Sam Lees
Achievements:
Sam Lees is a competitive kayak sprint and waka ama athlete representing the North Shore Canoe Club and coached by Gavin Elmiger, competing under Canoe Racing New Zealand. Racing in the U23 division, Sam competes across both flatwater kayak sprint and outrigger canoe racing disciplines.
Sam has achieved strong results in national kayak sprint competitions, including winning silver in the U23 K1 500m at the 2024 New Zealand Championships. His performances have led to selection to represent New Zealand at the Asia Pacific Cup and at the Junior/U23 World Championships, where he will compete in the U23 K2 500m event.
In addition to kayak sprint, Sam has enjoyed significant success in waka ama (VA’a) racing. He was crowned U23 V1 500m National Champion at the 2025 Waka Ama Sprint Nationals and was part of the Premier Men’s V6 and V12 national champion crews.
Internationally, Sam has represented New Zealand at the IVF World Championships, where he was part of the U19 V6 crew that won the 1000m World Championship title, and later helped his team achieve silver in the 24km ocean race at the World Distance Championships. His performances across both disciplines highlight his versatility and strength as a paddler on the international stage.
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