Intro
Adventure Professional
Winner of Eco Challenge - World’s Toughest Race
7 x Adventure Racing World Champion
Intro
Adventure Professional
Winner of Eco Challenge - World’s Toughest Race
7 x Adventure Racing World Champion
Nathan Fa’avae ONZM
Nathan, a 52-year-old adventure enthusiast, resides in Tasman Bay near Nelson with his wife Jodie and three children. With a lifelong passion for outdoor sports and adventure, he has become a highly regarded figure in the field. As the captain of the world's most successful adventure racing team, he has received numerous accolades, including being honored as an Officer of The New Zealand Order of Merit in 2023.
Nathan's expertise extends beyond sports. He is a professional outdoor consultant specialising in team building adventures, sporting events, and adventure racing. He founded the renowned Spring Challenge women's adventure race and excels in leadership, logistics, and ensuring participant safety. While he dedicated a significant portion of his life to sports, his primary career revolves around outdoor education and event production.
Initially studying Physical Education, Nathan switched his focus to outdoor leadership and gained experience as a sea kayak guide in Abel Tasman National Park. He and his wife successfully operated Kiwi Kayaks, which even received a New Zealand Small Business Award. Later, they worked as Instructors at the prestigious NZ Outward Bound School.
Nathan's expertise also extends to organising commercial sporting events and managing event management contracts through his company, Ten Events Ltd. He conducted a comprehensive review of Niue Tourism's events strategy and adventure tourism industry. Moreover, he applies his knowledge to create unique and engaging corporate events using the Adventure Racing platform.
Safety is a top priority for Nathan. His Health & Safety plan undergoes regular audits, ensuring a secure environment for all activities. With his expertise and dedication, Nathan guarantees thoughtfully designed and expertly executed outdoor experiences for team building or corporate events that will leave a lasting impression.
ENTERPRISE
Director Ten Events Ltd
Founder Real Meals
Patron of Whenua iti OPC
Director Fa’avae Foundation
BOOK
‘Everyone has a story to tell, this is mine, I hope you enjoy it.’
SPONSORS
RAB
THINK
Real Meals
inov-8 Footwear
Blueduck Packrafts
Santa Cruz Bicycles
Tineli Performance Bike Wear
Toyota - BMG - Bowater Toyota
Highlights
Sporting Highlights
Highlights
Sporting Highlights
Sporting Highlights
2024
1st King & Queen of the Harbour : Doubles
1st South Island Surfski Championships : Doubles
2nd Heads 2 Harbour National Surfski Series
1st Queen & King of the Bay : Doubles
1st Yukon1000
2023
1st GODZone Fiordland
2022
1st Adventure Racing World Championships, Paraguay
1st GODZone ‘the Traverse’
3rd Orienteering National Championships - Long 50+
2021
1st GODZone Rotorua
1st Autumn Muster Rogaine
1st Heights of Winter
2020
1st Rabbit Island Multisport Race
2nd Orienteering National Championships - Middle 45+
2nd Orienteering National Championships - Sprint 45+
2nd Orienteering National Championships - Long 45+
2019
1st Eco Challenge - World’s Toughest Race, Fiji
1st Heights of Winter - mixed / 12-hour
2nd Orienteering National Championships - Long 45+
3rd Orienteering National Championships - Sprint 45+
1st Rabbit Island Multisport Race
2018
1st Adventure Racing World Championships, Reunion Is.
