Aimeho Va'a Race 2026
The Aimeho Va’a Race is more than just a sporting event – it’s a vibrant cultural celebration where communities come together to share Tahitian food and music, to inspire the next generation of paddlers and connect the local youth with their Polynesian heritage and celebrate the spirit of Va’a that is woven into the Tahitian culture.
The 22nd edition of the largest school-based Va’a event in the Pacific has been confirmed for 24 & 25 April 2026.
The festivities start on Friday, April 24th with the focus on sharing the sport of Va’a when school aged children with disabilities are paired with students from Collège de Pao Pao’s sports program to race 12-person V12 canoes.
Day two on Saturday, April 25th is set aside for the marathon race.
The Aimeho Va’a race is a 39.4km marathon Va’a race, in the tranquil crystal-clear lagoon surrounding the island of Mo’orea, where mixed teams of girls and boys compete over 9 race stages as they circumnavigate the island.
The shortest of the nine race stages is Stage 9 at 3.5km, while the longest stage is Stage 1 at 5.3km.
The competition is split into two aged groups: Piri-teina (under 16 years) and Taure’a (high school/post bac) with each crew comprised of 14 members made up of 7 girls and 7 boys - two 6 paddler teams plus 2 reserves.
In 2025 up to 510 students representing 33 mixed gender teams competed from across the Islands of Tahiti and Hawai’i. Will you be there in 2026?
To enter a school team, teacher representatives can contact the Union Du Sport Scolaire Polynésien at sec.ussp@education.pf
To get a flight quote for your school group please complete the Group Booking Request Form by clicking here.
