Summer Challenge - Women's Adventure Race
Fa’avae Races From GODZone to Summer Challenge
Press Release / 14.03.2021
On March 10th Nathan Fa’avae captained team Avaya to victory in the GODZone adventure race in Rotorua. The Eco Challenge winners and World Championship team of Fa’avae, Sophie Hart, Chris Forne and Stuart Lynch, completed the 665km in 4 days, 23 hours and 25 minutes, he’s now back in Nelson as Race Director for the long awaited Summer Challenge women’s adventure race.
The event was announced in 2019 and was meant to take place in March 2020, but Covid-19 forced the postponement until now. For many teams, it’s been a long awaited adventure and it’s finally about to happen, with the region in Level 1, the forests are all open with summer risk levels low and the weather forecast looks superb.
Within the sport of Adventure Racing Nelson is considered a breeding ground of superb athletes having produced a number of world champions. Former adventure racing world champions Richard and Elina Ussher, plus Trevor Voyce reside in the region. The legendary Kathy Lynch lived in the area for decades. Sophie Hart is also Nelson based but won’t be competing in the Summer Challenge so soon after GODZone.
The climate and adventure opportunities are ideal for preparing for the outdoor ultra endurance events. Therefore, it’s fitting that a new adventure race will be held in Nelson on Saturday.
The inaugural Summer Challenge will have teams of 3-women kayaking, mountain biking and hiking in the Nelson region. The event has 239-teams entered, a total of 717-participants.
The course is based in the Nelson region and teams have been told to expect an amazing adventure than blends urban and wilderness environments, weaving together many famous Nelson landmarks.
Within the race there are three divisions, the three hour, six hour and nine hour races, which generally translate to beginner, intermediate and advanced. Teams will be racing on course from three to eighteen hours.
The three hour teams will have 4-stages to complete on a 24km course, the six hour teams will have six stages over 64km and the 9-hour teams will race a 89km course with eight stages.
The event will cater for women aged between thirteen and sixty five over the events. There are some very experienced youth, open and veteran teams.
Fa’avae says “It’’s really pleasing to see more young women taking part. When we first started these events [Spring Challenge] the average age was quite high, lots of veteran teams, in the past few years we’ve seen a significant increase in teenagers racing, which is good for them and for the sport”.
Like the Spring Challenge, the event caters for first time women wanting to try adventure racing, as well as the best female adventure racers in the country.
The 9-hour race is the most competitive race and will see thirty three teams on the long course. There are a number of very capable teams taking part but it’s likely to be
Local Nelson teams will have the home course advantage and are expected to feature in the top placings. A team that will be hard to beat in the long course 9-hour challenge will be Bowater Toyota with Laura Biessy, Susie Wood and Hannah Greenhough.
Fa’avae says that teams can expect some technical navigation in parts of their courses, targeted at their respective abilities. With this being the first time kayaks have been used he expects there to be some teams being tested, with the experienced kayakers having an advantage.
He adds “Nelson has been the perfect place to hold the very first Summer Challenge. I grew up training and racing in the surrounding hills and on the coastal waters so it’s been really special for me to design a race course around places I have so much history with. The diversity and different landscapes that Nelson has is incredible and I think the teams are going to have a super quality experience and enjoyable adventure”
The event starts on Friday with registration, kayak practice and briefing, Saturday is race day with the awards on Sunday.
Nathan’s wife, event director Jodie Fa’avae comments “these are feel good events, there are so many inspiring and motivating stories within the event. Some women come to race, but mostly they come for personal reasons and goals. For many this is a huge step into the unknown, not having done something like this before. I know that for many women the pathway leading to the event is the most beneficial part, they change their lifestyles around to incorporate regular exercise, getting out in nature, improving their nutrition, they’re the things that make it transformational, that’s why so many women adventure race.”
The long range forecast is for a fine and warm sunny Nelson weekend.
The event sponsors and supporters are: NelsonTasman.nz, Juliana, Chia Sisters, Cable Bay Adventure Park, Sea to Summit, Ems Power Cookies, CamelBak, MacMillans, Merrell, Starborough, PURE Sports Nutrition, BUFF, Wicked Rogaines, Tineli, Ngati Koata Trust, Tasman Pine Forests Ltd, Bowater Toyota, Absolute Wilderness Freeze Dried Meals, CS Designz, Edridge
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