Nathan Fa'avae doesn't need much of an introduction in New Zealand endurance circles — but the numbers still stop you in your tracks. Decades captaining the New Zealand adventure racing team. More than 50 expedition-length races across 30+ countries. Multiple Adventure Racing World Championship wins. A Yukon 1000 victory in 2024 paddling against all-male teams as a mixed-gender pair. And now, heading back to do it again in July 2026.
We sat down with Nathan to talk about what adventure really means, what separates good athletes from great ones, and why he believes a better life is lived when you regularly test yourself.
What does adventure mean to you?
For me, adventure is about being active in the outdoors and immersing myself in experiences that take me on a journey. Sometimes that means exploring somewhere completely new, and other times it's revisiting places I know and love, but experiencing them differently every time. I enjoy adventures that carry a sense of challenge and, ideally, a touch of epicness.
What I love most is the uncertainty. You never truly know how things will unfold out there, what conditions you'll face, or how the story will end. That unpredictability is part of the magic. Adventure can be as simple as a 45-minute run along my local beach and through the forest, or as big as a multi-day expedition in a remote part of the world.
I try to have some form of adventure every day because, without it, life feels flat to me. Adventure keeps me curious, motivated, and connected to both nature and myself.
What advice do you have for anyone wanting to start adventure racing or long-distance endurance events?
Focus on building skills and be patient with the process. You can't become a skilled adventurer overnight. It takes years and thousands of hours spent outdoors to develop the practical skills, resilience, judgment, and mental toughness that endurance adventure demands.
The good news is that every single hour counts. You don't need to do huge epic missions straight away — just start banking the hours. An hour here, a few hours there, done consistently over time, eventually adds up to something meaningful.
I also think it's important to keep challenging yourself. Modern life is incredibly comfortable and convenient, and because of that, people can become disconnected from hardship. Endurance athletes and adventurers are often people who actively seek difficult experiences because they understand that growth happens there. They believe a better life is lived when you regularly test yourself.
Set your standards high, then rise to meet them.
What do you think differentiates endurance adventure athletes?
I think endurance athletes are people who fundamentally believe that hardship and suffering have value. Throughout human history, survival involved genuine struggle, but in much of the modern developed world, many of those challenges have disappeared. We live in comfort, which is a privilege, but it also means we sometimes have to create our own tests.
There's an incredible sense of satisfaction that comes from completing hard things — especially when you achieve something you once doubted you were capable of. Once you experience that feeling, it starts to shape the way you approach all aspects of life.
I also think endurance adventure athletes tend to have a very healthy perspective on what matters. They know what brings them joy, purpose, and peace, and they're willing to make sacrifices to spend more of their life doing those things. They don't sit around waiting for experiences to happen — they go out and create them.
What is one of your "whys" that you come back to during an event to help you keep pushing on?
I value strength, fitness, and freedom very highly. Events give me a reason to stay active outdoors and to consistently do the work required to achieve the result I'm aiming for.
At the heart of it, though, my biggest "why" is freedom. I treasure having the physical ability and opportunity to move through the outdoors, explore wild places, and experience nature fully. Not everyone in the world has that freedom, and not everyone has good health. I feel incredibly fortunate that I do.
Because of that, I feel a responsibility to use those gifts while I can. To me, it would be a shame not to.
How do you prepare your mind for something where suffering is guaranteed over an extended period of time?
I think mental strength develops naturally when you regularly put yourself into challenging outdoor environments. Over time, you learn to embrace discomfort rather than fear it. You understand that temporary suffering often leads to lifelong memories and experiences that become deeply meaningful.
Adventure athletes tend to develop a level of stoicism as well. They want to be tested. They take pride in being tough and capable when conditions get hard. There's something powerful about knowing you can keep going when things become uncomfortable.
The more you expose yourself to those experiences, the stronger and calmer your mind becomes. Toughness is like a muscle — it grows through use.
What is your preparation process going into your next event or challenge?
Essentially, it's about preparing both the body and the mind for what you expect them to endure during the event or expedition.
