The Aoraki Open requires:

• "Mixed" teams to have a minimum of 8 female and 8 male paddlers (Standard boat) and 4 female & 4 male paddlers (Small boat). "Open" teams can have any gender mix. Again, we all race in Big Boats
• "Women's" teams must all be female (incl the Sweep, Drummer and paddlers)
• Callers/Drummers are mandatory for all divisions.  

As with the other events, we’re offering 10-paddler boat races for those teams that can’t muster 20 paddlers. Please note that paddlers can’t mix between boats (i.e.no ‘waka jumping’).  

Racing includes:

• One (approx) 1,000m Three-Turns race (actually 1,140 metres if you care to measure it out). Boats are sent off in 15-second intervals similar to the 2km race at South Islands and Nationals.
• Two Heats plus a Final in the 460m straight line race.
• Two Heats plus a Final in the 200m Dash

If your team Sweep will be ‘double-rostered’ (eg sweeping for more than one team, or sweeping plus paddling for another team), you must ask us for a Dispensation (when you register). We’ll try to accommodate this in the draw but can’t make any promises. If the draw shows a clash, or the same Sweep is scheduled to race in consecutive races, you’ll need to arrange for a substitute Sweep to stand in for them. This is a great venue and opportunity to allow the newly qualified Level 2 sweeps some racing experience. Note, this event will also serve as the practical assessment for developing Sweeps. Rick Smith will be 'observing and assessing'.

Pack-in/set-up assistance for the event will be provided by Ridge Riders and Paddlateers. We’d like assistance from all teams in the pack-up, so that we can get prize-giving underway expeditiously. The event will be supplied with food and a coffee vendor as usual.

And remember, we have a fire ban, so don't bring a BBQ.