There is much anticipation at the big finale of the Cook Island's Vaka Eiva outrigger canoeing festival today.
The annual event is in its seventh year and has attracted more than 700 paddlers from across the Pacific region as well as visitors from Cook Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, Tahiti, and Guam.
The event organiser, Victoria Dearlove, says the big finale consists of a mens and a womens relay, with both winning teams from last year returning to defend their titles.
"One is a Hawaiian women's crew called big island girls, from the big island. They actually came second in the race we had on Monday because they were beaten by a New Zealand crew, so we are going to wait and see what happens. Then on the men's crew it was an Australian crew who won it last year, they've actually won it for the last two years and they are here to defend as well."
Victoria Dearlove, organiser of the Cook Islands Vaka Eiva canoeing competition.
