The national canoe slalom championships were held on the Kawarau River, near the Roaring Meg power station between Cromwell and Queenstown, on Saturday and Sunday.
River flows of 100cumecs to 120cumecs on the stretch of water at this time of year would normally make navigation difficult among the course gates, some of which are designed to force competitors to paddle against the current.
A steady downpour on Saturday night and Sunday morning meant the river rose by about 70cumecs for Sunday's racing, event organiser Gordon Raynor said.
Raynor, of Alexandra, said the championships were put on hold during the morning but all competitors safely made it through the day's programme regardless.
"The start was delayed because with the high water levels we had to adjust the course, but everything went smoothly and it was just fantastic," he said.
A team of safety kayakers made sure no-one was injured during the two-day event.
The field of 103 competitors included national champions, as well as novices from 12 years old and a strong veteran contingent.
Leading kayaker Mike Dawson (Tauranga) showed his class to win the open men's K1 title in 79.84sec, with Callum Gibb (Tauranga) second and Carl Whitehead (Te Puke) third.
Olympian Luuka Jones (96.09sec) comfortably won the women's K1, ahead of Louise Jull and young Wanaka paddler Jessica Bailey.
Shaun Travers (Tauranga) blitzed the C1 field, while the Wanaka-based masters crew of Roy Bailey and Pete Simpson claimed the C2 title.
This was the fourth time the event had been held near the Roaring Meg, and Raynor said it was likely it would again be held in Central Otago.
