What a way to bow out.
Team Avaya — former Queenstowner Nathan Fa’avae, Sophie Hart, Stu Lynch and local Chris Forne — wrapped up two decades of racing by again winning New Zealand’s premier expedition race, GODZone, in Riverton on Monday night.
They crossed the finish line at 11.28pm, four days, eight hours and 45 minutes after starting the 560-kilometre course in Te Anau.
Fa’avae, 50, says it’s the closing chapter in his competitive career — ‘‘the reality is that it’s getting hard for me to keep up with a team like this’’.
He credits Hart, 41, Forne, 46, and Lynch, 45, who, as a team, have been dominating the sport since the early 2000s, initially as Team Seagate.
‘‘It has been an amazing time travelling and racing around the world with these guys on many adventures, but it’s time for a change for
me now,’’ he says.
Fa’avae’s had a remarkable career, spanning 40 expedition-length events all over the world, but says NZ’s his favourite place to race.
‘‘[That’s] why I have done so many GODZones and Southern Traverses, because the Southern Alps is such an incredible place to travel — you can’t beat this event for wilderness experiences.’’
Race director Warren Bates says Fa’avae’s been an ‘‘incredible servant’’ and amazing ambassador for the sport.
‘‘He is an outstanding athlete and strategist, and this team is probably the best to have ever raced the sport.
‘‘I think his retirement leaves a void for some one else to step up and fill.’’
Team No Idea, Will Hand and Amy Mannering (Nelson), Will Adlam (New Plymouth) and Shaun Palmer (Christchurch), came second, with Team Tiki Tour, Queenstown’s Tom Lucas and Eryn Cutler, Amberley’s George Lucas and Wellington’s Ali Wilson, in third.
