The revived Wai Tui International va’a regatta has landed a major boost ahead of its April staging, with New Zealand sprint star Jake Suitauloa confirmed among the elite entries and prominent coach Wainohu adding world-champion experience to the event's lineup. Organisers say the additions signal a step-up in competitiveness and knowledge-sharing for the four-day festival of Pacific paddling at Wailoaloa Beach, Nadi.
Suitauloa arrives in Nadi off the back of a dominant run in New Zealand’s Premier Men’s sprint division and a string of international podiums, organisers confirmed. The young paddler’s résumé includes top finishes at the World Sprint Championships, the iconic Molokai Hoe and Vaka Eiva, marking him as one of the region’s most formidable all‑round sprinters and endurance paddlers. His commitment to contest the Wai Tui will bring top-tier speed and race craft to the field, organisers said.
Also joining the event is Wainohu, introduced by organisers as a current New Zealand national paddling coach with world-champion pedigree. The coach’s presence is expected to elevate race standards and offer learning opportunities for local athletes and clubs through informal coaching exchanges and race-day mentorship, organisers said.
The Wai Tui International runs from April 3 to 6, 2026, at Wailoaloa Beach and will feature a near-capacity field. Organisers have now confirmed close to 300 paddlers across a broad Pacific and international mix, with entries from Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and the United States. The program will stage both V1 (single) and V6 (six-person) racing in sprint and endurance formats across junior, open and masters divisions, blending explosive short-course racing with longer distance tests.
Event organisers and Simple Green, the competition’s principal supporter, positioned the signings as aligned with a “development-first” philosophy. Simple Green’s backing, organisers said, prioritises opportunities for athlete development and cultural respect for the ocean — insisting visiting talent should contribute to local growth by sharing high-performance knowledge and modelling ocean stewardship.
The news marks the latest development since organisers announced the Wai Tui’s revival late last year, when Fiji Outrigger president Loretta St Julian‑Ooms framed the relaunch as an homage to the late Colin Philp and an effort to re-establish the regatta as a regional showcase. At the time, the event’s return was pitched as a chance to capitalise on Fiji’s recent international paddling momentum; this month’s high-profile entries underline that ambition and raise expectations for stronger international competition on Fijian water.
Locally, the elevated entry list offers an important benchmark for rising crews and juniors preparing for the Wai Tui. Young captains and club skippers who have been self-training ahead of April now face the prospect of matching power and technique against proven international performers — an opportunity organisers and coaches say will accelerate skill development and deepen the event’s role as a regional paddling hub.
Leave a comment