Va’a marathons begin Friday, with the elite men and women single racers taking on the 16 kilometre stretch.

Representing Samoa are Anne Cairns, bronze medal winner for the V1 500 metre sprints and fulltime firefighter from New Zealand, and Sialafau Lova, who as part of the men’s V6 500 sprint team helped take Samoa to the finals on Wednesday. 

The women set of at 8am, and the men’s race is from 11am.

The 16km race is two laps of an 8 kilometre loop which runs the length of the lagoon and passes the airport before looping around again. 

Saturday is a massive day for the teams, with six-person boats attempting to paddle 24 kilometres.

The race consists of two 12km laps, extends several kilometres beyond the reef, before turning back in again

Men set off first at 8am, and the women at 11am. 

All the teams have had just one rest day between two intense competition days of sprints and 1500 metre marathons before another two days under the hot sun, this time for much longer

Races take place at Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort in Mulifanua and entry is free. Va’a is the last remaining traditional sport of the Pacific Games, and 15 nations are competing.