Ms Stewart’s Year 13 PE class headed to Rotorua on Wednesday 14 October, accompanied by Mrs Joy Hills, Mr Barry Marnoch and Mr Brendan Dickson. This trip formed part of two achievement standards; one practical assessment and some written tasks, including analysis and evaluation of the forward paddle.

The weather forecast was for continual rain on Thursday and Friday. However, this did not dampen the spirits. It only put paid to the Blue Lake walk on the Wednesday evening.

Thursday dawned misty and wet. Dressed in wetsuits and polyprops the teachers and 23 students headed for the beach at Blue Lake at 8am!

The morning session included skill teaching and practice in forward paddling, stopping, back paddling, sweep stroke, draw stroke and support stroke. After a morning snack on the beach the group then headed for an hour paddle around the Blue Lake.

After a 2 hour break and video preparation on self rescues, the group then headed back to the Blue Lake for more practice, videoing and assessment on a wet exit and self rescue. The spa pool beckoned late in the day as the rain got heavier.

Friday morning was another early start. The group headed over the hill, in sunshine to Lake Okareka, for more practice and skills assessment. Some endurance paddles then followed, with the importance of technique to the fore. On the final endurance paddle the wind had whipped up a bit of chop and swell and made the girls dig deep and have to demonstrate some strength and power. A breather on the other side of the lake and the girls were primed for a race. The teams were based on their cabins. The race conditions were no spray skirts or rudders. They had to perform a sweep stroke around the outer kayak and back paddle the last 10m into the jetty. The winning team was; Zoe Kensington (paddled 2 legs), Kate Broadmore and Chanree van der Westhuizen.

Back to the Blue Lake Holiday Park for a late lunch and pack up. The group headed to the lookout at the south western end of Blue Lake for views over Blue Lake (Tikitapu) and nearby Green Lake (Rotokakahi) before heading for home…..

Thanks to all of the girls for making it an enjoyable trip, even though the conditions were often trying. Also many thanks to the four teachers for making the trip possible.