It's the biggest secondary school sports event in the Australasia with 130 schools, 2500 rowers, and a whole lot of silverware up for grabs.
The annual Maadi Regatta gets under way on Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel Monday morning.
The iconic event is steeped in tradition and prestige.
But its highly charged nature has left some questioning whether schools have lost sight of what secondary schools sport is supposed to be about.
It comes after one top rowing school faced cheating allegations last year, while concerns have been raised about other "ethically dubious" practices.
In Depth Sports Correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Corin Dann.
