The Z Manu World Champs is back this summer – and 12-year-old Hotumauea Tai-Rakena has already made a massive splash, launching himself straight into the grand final.
With an impressive eight-metre splash height – just 10 centimetres more than his closest rival – Hotumauea will head to Auckland on March 14 to go head-to-head with competitors from around Aotearoa and across the ditch in Australia.
Hotumauea reckons he’s been doing manus since he was born, but his Nan, Rereata Rupapere says it was probably closer to age four, when he took his first leap off the Raglan footbridge at Papahua.
These days, his favourite place to manu is the jetty at the end of Bow Street.
“It’s a good jumping spot,” he says.
Most weekends, Hotumauea can be found there with other local kids, perfecting their manu techniques and chasing bigger, louder splashes.
“You get into a V-shape, and once you hit the water you let out – let your whole body out like you’re sleeping,” Hotumauea explains.
In manu terms, that moment is known as the ‘pop’ – a key part of the jump designed to create a massive, explosive and loud splash.
In Aotearoa’s water-bombing culture, the manu is a specialised and highly technical version of the traditional bomb, focused entirely on achieving maximum vertical splash height. The impact point comes from the lower back or tailbone, and while all manus are bombs, not all bombs are manus. Other styles include the cannonball, staple, gorilla and coffin.
At the champs a freestyle division provides the opportunity for fans of the other bombing styles to compete.
From the very beginning, the Z Manu World Champs have used cutting-edge ManuTech software, developed in partnership with AUT. The system captures each jump on video, instantly freezes the moment of impact and calculates splash height, allowing a unique and accurate score to be given to every athlete.
A student at Te Kōpuku High in Hamilton, Hotumauea came to live with his Nan as a baby and spent his early school years at Te Mata School.
He will compete in the tamariki/kids division at Karanga Plaza in Auckland on March 14.
Raglan Surf Co are running a raffle to help get Hotumaea to the finals, and have also donated a clothing package for the young competitor. Tickets are available at the shop at 7 Wainui Road. Thanks also to Tony from Te Uku Roast Office for making a cash donation.
