Paddlers from across the Hunter's coast have taken on Australia's best in the wild wind and swell of Coffs Harbour, bringing home a trove of medals.
Five clubs from the Hunter including Newcastle, Port Stephens, Swansea, Canoe Academy and Kaimana Canoe Club made the journey up the coast for three days of racing at the Outrigger Canoe National Marathon Titles.
They were met with rough conditions, with brisk 20kmh to 30kmh southerly winds and a pulsing two-metre swell pushing paddlers to their limit.
Six-person crews and individuals raced across 10km, 16km and 18km courses, starting within the large harbour before taking on the rough wash of the break wall, heading south to a turning buoy and returning to the harbour for a sprint finish for some crews.
The Hunter excelled in the rough conditions, taking out medals in a vast number of categories including master, senior, and golden.
Head coach of the Port Stephens outrigger canoe clubs and multiple world champion Tony Compton said he was proud of the clubs' efforts.
"Our masters mixed team secured gold in challenging conditions on the second day," he said.
"We had our master girls battling it out in day three and in another amazing effort took out the silver medal.
"These girls are just going from strength to strength, with their confidence building in every race."
"Heaps of fun and celebrations, putting it all out there on the water with outstanding results for a country club with only a small amount of race paddlers."
Things didn't go completly to plan for all crews, with one leading crew capsizing, which paddlers call a huli.
"Teaming up with Newcastle our platinum men's crew, they had a cracker of a race with a sizable three to four-minute lead over the opposition, but unfortunately paid the price coming back through the harbour entrance, with one of the big rollers breaking on them, and hulied," Mr Compton said.
"Luckily no-one hurt, nothing broken and eventually [they] managed to get going again to take the silver medal."
Newcastle outrigger canoe club fielded 43 paddler across the weekend picking up 10 medals.
Swansea outrigger picked up four medals over the weekend.
"The conditions were challenging, exciting and seriously fun," the club posted after the event.
"Every one of our individual paddlers and crews gave absolutely everything on the water.
"Our club and coaches couldn't be prouder of the commitment, sportsmanship and determination shown in every race.
"We train hard, support one another and feel privileged to be enjoying the ocean and friendships from across Australia.
"This sport brings it all."
Kaimana and Canoe Acedemy, based on Lake Macquarie and two of the regions smaller clubs, walked away with two medals each, including a gold for the Canoe Academy's Golden Master Mixed crew.
"Canoe Academy proved once again that our club may be small, but we are mighty! It was a golden day for our Golden Master Mixed crew at nationals coming first in the long course, and our Master Women's crew held their own in the short course, winning bronze," the club said.
"For such a small club, we are incredibly proud to come away with two national bronze medals in both the 10km and 18km events after racing in some very tough conditions against strong competition from around the country," Kaimana posted on social media.
Newcastle Herald journalist Dylan Nicholson claimed the national open men's V1 title for the second year in a row, finishing the 16km course in one hour and 28 minutes.
