Latest News
Apr
11th
20:04Vet, farmer and athlete
Country Wide Magazine – April 2021 Taihape vet, farmer and family man Anthony Oswald finds adventure racing takes his mind off the everyday as well as being good fun. Annabelle Latz tracked him down to find out more. Multi day adventure racing means entirely removing yourself from society. Your entire focus is about getting to
Mar
14th
06:03Meet Martin, the GODZone trophy guy
He loves New Zealand so much, so bugger it, he’ll draw it. Meet Martin Rogers, you’ll probably be more familiar with his work than you realise, as he’s the man you can thank for the stunning logs of wood we call the GODZone trophies. It all started way back in 2012, just before Chapter 1
Mar
13th
01:03The Stuff Legends Are Made Of
The Legends Trophy went to Team Swazi (19) for GODZone Chapter 9 Rotorua. For each GODZone this Trophy is awarded by the race organisers to the team that, in the twilight of their sporting careers, show how it should be done. The Legends Trophy is open to both race categories. And true legends, as the
Mar
12th
13:03THAT HOMEWARD VIBE
The weather has turned, the sun is out and the last team – Unfinished Addiction (37) – at the back of the field, is slowly moving forward! Day eight of GODZone has a super positive vibe wherever you are on course. The finish line is humming, the music is playing and the Cargo brews and
Mar
12th
02:03Pushing through the puddles
Where’s Warren? Buying gumboots. Well, that’s fair. It was late afternoon of Day 7, down on the finish line at Waipa Hub. It was wet, very wet. Puddles everywhere. The rain falls hard and fast in Rotorua, all of a sudden. And then it’s gone. And then it comes back again. The rain in Rotorua is not
Mar
11th
09:03BACK END STRUGGLE ON THE KAIMANAWA RANGE
Day seven at GODZone and teams at the back of the field are taking the brunt of Chapter 9. With cold, wet weather socking in over the Kaimanawa ranges its been a very long 24 – 48 hours for some who are struggling to make and find their way across the 88km trek and down
Mar
10th
18:03TEAM ISPORT STRATEGIC TO PLACE
Former All Black Captain Richie McCaw has leveled up his performance at GODZone today to take out a second-place alongside his isport teammates, Coast to Coast champions Dougal Allan and Simone Maier, along with Theo Wordsworth. “I have to say it’s nice to get to the finish line – I was concerned that during that
Mar
10th
17:03Team isport Claim Second – Bates and Fairmaid Wrap Day Six
Event Director Warren Bates Wraps Day Six
Mar
10th
11:03AVAYA WIN FIFTH GODZONE AT CHAPTER 9 IN ROTORUA
Nathan Fa’avae, Chris Forne, Sophie Hart, and Stu Lynch of team Avaya clocked up their fifth win of the world’s largest expedition adventure race this morning when they pedalled across the GODZone finish line. The foursome arrived at Waipa Hub in the Redwoods forest south of Rotorua at am, after five days of adventure
Mar
10th
07:03GODZone Finish-line Countdown
Team Avaya is heading for the Redwoods and not too far from the GODZone Chapter 9 finish with some world-class MTB trails in the iconic forest; a fitting way to finish off GODZone Chapter 9. The team has been all action since starting the race nearly five days ago, and while it may come as
