Bear Grylls’ Eco-Challenge: World’s Toughest Race winner Nathan Fa’avae talks teamwork and the pros and cons of TV fame in adventure racing
- Nathan Fa’avae leads New Zealand to victory on Amazon Prime’s adventure race series following a 670km race in Fiji
As Nathan Fa’avae burst over the finish line with his New Zealand team to win the Eco-Challenge in Fiji, he also burst into the public’s eye on the Amazon Prime show “The World’s Toughest Race”, hosted by Bear Grylls. One of the stars of the adventure racing world, Fa’avae and his team had to draw on their experience so the filming did not get to them.
“Sometimes it’s a good thing, there’s a positive side to it, other times it’s a big of a negative,” said Fa’avae, 48, adding that they had a camera crew with them most of the time as one of the feature teams and leaders.
Adventure racing is a multi-discipline sport. It takes place over several days and teams are expected to run, raft, hike, kayak, abseil, swim and even horse ride. The Eco-Challenge was 670km through dense and humid jungle.
“Sometimes it can be nice to have a cameraman, you essentially become a five-person team,” Fa’avae said. “It can be beneficial if we’re tired and sleepy and you get a new camera person who comes with us for hours, you can chat with them.”
“Other times you just want to be alone and try to retain that isolated wilderness experience, which can be difficult when there is a helicopter overhead, or every time you try to speak there’s a camera in your face.”
