Tahiti

Depuis près de quarante ans, le nom de Te Aito résonne comme une évidence dans l’univers de la pirogue. Née en 1988, la course s’est peu à peu imposée comme l’un des rendez-vous les plus attendus du va’a mondial, forgeant au fil des éditions certains des plus grands champions de la discipline. Et l’actualité du […]

Iloha Eychenne claimed an impressive victory in the women’s race at stop #2 of the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World CUP Tahiti, finishing well ahead of the rest of the field after 23 kilometres of open ocean and lagoon paddling. But for the waterwoman, 3 x Va’a World Champion among other accolades, the result represented […]

With the 2026 World Srint Championships in Singapore just weeks away, the Tahitian Va’a selection is entering the final stages of its preparation. During the team’s penultimate training session in Tahiti, we caught up with Gordon Barff, Technical Director of the Tahitian Va’a Federation, to discuss the selection process, the challenge of bringing together the […]

With just a few weeks to go before the 2026 Va’a World Sprint Championships in Singapore, Tahitian Va’a coach Philippe Bernadino is entering the final stages of preparation with the national selection. After months of selection and training, the focus is now on fine-tuning the crews, building cohesion and making sure every paddler is ready […]

Parties de Toulon avec plusieurs mois de préparation dans les bras et un rêve en tête, elles ont traversé près de 18 000 kilomètres pour rejoindre Tahiti. L’aventure polynésienne des rameuses de Toulon Va’a Vahinés a commencé bien avant leur embarquement pour Tahiti. En mai 2025, l’équipage toulonnais s’est illustré en remportant la Vendée Va’a, […]

The 38th edition of Te Aito, the oldest race on the Tahitian Va’a Federation calendar, took place on June 5 and 6 in Taaone, Pirae, bringing together more than 1000 paddlers across all age groups, from young beginners to elite and veteran competitors. Throughout the weekend, Tahiti’s best paddlers battled for victory in one of […]

The countdown is over. This weekend, June 5-6, 2026, more than 1,000 paddlers will gather on the waters of Taaone, Tahiti, for the 38th edition of Te Aito, the oldest and most iconic V1 canoe race in French Polynesia. For nearly four decades, Te Aito has been more than just a competition. It has become […]

Taho’e 2026 took place in particularly challenging conditions, with intense heat and very little wind, making surf almost nonexistent. It became a true test of endurance, race management, and strategy. Women’s Results 🥇 Iloha Eychenne: 1h15🥈 Sommer Nateahi: 1h19🥉 Marguerite Temaiana: 1h21 The women delivered impressive performances despite the difficult conditions, once again highlighting the […]

À 21 ans, Ranitea Mamatui avance entre deux mondes. Née et élevée à Tahiti, bercée par le lagon et la culture du Va’a, elle a grandi avec l’océan comme terrain de jeu et comme école de vie. Introduite très tôt à la pirogue par son père, elle y a trouvé bien plus qu’un sport : […]

Sixteen thousand kilometers separate Tahiti from mainland France and that is the distance Ranitea Mamatui chose to cross to pursue her studies. At 21, the Polynesian paddler has traded lagoon waters for a new life at Aix-Marseille University, where she is training to become a physical education teacher. Raised by the ocean and introduced to […]

Raised between Tahiti, Fakarava, and Moorea, he learned to read currents, swells, and the rhythm of his crew. Paddling for him is not only competition. It is a daily practice, a link to his family, his island, and his ancestors. Hotuiterai Poroi pushes his va’a off the beach and begins his morning session, just as […]

Tahiti’s Team OPT joined the elite list of Molokai Hoe champions on Sunday, conquering the 40.8-mile Ka‘iwi Channel from Moloka‘i to Waikīkī in 4 hours, 42 minutes, and 2 seconds. The first-time winners ended fellow Tahitian powerhouse Shell Va‘a’s three-year reign, with the defending champions finishing second in 4:44:57. “It’s the first win for OPT […]