Mar
9th
23:03Tides of emotions
Emerald pool after emerald pool, trout, deer, and changing weather patterns. A scope out high over the Kaweka and Kaimanawa Ranges this morning brought into context just the magnificence of the area these GODZone Chapter 9 teams are gracing. Race Director Adam Fairmaid said it was interesting to see how spread out all the teams
Mar
9th
19:03Mar
9th
11:03Mar
8th
22:03All about feet and pace
GODZone Chapter 9 is not easing up, and neither is the pace nor the anticipation. In a ‘normal’ sport, one would say you could safely bet your bottom dollar that Avaya (56) will reach Waipa Hub in the Redwoods first, most probably on Wednesday morning. But as Race Director Adam Fairmaid says, adventure racing is
Mar
8th
22:03Mar
8th
15:03Mar
8th
09:03Mar
7th
21:03A sure shuffle for those chasing the leaders
Behind the current podium potentials there’s a few shifts going on. It looks like Ataraxia MACPAC (01) and Racer’s Edge – Powered by Torpedo 7 (21) are spending Monday evening and night taking turns in the fourth and fifth spots over the Te Iringa Track and Mohaka River. Both teams are very well respected by
Mar
7th
20:03Mar
7th
19:03Mar
7th
16:03RICHIE MCCAW BATTLES FOR SECOND PLACE AS GODZONE DESCENDS ONTO THE MOHAKA RIVER
RE; he is one tough cookie
Mar
7th
09:03Mar
6th
22:03You just have to believe
It’s at this stage of the race that doubt starts to creep in for some teams, as to whether they will make the cut off or not. Day Two has just about come to an end, with the top half of the field on the Stage 4 rogaine which takes them through the Whirinaki State
Mar
6th
20:03Mar
6th
18:03Mar
6th
16:03Mar
6th
11:03Mar
5th
22:03Mar
5th
21:03Mar
5th
16:03NATHAN FA’AVAE & RICHIE MCCAW JOCKEY FOR POLE POSITION ON ROTORUA’S ICONIC LAKES AS DAY ONE GODZONE UNFOLDS
Some showmanship from the top teams
Mar
5th
07:03Mar
4th
19:03Mar
4th
15:03ROTORUA MAYOR OFFERS WARM WELCOME TO GODZONE AS COURSE REVEALED TO COMPETITORS
RE: Richie ready to rumble
Mar
4th
06:03CHAPTER 9 OFFICIAL WELCOME & COMPETITOR BRIEFINGS
Welcome everyone to GODZone Chapter 9 in Rotorua. All competitors please see below an official welcome to the region from Rotorua Mayor Stevie Chadwick, the competitor briefing with Race Director Adam Fairmaid, the safety briefing with Wayne Allen, a general briefing with competitor liaison Keren McSkimming and a GODZone race patron Steve Gurney. Mayor Stevie
Mar
2nd
16:03Feb
26th
21:02Event Director Warren Bates talks Chapter 9 (AUDIO)
Almost time for another Chapter. North Island awaits.
Feb
19th
10:02Jan
7th
11:01GODZONE COMPETITORS PRIMED TO EXPERIENCE ROTORUA’S EXPANSIVE ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND
It's gonna be an epic in Rotorua
Nov
27th
11:11Sep
21st
11:09ROTORUA OFFERS A GLIMPSE INTO NATIVE NEW ZEALAND LIKE NO OTHER
How long do you think the Chapter 9 course is?
Sep
19th
07:09GODZONE RECEIVES FUNDING & MOVES TO SUPPORTED RACE FORMAT
NZ's iconic adventure race pivots to new format
May
3rd
18:05Apr
24th
10:04Apr
24th
09:04Mar
12th
12:03GODZONE CHAPTER 9 SHAPING UP TO BE MEGA ROTORUA EVENT AS TEAM LIST RELEASED
Who is racing Chapter 9?
Dec
2nd
09:12A1 NZ Series Winners Tiki Tour Gain Spot to GODZone
The Marokopa Munter held in New Zealand’s Central Plateau last week bought good results for high profile adventure racing team Tiki Tour who took out the event and gained top points to claim victory in the 2019 A1 Series and the coveted prize of a GODZone Chapter 9 team entry. Tiki Tour team members racing
Nov
19th
10:11Rotorua Competitors Step up to GODZone including NZ Olympic Kayaker Mike Dawson
New Zealand’s iconic expedition length adventure race GODZone put the ‘Sold Out’ sign up just one day after opening entries back in September and has now confirmed one of the largest fields will line up in Rotorua next November. The nine-day event gets underway in 12 months in Rotorua from the 19th – 28th of
Nov
2nd
12:11GODZone Attracts More International Teams
New Zealand is experiencing a growth in adventure racing with the world’s largest expedition race, GODZone, leading the charge. GODZone Chapter 9, to be held in Rotorua in 2020, sold out in less than 24 hours last month, notching up another win for the prestigious adventure racing event. Of the more than 360 competitors confirmed
Oct
23rd
08:10GODZone Attracts More International Teams to New Zealand
Everyone wants to race in the home of the sport
Sep
2nd
10:09Sep
1st
08:09Aug
20th
17:08Aug
10th
07:08May
17th
09:05Mar
19th
10:03Mar
10th
09:03Mar
9th
23:03Mar
9th
17:03Mar
9th
07:03Feb
20th
10:02Jan
31st
09:01Nov
12th
10:11A1 Series Winners Eye GODZone Chapter 8
Australian adventure racing team Thought Sports recently won the Adventure 1 Series in Australia for 2018 and an entry to race at GODZone Chapter 8. Team captain Rob Preston talks to us about the teams goals and aspirations for racing in New Zealand. What are your team goals for Chapter 8? We would like to
Oct
30th
11:10NEW ZEALAND’S PREMIERE FREEZE DRIED FOOD CO BACKS GODZONE
Competitors in the world’s largest expedition adventure race, GODZone, will be well fed during Chapter 8 of the event with Back Country Cuisine coming on board to support the teams. The pioneering freeze dried meal business is backing New Zealand’s premier adventure race being held in Canterbury from the 10th – 17th March 2019. Based
Jul
10th
11:07Jul
1st
08:07Jun
24th
10:06IAN EDMOND TALKS TEAMS, SKILLS & CANTERBURY’S ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND
Any hints on where the Chapter 8 course will go?
Jun
15th
17:06May
31st
15:05May
18th
09:05Mar
17th
11:03Mar
11th
12:03Mar
10th
11:03Thats a Wrap
The last teams are across the GODZone finish line in Te Anau. Team 51 Nothing Ventured were the first to arrive and welcomed by an enthusiastic waiting crowd of friends, families and locals who had been on tenterhooks for the last 24 hours. Balloons, children, streamers, bubbles, laughter and looks of relief were the order
Mar
10th
08:03Mar
10th
08:03Mar
9th
22:03Mar
9th
22:03Mar
9th
21:03Mar
9th
13:03Mar
9th
07:03Lake Herries Delivers Magic
The Kepler Mountains have been the focal point for the last several days of racing where teams have moved between Fiordlands two great lakes – Manapouri and Te Anau. The mountains make up much of the northern shore of Manapouri and the South Fiord of Lake Te Anau. Hidden at the top of the trek
Mar
9th
07:038th Day of Race
As the 8th day of race kicks in its clear teams have discovered expedition racing at GODZone provides real adventure and many days on their feet. Over half of the 92 teams that started last Thursday have arrived at the finish line in Te Anau but there are still plenty more to arrive. All teams
Mar
8th
09:03Mar
8th
09:03Mar
8th
09:03An Early Morning Flotilla
There was a tight group of 3 Pursuit teams eager to head off on their last stage of the race this morning from Brod Bay to the finish line. Having been dark zoned off the lake last night the teams had caught up on sleep and paddled across a milky calm lake to an early
Mar
7th
22:03Mar
7th
22:03Mar
7th
21:03Mar
7th
18:03Dark Zones & Cut Off’s looming
Dark Zones Dark zones kick in tonight on Lake Te Anau. This will affect Pursuit and short course teams paddling from Brod Bay to the finish line. They will be required to stop paddling at 9pm and camp or stay in TA7. Teams will receive time credits and be restarted in the morning at five-minute
Mar
7th
09:03Mar
7th
08:03Mar
7th
07:03Mar
7th
07:03Mar
7th
01:03Mar
7th
01:03Mar
7th
00:03Mar
6th
22:03Mar
6th
16:03Mar
6th
16:03Mar
6th
15:03Mar
6th
14:03Mar
6th
11:03Directors Update
Busy day five with finish line underway and teams still trekking stage 3. Here is an update from the race directors Warren Bates and Adam Fairmaid…