Rewriting the story of one of New Zealand’s fastest sports.
When River Racing NZ approached Itch, they weren’t looking for someone to simply film their events. They wanted a media partner who could help showcase the sport in a way that reflected the speed, intensity and personalities that make marathon jet boat racing so unique.
River racing is one of New Zealand’s most exhilarating motorsports. Boats race at speeds of up to 200km/h through braided rivers across Canterbury, Otago and Southland, demanding incredible precision from both drivers and navigators. Yet much of the existing coverage followed a traditional sports format that struggled to capture the emotion and excitement experienced by those standing on the riverbank.
We saw an opportunity to tell a different story.
Rather than simply documenting the racing, we focused on the people behind the helmets. The rivalries, setbacks, victories and passion that drive competitors became just as important as the racing itself. By spending time with the teams, building relationships and capturing authentic interviews, we were able to create content that connected with both long-time fans and people discovering the sport for the first time.
Visually, we pushed the boundaries.
Using a multi-camera production approach, strategically positioned operators and FPV drone technology, our team captured perspectives that had never been seen before. Led by Seth, one of New Zealand’s leading FPV drone pilots, we flew alongside jet boats at speeds approaching 200km/h, producing dynamic footage that simply isn’t possible with traditional camera platforms or even helicopters.
To bring viewers even closer to the action, we also worked with River Racing NZ to integrate onboard GoPro cameras across multiple boats, giving audiences a genuine driver’s-eye view of the racing.
The result has been a significant lift in both the quality of the content and the sport’s online presence.
Videos from the series have attracted exceptional engagement across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, with many posts achieving near-viral reach and generating attention from audiences both in New Zealand and overseas. More importantly, the content has helped elevate the profile of River Racing NZ, introducing the sport to new audiences while giving existing fans a more immersive experience than ever before.
For us, this project is a perfect example of what happens when storytelling, strategy and creativity work together. Great content doesn’t just show people what’s happening. It makes them feel like they’re part of it.
“We’ve used Itch for River Racing NZ and the content is outstanding, they’re really helping us to tell the story of the sport. Highly recommend.”