This year for its 6th annual event, the Air France Paddle Festival saw new champions and cemented itself as one of the best race events of the year. Japan’s Yuka Sato and New Caledonia’s Titouan Puyo claimed victory, surviving brutally-hot conditions and outlasting spirited attacks from the local warriors in a memorable day of racing.

The Air France Paddle Festival took Tahiti by storm, with one of the most intense races the sport has seen. Around 300 paddlers came out to participate in the 8k Lagoon Race, 24k Elite Race, and 4k Fun Race, alongside a huge crowd of local supporters from the community that joined in on the action.