Name: Andy Duff Memorial Race 2025
Start: 2025-02-15T16:00:00+13:00
Location: Ōkere Falls NZ

Entry is free, and everyone is super welcome!
Here’s the rundown for the afternoon:
Safety Briefing/Putting on @ 4:20 PM
Short Boats/Playboats @ 4:30 PM sharp
Swim & Duo @ 4:50 PM
Long Boats/Regular Kayaks @ 5:10 PM
Rafts @ 5:30 PM
Prize Giving @ approximately 6:00 PM at the Okere Falls Store
Race Details:
Races will start about 20 minutes apart.
You’ll have plenty of time to get back to the start, so feel take part in as many races as you like!
The first race kicks off at 4:30 PM sharp, and the following races will start soon after the previous race finishes. The aim is to allow just enough time for people to get back to the top. So dont dilly dally!
We’re keeping things swift so we can maximise our time at the Okere Falls Store for the Prize Giving and debrief. The store’s liquor license closes at 9 PM, so the quicker we race, the more time there is to celebrate with a beer (or two)!
At the Store grab a burger, a craft beer, or a kombucha, and celebrate the incredible community we have and the beautiful life we share!
A Bit of History:
This is the 22nd annual event. It started in 2003 in memory of Andy Duff, who tragically passed away in 2002. Andy was one of the original kayakers to call Kaituna home, making kayaking and rafting a way of life. He was a world champion in rafting and a New Zealand champion in kayaking, travelling the globe on incredible paddling adventures.
Andy’s life was cut short in Virginia, USA, when a motorist lost control and struck him while he was helping someone strap a kayak to their car roof. The news of his passing shook the kayaking and rafting communities worldwide. Friends and locals organised this race in his honour, and we’re stoked it’s carried on all these years! Think he still has one of the fastest times descending the river?
For those who have done the race before, it will be the same as usual, relaxed but competitive with friendly vibes. Please spread the word and see you there!