Wellington marathon kayaker Glen Muirhead surged past last year's winner, Ian Huntsman, near the end to claim the title.
The former multisport competitor had dropped behind Huntsman and runner-up Glen Hedges after paddling down the wrong stream of the braided river. With the finishing line of the Matukituki bridge at West Wanaka within sight, Muirhead passed Huntsman before mowing down Hedges to snatch victory by six seconds.
"It was a beautiful race. I took a couple of wrong turns ... I've never paddled [that] river before," Muirhead said.
A field of more than 30 kayakers contested the handicapped endurance event.
The women's race was won by Dunedin kayaker Carla Laughton, followed by Wendy Riach, of Christchurch, and Josie Cederman, of Queenstown.
