Our Story
From a dream on Matira Beach to the world’s most iconic Va’a festival.
The Guardian of Polynesian Mana
TALIFIT is more than a brand — it is the heartbeat of Bora Bora’s athletic soul. Born from the vision of Joram Law and Leilanie Rere Mara, TALIFIT Events exists to preserve and celebrate the ancestral Polynesian sport of Va’a while opening it to the world.
What started as a local paddling event on Matira Beach in 2019 has grown into the most prestigious Va’a festival in the world. Every year, TALIFIT brings together athletes from across the Pacific and beyond — from Hawaii to Brazil, from Canada to New Zealand — to race in the crystal waters of Bora Bora’s legendary lagoon.
Our mission is threefold: to honor the mana (spiritual power) of Polynesian culture, to build a world-class sporting event that respects its roots, and to share the beauty of Bora Bora with every paddler who dreams of racing in paradise.
Joram Law & Leilanie Rere Mara
Sports event organizers, Va’a enthusiasts — Bora Bora & Huahine.
Joram was born and raised in Bora Bora. Leilanie comes from Huahine. Va’a is their common ground — the canoe, the lagoon, the competition. It’s from this shared passion that the idea of organizing something unique on Matira Beach was born.
Before TALIFIT Race, they co-organized the H2B Downwind Race: a start from Huahine, over 100 km at sea, destination Bora Bora, in V6 relay. One of the most demanding downwind races in the world — held during the <em>Maraamu</em>, the season when the wind shifts south and pushes the canoes from behind toward the horizon. Two editions, unforgettable memories.
From that experience came TALIFIT Events: the TALIFIT Race, now in its 8th edition, and the TALIFIT GAMES — a hybrid format blending modern sports with traditional Polynesian disciplines Tu’aro Ma’ohi.
From Dream to Legacy
The story of the TALIFIT Race, year by year.
The Beginning
First TALIFIT Race on Matira Beach — a grassroots event with local clubs and a dream to make Bora Bora a Va’a destination.
Growing Roots
Second edition expands to V1 and V6 categories. First inter-island competitors arrive from Tahiti and Moorea.
International Debut
First international crews compete. Paddlers from New Zealand and Hawaii discover the magic of Bora Bora racing.
The Turning Point
Media coverage explodes. Ocean Paddler TV broadcasts the event. The TALIFIT Race earns recognition across the Pacific.
Global Stage
Crews from Hawaii, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Australia join. Kidz categories introduced for U10 and U13.
Record Breaking
Largest field ever — 36 Hawaiian paddlers alone. The 18km Aito becomes the signature distance.
The Legacy Grows
TALIFIT Games concept unveiled. Partnership with Air Tahiti Nui as official international airline. Master 60 category added.
The Greatest Yet
April 6-11. Five days of competition. From 250m sprints to the legendary 18km Aito. Athletes U10 to Master 70. The world comes to Bora Bora.
What is Va’a?
The ancient Polynesian art of outrigger canoe racing.
An Ancestral Sport, Reborn
Va’a (pronounced “va-ah”) is the Polynesian word for outrigger canoe. For over 3,000 years, the peoples of the Pacific — Polynesians, Melanesians, and Micronesians — navigated thousands of miles of open ocean in these remarkable vessels, guided only by the stars, the currents, and ancestral knowledge.
The outrigger — the ama — is the canoe’s signature feature: a lateral float connected by two booms (iato) that provides stability in rough seas. This ingenious design allowed Polynesian navigators to cross the vast Pacific, discovering and settling every island from New Zealand to Hawaii, from Tahiti to Easter Island.
Today, Va’a racing is the most popular sport in French Polynesia and one of the fastest-growing water sports in the world. From the lagoons of Tahiti to the harbors of Hawaii, from Sydney to São Paulo, millions of paddlers carry forward this ancient tradition.
V1 — Solo Canoe
The V1 is the individual outrigger canoe. One paddler, one canoe, the open water. V1 racing is the purest expression of Va’a — a test of technique, endurance, balance, and mental fortitude. At the TALIFIT Race, V1 distances range from 100m sprints for kids to the legendary 18km Aito.
V6 — Team Canoe
The V6 is the six-person outrigger canoe — the soul of Va’a. Six paddlers, perfectly synchronized, moving as one through the water. V6 racing demands teamwork, rhythm, communication, and collective strength. It’s where clubs and nations compete for glory.
Va’a Glossary
The Future of TALIFIT
Preserve
Keep the ancestral traditions of Va’a and Tu’aro Ma’ohi alive for future generations.
Connect
Build bridges between Pacific island cultures and the international sports community.
Elevate
Make Bora Bora the world’s premier destination for outrigger canoe racing and Polynesian sport.
Be Part of the Legacy
Join us in Bora Bora for the 8th TALIFIT Race — April 6-11, 2026. Whether you’re a seasoned paddler or a first-time visitor, the mana awaits.