For me, that usually involves training around 20–30 hours per week. Those hours are not only physical preparation but also mental preparation. During training, you spend a lot of time thinking about the challenge ahead, visualising how you'll handle difficult moments, and building confidence in your ability to take it on.
By the time the event arrives, you want both your body and mind to feel ready for the demands you're about to face.
Over your career there have been some truly remarkable achievements. What are some personal standouts?
Most of my standout moments have come from multi-day expedition adventure races — Eco-Challenge, the Adventure Racing World Championships, and World's Toughest Race.
I captained the New Zealand adventure racing team for decades, and together we competed in more than 50 expedition-length races across over 30 countries. We were fortunate enough to win many of those races, and it remains one of the most rewarding periods of my life. I've never experienced a higher-performing team environment than that one. It was incredibly special.
If I had to single one out, World's Toughest Race in Fiji would be near the top of the list. It was an extraordinary event that pushed every aspect of human endurance, teamwork, and resilience.
What's the difference between a good athlete and a great one — and can you train it?
I absolutely believe greatness can be trained, provided the individual values the mission enough.
That said, goals still need to be realistic and aligned with someone's circumstances, environment, opportunities, skills, and to some degree, genetics. But in general, I think most people are capable of far more than they realise.
If someone truly commits themselves to a goal and is willing to consistently invest their time, energy, and focus into it, remarkable things can happen. Greatness is usually less about talent alone and more about sustained commitment over time.
What is the best thing about being outside — particularly in New Zealand?
I think the best thing about being outside is that it's our natural habitat. Human beings are designed to be outdoors. That feeling people often describe after a great outdoor experience — "I felt truly alive" — comes from reconnecting with the environment we evolved in.
I recently heard a statistic that one of the most physically active groups of men in the United States aged 20–30 are prison inmates, because prisons ensure they spend two hours outdoors exercising every day. Meanwhile, there are people living freely who spend less time outside moving their bodies than prisoners do. To me, that's both sad and alarming.
New Zealand is incredibly special because we have world-class wilderness and outdoor opportunities right on our doorstep. We should never take that for granted.
How do you hope your adventures inspire people?
I hope people see the value and power of adventure, and what it can give back to us physically, mentally, and emotionally.
I think people who spend time outdoors naturally develop a stronger appreciation for conservation and protecting the natural world. When you experience these places firsthand, you understand why they matter.
But more than anything, I believe the outdoors is incredibly powerful for human wellbeing. Obviously it benefits physical health, but I also think it plays a huge role in mental health and overall happiness.
If my adventures inspire even a few people to get outside more often, challenge themselves, and reconnect with nature — then that's a positive thing. The more people out there experiencing the outdoors, the better the world will be.
What do you rely on your Suunto Vertical 2 for?
I mainly rely on it for speed, distance, and navigation. Those are the key metrics I use both in training and out on expeditions.
There are plenty of other features I use from time to time, but at its core, I value reliability and functionality. When you're training long hours or moving through remote environments, having accurate information on pace, distance covered, and navigation is incredibly important.
And honestly, I love the ultra-long battery life. For expedition racing and multi-day adventures, that makes a huge difference.
What's next on the horizon?
The Yukon 1000 paddle race. It's regarded as one of the longest and toughest canoe and kayak races in the world — 1,000 miles through remote wilderness in Canada and Alaska. Teams paddle almost continuously for days with very limited sleep, dealing with isolation, weather, wildlife, and the physical toll of constant movement.
I won the race with Sophie Hart in 2024, and we're heading back in July 2026 to see if we can do it again. Winning was special, but what made it even more meaningful was that Sophie and I raced as a mixed-gender team against all-male teams — and won.
As someone with two daughters, I love that they can see athletes like Sophie competing, and winning, on the world stage. I think that representation matters.
Make sure to follow Nathan's journey to the Yukon 1000 in July 2026 — and keep an eye on the Suunto NZ Ambassador Series for more athlete stories.
