Programme Purpose

Prepare athletes to perform on the world stage and at pinnacle events.

​​​​​​​Podium Elite Selection Criteria

  • ​​​​​​​HPSNZ Campaign athlete (HPSNZ criteria)
  • World Championship selection standard and Olympic qualifiers
  • Current performance, progression, athlete profile (evidence-based vs world standard benchmarks)
  • Commitment to fulltime programme
  • 12 monthly reviews to retain HPSNZ entitlement
  • 2-4 Athletes

​​​​​​​Programme Delivery/Benefits

  • Campaign Funding including TAPS and any Excellence Grants (Performance)
  • Auckland based programme (Wero)
  • Dedicated High Performance coaching (IPP, Personal prorgramming, on-water coaching)
  • HPSNZ support:  Athlete Performance Services /  Education/ Prime Ministers Scholarships
  • Access to facilities and water (Wero)
  • Domestic and international camps

Podium Pathway Selection Criteria

  • ​​​​​​​HPSNZ TAPS or prevously Carded Athletes (HPSNZ criteria)
  • World Championship selection standard and Olympic qualifiers
  • Current performance, progression, athlete profile (evidence-based vs world standard benchmarks)
  • Commitment to fulltime programme
  • 12 monthly reviews to retain HPSNZ entitlement
  • 2-4 Athletes

Programme Delivery/Benefits

  • TAPS Funding
  • Auckland based programme (Wero)
  • Dedicated High Performance coaching (IPP, Personal prorgramming, on-water coaching) 
  • HPSNZ support:  Athlete Performance Services /  Education/ Prime Ministers Scholarships
  • Access to facilities and water (Wero)
  • Domestic and international camps

Podium Coaches

Michal Smolen (Podium Elite)

​​​​[email protected]


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HPSNZ Athlete Performance Pathway

Podium Events

2023

World Cup 1 

World Cup 2 

World Cup 3 

World Cup 4

World Championships 

Podium News and Updates

2025  Podium / Te Pae Whakataki Athletes

Podium Elite Athletes

Luuka Jones

​​​​​​​Callum Gilbert

​​​​​​​Finn Butcher

Podium Pathway Athletes

Hannah Thomas

George Snook