Heading into GODZONE country

Competitors in the 12^th chapter of the renowned GODZONE adventure race will, quite literally, be taking a step into the unknown as they prepare to negotiate the back blocks of Marlborough over the coming week.

Prior to the race briefing on Thursday, 27 November, team members in the iconic event will have no idea where they will start from and where the course is set to take them. However, no one will be under no illusions as to the intense physical challenges that lie ahead.

Some teams are better equipped than others to answer the multiple questions posed by such an event, including the race favourites.

Leading the charge will be New Zealand’s world champion adventure racers Chris Forne, Sophie Hart and Simone Maier, who will line up alongside new team member and late replacement Sam Clark, who has come in for regular team member Stu Lynch.

Together, Chris and Sophie, now a Marlborough resident, are unmatched at the event, with Chris having won ten GODZONE champion trophies and Sophie seven. The pair have also won multiple AR World Championships and Eco Challenge Fiji. Simone is a five-time Coast to Coast world champion and won GODZONE Chapter 8 alongside Chris in Canterbury.

“Without doubt, Team Rab are the team to beat,” says One NZ GODZONE race director Adam Fairmaid.

“They are all highly competent, skilled competitors who, over the years, have exceeded all expectations at the highest level of adventure racing globally. Chris’s navigational expertise is second to none, Sophie and Simone are the strongest female adventure racers to date, and no other team matches their experience and adventure racing knowledge.”

Linkwater-based Sophie says the fact they are competing on home turf, “is probably the main reason I am doing it to be fair”.

“I guess I thought the last one I did [in Fiordland] would be the last one, but enough time has passed and I felt the lure of it being in our backyard was too good not to do really.

“But this will definitely be my last one,” she says with a chuckle, “I need a new hobby.”

Although she is familiar with the Marlborough terrain, Sophie says that is unlikely to be a “massive home advantage for our team”.

“Chris is the navigator and he will go where he feels is the best route and I will trust him to do that, even if it not a route I have taken before.

“The main thing I am looking forward to is just, hopefully, seeing my kids around the course a bit, plus if we get out in the Sounds for some kayaking that will feel nice and familiar. And just the ease of racing from home, no travel and then straight home to bed afterwards, that’s the thing I am most looking forward to,” she added with a smile.

Another feature that attracted Sophie this time around is the fact her team will be comprised of two women and two men, as opposed to the usual three men, one woman structure.

“We decided to do it a bit differently this year, which I am also looking forward to.”

The teams will gather on Thursday, 27 November, for official registration at the Marlborough Events Centre, where the start location and 615km+ race course will be revealed.

There will be plenty of Marlborough interest, especially in the efforts of Team Isabel Marlborough – KLT Bayleys, comprising locals Naomi Whitehead, Dan Moore, Jeremy McKenzie, plus Nelson’s Dan Busch.

“They are a very competitive team with expert local knowledge, which will be of great advantage,” says the race director.

The race will feature two categories, the Pure and Pursuit. The Pure is for race veterans while the Pursuit, a slightly shorter course designed to give competitors a chance to complete it in the time allowed.

Racing in the Pursuit section will be the local combination of Sara Stocker, Josh Scott, Ian Martella and Todd Petheridge, under the Allan Scott banner.

Fellow Marlburians Kieran Hickman and Nat Gallant will also be involved, as part of separate teams.

Nelson Vets Gearshop teammates Brendan Hickman, Dave Quested, Sakkie Meyer and Rachel Baker bring seasoned GODZONE experience, with team captain Hickman, a Marlborough product, having won the Pursuit category at Chapter 5 in Tasman.

More about One NZ GODZONE

Dates: 27 November - 5 December 2025

Where: Marlborough

Course: The 615+ km course route remains a secret until the event starts

Teams of four in the Pure & Pursuit categories race 24/7 using a map and compass to go from checkpoint to checkpoint