Mid Canterbury Model Power Boat Club members are gearing up for speed and action on Lake Hood this weekend as they host the nationals over Easter.
Daniel and Kara Steenhart will be the only two from Ashburton competing at the event.
Daniel has been competing for 32 years and follows in the foot steps of his late father Trevor Steenhart.
Kara, who has been model boating for about four years, took up the sport after helping at events. She enjoyed watching the competitions.
The pair will be among 14 competitors with 35 model boats to compete.
There will be petrol, electric and nitro boats racing across four types of hulls – monos, hydros, outriggers and tunnels.
Kara is the only women in New Zealand competing at a national level and will race a petrol mono hull boat and an electric rigger.
‘‘I’m not sure why there are not more women racing, as it is an adrenaline filled sport and I find it to be a lot of fun,’’ Kara said.
‘‘I’m not the fastest but I can be consistent, and its not always the fastest that wins, it can be the most reliable and one that finishes every race.’’
Daniel has won many trophies in the past and holds current speed records.
While he will compete across most sections, Kara was excited to be competing at the top level for the first time.
This is the first time the nationals have been held in Ashburton, previously they were held in Christchurch on Lake Victoria in Hagley Park.
The competitions had to move from there as the speed of the boats, from 80km to 130km, were too fast for the size of the lake.
‘‘Lake Hood is a perfect lake venue to hold an event like this that encourages all sorts of water sports,’’ Kara said.
Six boats will be pitted against each other doing five laps about buoys on a 300m course.
The cost of the sport depends on several things, how fast you race and how often along with how competitive you want to be. A standard boat, capable of doing 80kmh, starts at about $2500.
‘‘Preparation for a national event starts in the garage building and checking your boat over,” Kara said.
“Many hours tuning and setting up and choosing the correct propeller for the boat. Choosing the right prop can make a huge difference in speed and handling.’’
– The national Model Power Boat championships at Lake Hood April 3 to 5, starting 9am each day, through to about 3pm.
