Tasman multisport dynamo Nathan Fa’avae reckons he’s paddling better than ever as he prepares for the gut-busting Yukon 1000 next month.
The world’s longest paddle race starts in northern Canada and follows the Yukon River through a thousand miles (1600kms) of remote wilderness to Alaska.
Nathan and long-time adventure racing teammate Sophie Hart, a Marlborough Sounds doctor, are returning as Team Furtuna Skin to defend the title they won in 2024.
And the pair expects they will have to paddle much faster than the six days and two hours they took two years ago to overcome the other 29 teams from around the globe.
“There is daylight 24 hours a day and we plan to paddle up to 18 of those. We have had four practice sessions together in the Marlborough Sounds so far as well as one paddle from Havelock to Nelson,” says the 54-year-old.
“The Yukon River is so big but the flow is fine. Summer will mean ice melts but the winds are the biggest worry. Our first goal is simply to finish,” declares the multiple world adventure racing champion.
And there is more at stake than just beating the odds again.
Nathan is using the Yukon 1000 to raise awareness and funds for the Fa’avae Foundation, a charitable fund established by his parents Jan and Phil to support the educational development and future opportunities of Pasifika youth in the Top of the South region.
His fundraising goal is to be sponsored for $10 per mile of the race with a target of raising $10,000.
“The race is temporary, but we are trying to create something that will last for generations,” concludes Nathan, who flies out to Canada early next month for the July 10 race start.
