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, 54, lives in Tasman Bay near Nelson with his wife Jodie. A lifelong adventure enthusiast, he is one of New Zealand’s most respected figures in adventure racing, captaining the world’s most successful team and being appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2023.
Nathan is a professional outdoor consultant specialising in team-building experiences, sporting events, and adventure racing. He founded the iconic Spring Challenge women’s adventure race and is known for his expertise in leadership, logistics, and safety. While his background is rooted in elite sport, his core career is in outdoor education and event production.
After beginning in Physical Education, Nathan shifted to outdoor leadership, working as a sea kayak guide in Abel Tasman National Park. He and Jodie later owned and operated Kiwi Kayaks, earning a New Zealand Small Business Award, before both becoming instructors at the NZ Outward Bound School.
Through his company, Ten Events Ltd, Nathan delivers high-quality commercial events and consultancy, including tourism strategy work and corporate team-building programmes based on adventure racing principles.
With a strong focus on safety and well-tested systems, Nathan consistently delivers professional, well-executed outdoor experiences that leave a lasting impact.
ENTERPRISE
Director Ten Events Ltd
Founder Real Meals
Director Fa’avae Foundation
BOOK
‘Everyone has a story to tell, this is mine, I hope you enjoy it.’
Highlights
Sporting Highlights
Highlights
Sporting Highlights
Sporting Highlights
2026
1st Clutha Classic - Lake to Lake
1st team Coast to Coast
1st Yukon1000 (new race record)
2025
2nd Surfski Nationals Championships 50+
1st SLMC Winter Kayak Series
2nd Waimakariri River Classic
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 much of his life climbing, biking, paddling, skiing and hiking his way around New Zealand and the globe.
He has extensive sea kayaking experience, having paddled in more than 15 countries and completed some significant journeys in New Zealand, including nine Cook Strait crossings, four trips to Stewart Island, and numerous adventures through the remote waters of Fiordland. As a whitewater kayaker, he has paddled rivers up to Class 5 and notched up a couple of first descents along the way.
When summer rolls around, Nathan enjoys kiteboarding, surf ski paddling, trail running, hunting and hiking. Whitewater rafting, canoeing and sea kayaking are also favourite activities for the Fa’avae family, who have shared plenty of adventures together over the years.
In winter, you'll usually find Nathan skiing with his family or heading into the backcountry for ski touring adventures. He enjoys exploring the alpine environment.
His other sporting interests include mountain biking and orienteering, along with plenty of experience in caving and canyoning. Adventure racing has taken him around the world, competing in more than 30 countries and exploring some of the planet's wildest and most remote places.
Beyond sport and adventure, Nathan has been recognised for his contribution to the community and was named a Rotary New Zealand Paul Harris Fellow for his outstanding community service.