5 Minutes with Adventure Racing Legend Nathan Fa'avae
Nathan Fa'avae doesn't need much of an introduction in New Zealand endurance circles — but the numbers still stop you in your tracks. Decades captaining the New Zealand adventure racing team. More than 50 expedition-length races across 30+ countries. Multiple Adventure Racing World Championship wins. A Yukon 1000 victory in 2024 paddling against all-male teams as a mixed-gender pair. And now, heading back to do it again in July 2026.
We sat down with Nathan to talk about what adventure really means, what separates good athletes from great ones, and why he believes a better life is lived when you regularly test yourself.
What does adventure mean to you?
For me, adventure is about being active in the outdoors and immersing myself in experiences that take me on a journey. Sometimes that means exploring somewhere completely new, and other times it's revisiting places I know and love, but experiencing them differently every time. I enjoy adventures that carry a sense of challenge and, ideally, a touch of epicness.
What I love most is the uncertainty. You never truly know how things will unfold out there, what conditions you'll face, or how the story will end. That unpredictability is part of the magic. Adventure can be as simple as a 45-minute run along my local beach and through the forest, or as big as a multi-day expedition in a remote part of the world.
I try to have some form of adventure every day because, without it, life feels flat to me. Adventure keeps me curious, motivated, and connected to both nature and myself.
What advice do you have for anyone wanting to start adventure racing or long-distance endurance events?
Focus on building skills and be patient with the process. You can't become a skilled adventurer overnight. It takes years and thousands of hours spent outdoors to develop the practical skills, resilience, judgment, and mental toughness that endurance adventure demands.
The good news is that every single hour counts. You don't need to do huge epic missions straight away — just start banking the hours. An hour here, a few hours there, done consistently over time, eventually adds up to something meaningful.
I also think it's important to keep challenging yourself. Modern life is incredibly comfortable and convenient, and because of that, people can become disconnected from hardship. Endurance athletes and adventurers are often people who actively seek difficult experiences because they understand that growth happens there. They believe a better life is lived when you regularly test yourself.
Set your standards high, then rise to meet them.
What do you think differentiates endurance adventure athletes?
I think endurance athletes are people who fundamentally believe that hardship and suffering have value. Throughout human history, survival involved genuine struggle, but in much of the modern developed world, many of those challenges have disappeared. We live in comfort, which is a privilege, but it also means we sometimes have to create our own tests.
There's an incredible sense of satisfaction that comes from completing hard things — especially when you achieve something you once doubted you were capable of. Once you experience that feeling, it starts to shape the way you approach all aspects of life.
I also think endurance adventure athletes tend to have a very healthy perspective on what matters. They know what brings them joy, purpose, and peace, and they're willing to make sacrifices to spend more of their life doing those things. They don't sit around waiting for experiences to happen — they go out and create them.
What is one of your "whys" that you come back to during an event to help you keep pushing on?
I value strength, fitness, and freedom very highly. Events give me a reason to stay active outdoors and to consistently do the work required to achieve the result I'm aiming for.
At the heart of it, though, my biggest "why" is freedom. I treasure having the physical ability and opportunity to move through the outdoors, explore wild places, and experience nature fully. Not everyone in the world has that freedom, and not everyone has good health. I feel incredibly fortunate that I do.
Because of that, I feel a responsibility to use those gifts while I can. To me, it would be a shame not to.
How do you prepare your mind for something where suffering is guaranteed over an extended period of time?
I think mental strength develops naturally when you regularly put yourself into challenging outdoor environments. Over time, you learn to embrace discomfort rather than fear it. You understand that temporary suffering often leads to lifelong memories and experiences that become deeply meaningful.
Adventure athletes tend to develop a level of stoicism as well. They want to be tested. They take pride in being tough and capable when conditions get hard. There's something powerful about knowing you can keep going when things become uncomfortable.
The more you expose yourself to those experiences, the stronger and calmer your mind becomes. Toughness is like a muscle — it grows through use.
What is your preparation process going into your next event or challenge?
