GENERAL INFORMATION

Date

Saturday 30th August 2025 – practice day (Canoe Racing and Canoe Slalom)
Sunday 31st August and Monday 1st September 2025 – Canoe Slalom
​​​​​​​Tuesday 2nd September 2025 – Canoe Racing

Venue

Practice day (Canoe Racing and Canoe Slalom) - McLaren Falls Park, McLaren Falls Road, Lower Kaimai, Tauranga

Canoe Slalom - McLaren Falls Park, McLaren Falls Road, Lower Kaimai, Tauranga
​​​​​​​Canoe Racing – Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui

Cost

$80.00 per paddler (NZ$)

The entry fee includes both the Canoe Slalom and Canoe Racing events, although paddlers can choose to only compete in one or the other if they prefer.

Entries Open

Online registrations open on Friday March 14th 2025, at 9:00 AM

Entries Close

Online registrations close on Wednesday May 28th 2025, at 7:59 PM

CONTACT

Email: info@nzaimsgames.co.nz

For Further Information

​​​​​​​Visit http://www.canoeslalombop.co.nz

PLANNING INFORMATION

Costs

• Schools are required to pay the entry fee of $80.00 per paddler (NZ$).
• Paddlers may compete in both Canoe Racing and Canoe Slalom but must enter both divisions when registering.
• Strictly non-refundable.
• Payment MUST be made within seven days of receipt of invoice.
• Invoices will be sent to the School Accounts Manager after the entry closing date, Wednesday 28th May 2025.

Entries CloseMay

• Wednesday 28th 2025 at 7:59 PM.
• Entries to the 2025 Zespri AIMS Games must be submitted online through the online registration system. 
• Registrations will only be accepted from the school's designated Zespri AIMS Games Coordinator.
• Schools are allocated a unique Zespri AIMS Games registration log in code to complete their entries.

Competitor's Age

Competitors must be over 10 years of age and under 13 years of age, as at 31st December the year before the tournament year. Competitor’s birthdates will be required on school registration documentation. For the 2025 Zespri AIMS Games, the eligible birth years are 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Divisions

• Canoe Slalom Year 7 Girls
• Canoe Slalom Year 7 Boys
• Canoe Slalom Year 8 Girls
• Canoe Slalom Year 8 Boys

Multiple Sporting Codes

• Students may compete in more than one sporting code, provided they are in line with the permitted code crossovers. 
• Timetable allowances will not be made for any competitors, and it is the sole responsibility of the school to check for programming conflicts.

PROGRAMME

Venue

McLaren Falls Park

• Thirty minutes’ drive out of Tauranga City is McLaren Falls Park, 190 hectares of pastoral and horticultural parkland set alongside Lake McLaren. 
• Around 300 sheep roam through the grassed areas so dogs are not permitted within McLaren Falls Park. Dogs are also not permitted to be left unattended in vehicles.
• The event is held at Top Flat in McLarens Falls.
• Please obey all security, marshals, pre-race communications and event staff.

Canoe Slalom events

• Paddlers arrive – 8:00 AM
• Paddler briefing – 8:05 AM
• Individual start time – 9:00 AM

RULES

Individual race:

Year 8 (boys and girls) need to do one of the following in  both the time trial and the Head-to-Head race:
​​​​​​​

• Eskimo roll (this means 360-degree barrel roll, i.e., go over one side and up on the other side). Or
• T Rescue – paddler goes completely upside down and then does 3 taps on side of boat to signal boat assist. Or
  
• 3 x 360-degree flat spin, i.e., on top of the water.

Year 7 (boys and girls) need to do one of the following in both the time trial and the Head-to-Head race:

• 2 x 360-degree flat spin, i.e., on top of the water. Or
• Eskimo roll (this means 360-degree barrel roll, i.e., go over one side and up on the other side).

Teams race:

Year 8 teams (both boys and girls) – one team member must:

• Eskimo roll (this means 360-degree barrel roll, i.e., go over one side and up on the other side). Or
• T Rescue – paddler goes completely upside down and then does 3 taps on side of boat to signal boat assist. Or
• 3 x 360-degree flat spin, i.e., on top of the water.

​​​​Year 7 teams  (both boys and girls)- one team member must:

• 2 x 360-degree flat spin, i.e., on top of the water. Or

• Eskimo roll (this means 360-degree barrel roll, i.e., go over one side and up on the other side).

Please note in the case of a mixed year group team – the year 8 rules will apply.

General rules

1. There is no limit on the number of paddlers a school can enter in each division. 
2. Each school can only enter one team per age and gender in the team event (e.g., one Year 7 Boys team, one Year 8 Boys team, one Year 7 Girls team and one Year 8 Girls team).
3. For all individual and team’s events to be constituted there must be a minimum of three entrants from at least two different schools. If these criteria are not met, then the entrants go into the next age group i.e., Year 7 would compete in the Year 8 event. If there are insufficient girls, then they will move into the boy’s event of the corresponding year or as above up a year group.
4. Wear clothing that is associated with your school.
5. No bare torso allowed.
6. Please obey all marshals and briefings and park all vehicles in set areas.
7. Officials only in designated areas during each race.
8. All team managers are required to have their team medical forms with them during the event.
9. Team Managers are responsible for their parents and supporters.
10. Please ensure that the safety and enjoyment of all competitors is of upmost importance.

Equipment rules

1. All kayaks will be supplied – own kayaks not permitted.
2. All paddles are supplied.
3. All buoyancy vests, spray decks and helmets will be supplied.
4. Paddlers will use surfski-style kayaks (open top) provided by organisers. Paddles and PFDs will also be provided.
5. Shoes are permitted in kayaks.
6. Individuals may use their own paddle, buoyancy vest, spray deck or helmet if desired.

Health and safety

1. All participants, team managers and schools are reminded that they compete at their own risk and absolve the event director, all marshals, helpers and volunteers from any blame or claim.
2. Officials and safety kayakers will be located on water with radio coverage to event organisers in case of emergency.
3. All participants are reminded that they compete at their own risk and absolve all officials, helpers and volunteers from any blame or claim.
4. Clear instruction to coaches/team managers will be given about the extent of the organisers responsibilities at the managers meeting.

Discipline - Teams event

1. Schools to select teams comprising three boys or three girls in each year group (members are gender and year specific).
2. Slalom team members can be of mixed gender and mixed year groups; however, they compete in the boys' team race of the eldest team member.
3. All participants in the team event must have competed in the individual event.
4. The last opportunity to name or change teams will be at the team managers meeting with the exception of withdrawals due to injury or illness.
5. All team members must be students at the same school.
6. The organisers will accept students from different schools if they do not have the required number in their team BUT no points will be awarded for this event (participation only).

Event honours

• Medals are awarded for 1st, 2nd 3rd in each event provided the rules of event constitution are met.
• Teams Event points are awarded to the first three teams only (1st = 18, 2nd = 16, 3rd = 15).
• Individual points will be distributed for the top 16 athletes (Points are 1st = 18, 2nd = 16, 3rd = 15, 4th = 14 and so on).

Chief official

The organisers will appoint a chief official to whom general complaints can be directed. Complaints must be lodged within 15 minutes of the completion of the race on the official disputes form and accompanied by $100.00.

MEDAL PRESENTATIONS

Individual and team event place getters for each year group/gender will be presented with their medals at the venue at completion of all races.