1st Abdication of the King Rogaine
5th Ultra Long Hogs Back
5th NZ Orienteering MTB Champs - Long course
4th Godzone Fiordland
3rd Orienteering National Champs - Sprint 45+
2017
1st OY Nelson / Marlborough
3rd Orienteering National Championships - Sprint 40+
3rd Orienteering National Championships - Middle 40+
3rd Orienteering National Championships - Long 40+
2016
1st Adventure Racing World Championships, Australia
1st Raid in France
2nd Yeti Adventure Challenge, Denmark
1st Rockman Offroad Triathlon, Niue
3rd Orienteering National Championships - Middle 40+
3rd Orienteering National Championships - Long 40+
2015
1st Adventure Racing World Championships, Brazil
1st Royal Belum Ironbound Challenge, Malaysia
2nd Raid Gallaecia, Spain
1st Godzone Wanaka
1st Coast to Coast Veteran (Fastest Kayak)
2014
1st Adventure Racing World Championship, Ecuador
1st Expedition Africa
1st Godzone Kaikoura
1st Geo Quest ,Australia
1st Bannockburn Rogaine
2nd Portage race
Kiwi Brevet Finisher
2013
1st Mystery Lake Adventure Race
1st Southern Lakes Adventure Race
1st Remarkables Road Run
2nd Eco Motion Pro, Brazil
1st Southern Lakes Kayak Winter Series
1st Peak to Peak (Veteran! - 4th overall)
2nd Heights of Winter
1st Wanaka Rogaine - 12-hours Timburn
1st Rollos 24-hour Adventure Race
2nd Wenzhou Outdoor Challenge, China
1st Godzone Mount Cook
3rd KBAR NZ Multisport Championships
1st Send off Summer Multisport Wanaka
2nd Clutha Classic River Race
2012
1st World Adventure Racing Championships, France
1st Ordos Adventure Challenge, China
2nd Heights of Winter
1st Portage Race
1st Godzone Milford Queenstown
1st Tierra Viva Patagonia, Argentina
6th Wulong Mountain Quest, China
2011
1st St James Rogaine
3rd Adventure Racing World Championships, Tasmania
3rd Tour de Tasman
1st Wulong Mountain Quest, China
2nd Expedition Idaho, USA
3rd Heights of Winter
29th Surf Ski World Champs, Molokai Hawaii
1st Mana Ocean Challenge
1st Tasman Bay Surf Ski Series
11th King of the Harbour
2010
1st Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge
2nd Buller Gorge Descent
3rd South Island Orienteering Championships
2nd Adventure Racing World Championships Spain
2nd Abel Tasman Coastal Classic
1st Zunyi Mountain Challenge China
2nd Wulong Mountain Quest China
3rd Tour de Tasman
1st Gibbs Hill Challenge
1st Mid Winter Triathlon
1st Heights of Winter
1st NZ Adventure Racing Championships
1st Portage Race
1st Crazyman
1st Tasman Bay Surf Ski Series
2nd National Rogaine Championships
2009
1st Rollos 24 hour race
1st 6-hour race
1st Tasman Bay Surf Ski Series
3rd Portage Race
3rd Dream Raid, New Caledonia
2008
1st Grape Ride Magnum
2nd Heights of Winter
1st Rollos 24 hour race
1st 6-hour race
2nd City Safari
2nd Coppermine Classic
2007
1st Grape Ride Magnum
2nd Rainbow Rage
1st National Rogaine Championships
2006
1st Southern Traverse
1st Rollos 24 hour race
1st PW Memorial Triathlon
2005
1st Adventure Racing World Championships NZ
1st Arrow Queenstown
1st Arrow Christchurch
1st Musselman
5th Raid Gauloises France
Bull of Africa finisher
2004
1st Primal Quest USA
1st Balance Bar Series USA
1st Arrow Hanmer
3rd Outdoor Quest Borneo
1st Rotorangi Gutbuster
1st Tuatara Banks Peninsula Race
2003
1st Outdoor Quest Borneo
1st Balance Bar LA
3rd Primal Quest USA
2002
1st Eco Challenge Fiji
1st Gorge Games USA
1st Southern Traverse NZ
5th Primal Quest USA
2001
2nd Eco Challenge NZ
2nd Adventure Racing World Championships Switzerland
5th Raid the North Canada
2000
1st Adventure Racing World Championships NZ
1999
1st Southern Traverse NZ
1st Tongariro Mountain Classic
1st PW Memorial Triathlon
2nd Speights Coast to Coast
1998
1st Motu Challenge
1st Kahurangi Endurance Triathlon
1st Musselman
1st Mangatapu Triathlon
3rd Goldrush
3rd Speights Coast to Coast
1997
1st Mangatapu Triathlon
3rd Kahurangi Endurance Triathlon
MOUNTAIN BIKING
1991-1997 NZ MTB Team – Pro/Elite XC
COACHING
Nathan can assist athletes with coaching and training.
Adventure Racing
Multisport
Kayaking / Surfski
XC Mountain Biking
Road Cycling
Mountain / Trail Running
Adventure
It’s about the Adventure
Adventure
It’s about the Adventure
The secret is in the adventure
Nathan has spent his time climbing, biking, paddling, and hiking his way through life and around the globe.
He's got heaps of experience in sea kayaking, having paddled in over 15 countries and taken on some gnarly trips in NZ, including 8 Cook Strait Crossings, 4 trips to Stewart Island, and unforgettable sea kayaking adventures in Fiordland. As a white water kayaker, he's tackled up to Class 5 rapids and even scored a couple of first descents.
When summer rolls around, he's stoked to go kiteboarding and surf ski paddling. He's a keen trail runner, hunter and loves hiking. Whitewater rafting, canoeing, and sea kayaking are epic activities that the Fa'avae crew enjoys as a family.
During the winter, you'll find him shredding the slopes on skis with his family or heading off-piste for some backcountry tours. He's also up for some easy mountaineering adventures.
He's into outrigger canoe racing, road cycling, mountain biking and regularly competes in orienteering events. He's done a fair bit of caving, and canyoning too. He's traveled the world, competing in 28 countries and passing through heaps more.
Nathan has been recognised as a Rotary New Zealand 'Paul Harris Fellow' for his outstanding community contributions.