Essentially, it's about preparing both the body and the mind for what you expect them to endure during the event or expedition.
For me, that usually involves training around 20–30 hours per week. Those hours are not only physical preparation but also mental preparation. During training, you spend a lot of time thinking about the challenge ahead, visualising how you'll handle difficult moments, and building confidence in your ability to take it on.
By the time the event arrives, you want both your body and mind to feel ready for the demands you're about to face.
Over your career there have been some truly remarkable achievements. What are some personal standouts?
Most of my standout moments have come from multi-day expedition adventure races — Eco-Challenge, the Adventure Racing World Championships, and World's Toughest Race.
I captained the New Zealand adventure racing team for decades, and together we competed in more than 50 expedition-length races across over 30 countries. We were fortunate enough to win many of those races, and it remains one of the most rewarding periods of my life. I've never experienced a higher-performing team environment than that one. It was incredibly special.
If I had to single one out, World's Toughest Race in Fiji would be near the top of the list. It was an extraordinary event that pushed every aspect of human endurance, teamwork, and resilience.
What's the difference between a good athlete and a great one — and can you train it?
I absolutely believe greatness can be trained, provided the individual values the mission enough.
That said, goals still need to be realistic and aligned with someone's circumstances, environment, opportunities, skills, and to some degree, genetics. But in general, I think most people are capable of far more than they realise.
If someone truly commits themselves to a goal and is willing to consistently invest their time, energy, and focus into it, remarkable things can happen. Greatness is usually less about talent alone and more about sustained commitment over time.
What is the best thing about being outside — particularly in New Zealand?
I think the best thing about being outside is that it's our natural habitat. Human beings are designed to be outdoors. That feeling people often describe after a great outdoor experience — "I felt truly alive" — comes from reconnecting with the environment we evolved in.
I recently heard a statistic that one of the most physically active groups of men in the United States aged 20–30 are prison inmates, because prisons ensure they spend two hours outdoors exercising every day. Meanwhile, there are people living freely who spend less time outside moving their bodies than prisoners do. To me, that's both sad and alarming.
New Zealand is incredibly special because we have world-class wilderness and outdoor opportunities right on our doorstep. We should never take that for granted.
How do you hope your adventures inspire people?
I hope people see the value and power of adventure, and what it can give back to us physically, mentally, and emotionally.
I think people who spend time outdoors naturally develop a stronger appreciation for conservation and protecting the natural world. When you experience these places firsthand, you understand why they matter.
But more than anything, I believe the outdoors is incredibly powerful for human wellbeing. Obviously it benefits physical health, but I also think it plays a huge role in mental health and overall happiness.
If my adventures inspire even a few people to get outside more often, challenge themselves, and reconnect with nature — then that's a positive thing. The more people out there experiencing the outdoors, the better the world will be.
What do you rely on your Suunto Vertical 2 for?
I mainly rely on it for speed, distance, and navigation. Those are the key metrics I use both in training and out on expeditions.
There are plenty of other features I use from time to time, but at its core, I value reliability and functionality. When you're training long hours or moving through remote environments, having accurate information on pace, distance covered, and navigation is incredibly important.
And honestly, I love the ultra-long battery life. For expedition racing and multi-day adventures, that makes a huge difference.
What's next on the horizon?
The Yukon 1000 paddle race. It's regarded as one of the longest and toughest canoe and kayak races in the world — 1,000 miles through remote wilderness in Canada and Alaska. Teams paddle almost continuously for days with very limited sleep, dealing with isolation, weather, wildlife, and the physical toll of constant movement.
I won the race with Sophie Hart in 2024, and we're heading back in July 2026 to see if we can do it again. Winning was special, but what made it even more meaningful was that Sophie and I raced as a mixed-gender team against all-male teams — and won.
As someone with two daughters, I love that they can see athletes like Sophie competing, and winning, on the world stage. I think that representation matters.
Make sure to follow Nathan's journey to the Yukon 1000 in July 2026 — and keep an eye on the Suunto NZ Ambassador Series for more athlete stories.