PARA VA'A PROFILES
Name: Shona Muckert
Age: 43 Country: Australia Va’a Club: Mooloolaba Outrigger Canoe Club Classification: VL3 Where did you grow up and where are you currently based? I grew up in a small country town called Murgon in Queensland, approx. 2500 people and 2 hours’ drive from the beach. I’m currently living on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, very close to the beach. How old were you when you started Va’a paddling and how did you get into Va’a? I was about 31/32 when I started paddling, someone I knew from playing wheelchair basketball asked me to give it a try to see if I like it. I had a newborn baby boy at the time and I was living 2 hours’ drive away, so I started by travelling and competing whenever there was a regatta on. |
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What involvement have you had with Va’a at the National level within your country? I have been an active competitor Nationally in sprints and distance since approx. 2011/2012. I have also paddled within able-bodied teams at that level and in V1 against able-bodied paddlers within my age division. Sydney Harbour Challenge in 2019 was one of my favourites – 5 paddlers with a disability and an able-bodied steerer and we came 3rd in our division and 7th overall out of 47 canoes in the race.
What involvement have you had with Va’a at the International level? I have been an active National paddler for Australia. My first World Sprint was in Australia in 2016. I was a competitor in the World Distance in Australia in 2019. I was also lucky enough to compete in New Zealand at their National Sprints in 2020 as a guest paddler as I’m not a dual citizen.
Do you have any other roles within the Va’a community (coach, manager, volunteer etc)? I volunteer where I can at regattas, and I was an active committee member for 2 years with my MOCC a few years back. I was also on the AOCRA (Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association) Board for a short period of time in 2020.
What do you love about Va’a and the Va’a community?
I love being on the water, I love the sport, I love the social aspect of being part of the club, I love the family aspect especially because my son is now paddling as well and I specifically love the inclusivity and support of the club.
Va’a Achievements/Rewards/Recognition
What involvement have you had with Va’a at the International level? I have been an active National paddler for Australia. My first World Sprint was in Australia in 2016. I was a competitor in the World Distance in Australia in 2019. I was also lucky enough to compete in New Zealand at their National Sprints in 2020 as a guest paddler as I’m not a dual citizen.
Do you have any other roles within the Va’a community (coach, manager, volunteer etc)? I volunteer where I can at regattas, and I was an active committee member for 2 years with my MOCC a few years back. I was also on the AOCRA (Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association) Board for a short period of time in 2020.
What do you love about Va’a and the Va’a community?
I love being on the water, I love the sport, I love the social aspect of being part of the club, I love the family aspect especially because my son is now paddling as well and I specifically love the inclusivity and support of the club.
Va’a Achievements/Rewards/Recognition
- 6 x gold medals at World sprints 2016 – 3 x in OC6 and 2 x in V1
- 2 x gold medals at World distance 2019 – 1 x OC6 and 1 x V1
- National medals in OC6 and V1
- Gold at NZ National Sprints – V1 and OC6
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Name: George Thomas
Age: 62 Country: New Zealand Va’a Club: Hei Matau Waka Ama Club Rotorua NZ Classification: VL3 Where did you grow up and where are you currently based? Grow up in Rotorua. Based in Rotorua, NZ How old were you when you started Va’a paddling and how did you get into Va’a? I was 37 when I started paddling and got into it through a friend What involvement have you had with Va’a at the National level within your country? Coached teams from midgets right through to Golden masters teams to nationals Do you have any other roles within the Va’a community (coach, manager, volunteer etc)? Coach and Volunteer |
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What involvement have you had with Va’a at the International level?
What do you love about Va’a and the Va’a community8?
The People and great friends
Va’a Achievements/Rewards/Recognition (List below)
- Coached NZ teams and paddlers to six world championships
- Paddled at 8 world championships
- Paddled at 2 ICF world championships and coached at another 3
- NZ Para coach to Tahiti sprints 2018
- Para Athlete for 16 years
What do you love about Va’a and the Va’a community8?
The People and great friends
Va’a Achievements/Rewards/Recognition (List below)
- 2009 SMM V1 Sprint National Champion.
- 2019 /20/21 GMM V1 Sprint National Champion.
- 5 Times V1 Para Sprint National Champion.
- 4 Times Para V1 Sprint World Champion 2006 NZ / 2008 Sacramento / 2010 New Caledonia / 2012 Canada.
- Bronze medal V1 ICF World championships Poland.
- Silver Medal V1 ICF World Championships Hungry.
- Current NZ Para Long Distance National Champion.
