Sunday 14th December 2025

Early Bird Entry Fee: $295

Before 27th August 2025

Standard Entry Fee: $345

After 27th August 2025

Topsport Kayaking is running this event on behalf of the Arawa Canoe Club Inc. This is Arawa Canoe Club’s annual fundraising event. Your entry fee includes a $35 donation to the Arawa Canoe Club which is vital to help keep our local club running.

The Waimakariri River Race is run on an iconic section of the Waimakariri River in Canterbury, New Zealand. This race follows the same course as the legendary Kathmandu Coast to Coast kayak stage. It is 70kms of kayaking down the Waimakariri River from Mt White Bridge in Arthurs Pass to the Gorge Bridge in Sheffield.

This race gives competitors the opportunity to gain valuable racing experience and crucial river time on the Waimakariri River. This race will see competitors paddle through the famous Rock Gardens early on in the race before navigating the rapids and bluffs in the breathtakingly beautiful Waimakariri Gorge. Competitors then arrive at Woodstock for the final push home. It is an absolute MUST DO event for anyone racing in the Kathmandu Coast to Coast.

Competitor Requirements

This race is run on Grade II River. All competitors must have a valid Grade II Certificate, issued within the last 5 years. It is expected that all competitors have adequate skills to negotiate this race course safety. This river includes rapids, strainers, bluffs, powerful convergences and other hazards. You must have good boat handling skills and swimming skills. It is a Grade II Certificate requirement to be able to self-rescue proficiently. Competitors must provide evidence of a Grade II Certificate from an approved Kathmandu Coast to Coast provider. The Topsport Kayaking safety team will be present at any significant hazards on race day day. 

All Grade II Certificates are to be provided to Topsport Kayaking by the 31st of October 2025. No exceptions. If you are new to kayaking and completing your Grade II Certificate Course after this date you will be unable to enter this event. If a competitor is unable to provide a Grade II Certificate by this date there will be no refund on your race entry.

If you have completed a Grade II Course with a provider in a whitewater kayak you MUST have paddled your entry level multisport boat through the Waimakariri Gorge prior to this event. Please contact info@topsport.co.nz to discuss your situation if you need to.

Refund Policy

Refunds are available until 11.59pm on Sunday the 16th November . All refunds will have a $70 fee deducted. This is a administration fee of $35.00 and a $35 donation to Arawa Canoe Club Inc. From the 17th of November, no refunds will be provided. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, including Covid 19 restrictions preventing the race from being held, no refunds will be issued. Your entry will automatically be transferred to a rearranged date or you will be provided with a credit towards other events at the Event Organiser's discretion. There are no competitor refunds if the race is on an alternative course. 

Transfers 

Transferring your entry to another competitor or to the following year’s event is not permitted.