Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia have dominated the early races at the inaugural Va'a World Distance Championships in French Polynesia.
The hosts and Trans-Tasman rivals collected two medals each, out of the six on offer, in the V6 Para Va'a Marathon and V6 Master Women's races, which featured crews of six paddlers.
A Tahitian crew during the Va'a World Distance Champs. Photo: Va'a News Tahiti
Tahiti won gold in the V6 Open Women's race on day two, finishing ahead of crews from Australia and USA, while New Zealand won the V6 Junior Women's race, ahead of Tahiti and Australia.
More than 650 paddlers from 33 countries and five continents are competing in the first world marathon championships, which runs for four days.
A Fijian crew during the Va'a World Distance Champs. Photo: Va'a News Tahiti
Of the 16 titles awarded during the event, four will be for disabled athletes in the Para Va'a competition.
Tahiti will also host the Va'a World Sprint Championships in July next year.
