SPORTS PROFILE:

For Holly Rowland, a life in or on the water was never in doubt. Her family life revolved around the waves through their involvement with the Whakatāne Surf Life Saving Club.

Holly spent her early years as a “sand crab” at the surf club, where her father coached. Starting at just four years old, she progressed steadily through the ranks, quickly making a name for herself as a competitive team player alongside her brother Dominic and older sister Layla.

“We’re also a very competitive family, especially my brother Dominic and I. It’s great, though, because it pushes us to make each other better,” said Holly.

While Holly was thriving in the surf, her older sister Layla introduced her to kayaking, sparking another passion on the water. Once again, Holly quickly rose through the ranks of her age group, earning two appearances at the Asia Pacific Championships in both New Zealand and Australia.

Her time became split between surf lifesaving and kayaking, yet she still managed to secure a bronze medal at this year’s Surf Life Saving National Championships in Ōhope in the double surf ski event.

That podium finish has sharpened Holly’s focus for next year’s championships.

“We missed out on a higher placing by one wave, but next year I’ll be the oldest in my age group. For me, that means I’ll have the chance to compete on a more level playing field,” she said.

Still riding high from her surf national’s success, Holly quickly had to shift her focus back to kayaking as the National Championships approached.

“The kayaking national’s timetable was cut in half because of the weather. It made things tough because the same number of races had to be squeezed into half the time. Normally, you give everything to qualify for finals and then have the evening to recover, but this time everything happened in one afternoon,” said Holly.

Despite the condensed schedule, she was pleased to achieve the goals she had set for herself.

“I competed in the 1-kilometre event for the first time at a national championship and finished fourth, then went straight into the 500 metres and placed fifth. For the K4, I teamed up with the Poverty Bay-Gisborne club, and we won gold in both the 500m and 200m races.

“Overall, my goal at nationals was to earn a Trident Blues Award, which I’ve achieved every year I’ve been at Trident,” she said.

A Blues Award recognises students who win a national tile or who represent New Zealand.

“When I finished the K4 race, I was so happy. My favourite event is the 5km individual race, but that was cancelled because of the weather. I love the long-distance events.”

Kayaking has also taught Holly the importance of connection and community, inspiring her to bring fellow athletes together through coaching and development camps.

“I love competing, but I also enjoy the social side of the sport, so I’ve taken on coaching roles in kayaking and started running training camps. I realised there were a lot of paddlers missing out on development opportunities because they placed just below the selection threshold, so I decided we’d run our own camps so they could still be involved and continue growing. So far, I’ve run camps alongside Gisborne and Christchurch,” said Holly.

For Holly, those camps have helped strengthen relationships with individuals and clubs around the country, something that has proven valuable when assembling teams and building connections with fellow competitors.

“I see my future in coaching. I’ve worked with local teams involved in AIMS, and I love supporting people who want to improve.”

Competition, however, still drives her forward. Holly now has her sights firmly set on the Kayak Marathon World Championships in the next couple of years, along with the Asia Pacific Championships next year. Marathon kayaking events can cover distances of up to 20 kilometres.

“I love competition and I love the team environment. As much as I enjoy the individual events, I’m doing more team races now because that’s where I’ve had the most success.

“I’m normally seated at the back of the boat because I’m a strong paddler, but recently I’ve moved into the front seat, where I have to set the pace, encourage the team, and help with strategy,” said Holly.

When it comes to choosing between kayaking and surf lifesaving, kayaking now edges ahead. though she still loves everything surf lifesaving offers including the waves and beach culture, kayaking gives her more opportunities to train and compete in a team-focused environment.

Asked about her long-term ambitions, Holly’s goals are both ambitious and grounded.

“I’d love to experience the World Championships one day, no matter what role that’s in. Even if I make it there as a coach, helping guide and support younger paddlers, that would be amazing.”

Given her passion for people and sport, Holly is seriously considering pursuing coaching through a sports science degree.

She is also quick to acknowledge the support around her, especially from her parents, family, and coach Gary Waller, whom she affectionately refers to as her “sport dad”.

Sporting success can often come at the expense of other parts of life, but Holly has managed to maintain a strong academic record through discipline and sacrifice.

“I’ve maintained a level of excellence every year I’ve been at Trident, and I want to continue that. Right now, I’m focused on achieving a strong University Entrance result,” said Holly.

With a clear focus on what matters, a drive to help others, and the determination to achieve her own goals, Holly Rowland is shaping up to be a force to be reckoned both on and off the water.