Nathan Fa’avae returns to the Dark Zone — over 100 episodes after his first appearance as guest #50. A seven-time adventure racing world champion with Seagate and Avaya, Nathan officially stepped back from traditional AR in 2023, not to slow down but to redirect: growing youth and women’s adventure racing in New Zealand through his events company, and chasing ultra-endurance paddling with longtime racing teammate Sophie Hart.
In ten days, they head back to the Yukon River for their second attempt at the Yukon 1000, the longest kayak race in the world, after taking the win — and the second-fastest time ever — in 2024. Nathan talks candidly about why this retirement stuck when earlier ones didn’t, the outdoor-education philosophy he and his wife Jodie built their family around, and his advice for anyone trying to break into adventure racing.
He also opens up about a small moment with Sophie mid-race that’s stuck with him ever since, and shares how listeners can support his $10-a-mile fundraiser for his family’s foundation supporting Pacific Island youth in New Zealand.
Shownotes:
$10 Per Mile Donation Page – https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/httpsnathanfaavaenzfaavaefund
The Yukon 1000 – https://www.yukon1000.org/
The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast 