A little-known sport in mainland France, football in Polynesia is as popular as it is back home. That's what VA'A represents in Tahiti.
But first of all, what is a "VA'A"? It's a pirogue of Polynesian origin whose stability is ensured by an arm or float or outrigger.
The biggest events take place on the islands around Tahiti and are now tending to be exported around the planet, for example to Hawaii or, in our case, to Les Sables d'Olonne in the Vendée on the west coast of France in the Atlantic Ocean. And we call this event : Vendée VA'A.
Vendée VA'A aux Sables d'Olonne24 thousand kilometres for the Tahitians to come and race on our ocean during the Ascension weekend: that's not half a journey.
As for the race itself, it starts from the Sables d'Olonne The first day with an arrival at Ile d'Yeu. Day 2 will be a tour of the island itself, and day 3 a return to Les Sables d'Olonne.
The Calme des Pins hotel welcomed Tahitian rowers from EDT (Electricité de Tahiti) and ATN (Air Tahiti Nui), a nice slice of exoticism for Damien and Laure from Calme des Pins! What a pleasure!
2015 will be remembered for a very complicated first day at sea, with the race halted halfway through due to a very large swell: The safety of the piroguers had to go through this. On Saturday, an out-and-back race from Les Sables d'Olonne to Bretignolles sur Mer was organised to make up for the rigours of the ocean.
Difficulty makes an event exceptional. The Vendée VA'A aux Sables d'Olonne the history of the sport and Calme des Pins hotel will welcome them for as long as they want.
Thank you to all these teams and to the Tahitians for this wonderful experience.
