Adaptive paddling has been adopted by the International Va'a Federation, and Team Hawai'i wants in.

An adaptive division will be featured at the 2008 IVF World Sprint Championships at Sacramento, Calif., in August. It is the first time that physically challenged canoe paddlers will have their own official division.

"It was considered an exhibition at the last two World Sprints," Team Hawai'i coach Aka Hemmings said. "This year, we will be fully incorporated. The crews have to be all adaptive paddlers, and they will be recognized with medals and official times, and all that."

Hemmings said he needs a minimum of 12 adaptive paddlers to represent Hawai'i at the World Sprints, so tryouts will start this month.

Any physically-challenged person interested in joining Team Hawai'i can meet at the Sand Island boat ramp for the first practice on Jan. 26 at 10 a.m.

Lea Klepees, who is 24 and from Wahiawa, said she plans to paddle with Team Hawai'i in Sacramento. She was born with arthrogryposis, and has limited strength in her arms and legs. She participated in the 2006 World Sprints in New Zealand.

"There's a lot of people who want to get involved in sports, but don't know what's out there," Klepees said. "This is a good sport. It was such a great experience (in 2006). I'm so glad we have our own (division) now. That's how it should be."

Mark Wormley lives on the Big Island, but said he will fly to Honolulu when ever he can to practice with Team Hawai'i. Wormley, 59, is an amputee who lost a leg in the Vietnam War.

"I'm excited about paddling in general," said Wormley, who is a paddler for the Keauhou Canoe Club. "But to get to do it with this group makes it even more exciting."

Hemmings, who is able-bodied and a long-time paddler in Hawai'i, has been coaching adaptive paddlers for several years. He said if Team Hawai'i is not able to field a full roster of 12, they may have to borrow paddlers from other nations.

"I think it's imperative that Hawai'i trail blazes the way in this sport," Hemmings said. "So this is just another chance for us to do something significant. I'd like to show the rest of the world how big paddling is in Hawai'i, and not just for able-bodied paddlers."

He was the coach of the adaptive paddlers from Hawai'i who participated in the exhibition races at the 2004 and 2006 World Sprints.

"Sometimes, it's beyond my comprehension to see what they can do," Hemmings said. "Just their spirit and determination, and the heart they show, is inspiring."

The World Sprints is held every two years at a different site around the world. It features various sprint races (most are 500 or 1,000 meters) for one-person canoes, six-person canoes, and 12-person canoes.

This year's event is scheduled for Aug. 1 to 9 at Lake Natoma.

Thousands of paddlers are expected to participate, most of them in the open and masters divisions.

Hemmings said he expects around 75 physically-challenged paddlers from around the world to participate in the adaptive division.

"We'll see (adaptive) teams from Canada, Britain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, USA ... probably a few others," he said.

Hawai'i is recognized as its own team — separate from the United States team — for the event.

Hemmings said any adult (18 or older) with a physical challenge should be eligible to participate. To assure fairness, the IVF will use a grading system to assess each person's physical challenge.

Wormley, for example, is an amputee but has full use of his upper body, so he would be considered a "strong" adaptive competitor.

"They try to balance out the (canoe) so that you have an equal amount of paddlers who are strong and others who are not so strong," Hemmings said.

Hemmings said the team is also looking for sponsors to help cover some of the travel expenses.

"Our costs will be above and beyond the normal costs," he said. "We have to rent specific handicap rooms and vans. And we have to bring extra personnel to assist. It's a big project, but that's why we're starting now."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.