24 & 25 Jan = fun/beginner slalom + other races

31 Jan & 1 February

Waitangi Weekend
6 & 7 Feb Tekapo course
8 Feb Pukaki

14 & 15 Feb

21 & 22 Feb = South Island Slalom competition

7 & 8 March = Pukaki both days

14 & 15 March = Universities weekend

21 & 22 March

11 & 12 April