The appropriately named Manu Reedy competed in the national dive-bombing competition in the 2024-25 season, when the closest qualifying event was in Christchurch.
This summer, there is a Dunedin round for the first time, which is this Sunday, November 30, at the Steamer basin wharf — so more big-bombers from the surrounding regions can make a splash.
A "manu" is a style of dive-bombing in which the diver makes a "V" shape with their body and hits the water bottom first, creating a big splash.
The competition was judged from the size of the splash, but other elements such as sound and technique were also taken into account, champs founder Scott Rice said.
Last season’s champion, Maara Toa, of Northland, jumped off a 5m platform at the finals in Auckland, creating a 10.5m-high splash.
"It’s fun for the competitors, and it’s also really a fantastic spectator activity," he said.
"We have people coming along and watching in the [grand finals in the Auckland Viaduct Harbour] — it has everything."
Ms Reedy, who is a Gore Aquatic Centre lifeguard, said she had fun doing the "whole tour" of qualifying events last summer.
She and the other women she met along the way joined the competition just to show their children that they could do it, too, Ms Reedy said.
She came seventh in her category last time, but for her, the newly recognised sport was less about competition and more about spending quality time with her whanau.
Coming from Gisborne, she was used to jumping off bridges and trees into water, and since she started working at the aquatic centre there had been some "leniency" for bombing in the lanes, she said.
Ms Reedy and her two sons Herangi, 21, and Houora, 18, Rotana could be seen bombing between the aqua jogging and children’s classes last week.
Houora said there would be competition between him and his older brother on Sunday, but he suggested Herangi was too skinny to win.
Mr Rice said people had to be quite "limber" to manu, and heavier competitors did well in the freestyle section, where other styles of bombs were allowed.
Houora said since his mum competed last year, they were able to manu every day in the pool, where younger children also showed some interest.
He had a couple of young "proteges" who would be coming along to compete in the children’s section on Sunday.
"Kids love having fun," Ms Reedy said.
"They love it now that I’m here."
Divers can still enrol for the Dunedin event on the Manu Champs website.
