Latest News

Kelsi Parker of Team Trek’n Travel is upbeat about her teams journey to One NZ GODZONE Chapter 12. The team has been out and about on training missions and are taking their preparation seriously for what will be a significant challenge ahead.We went behind the scenes with Kelsi to find out more.

What attracted you to race at One NZ GODZONE Chapter 12?
Having raced the previous three chapters of GODZONE, I’d quietly tucked away my compass, thinking that part of my journey was complete when the race hit pause. But when Carla, my friend and colleague, mentioned its return during a casual chat at work, it reignited something deep inside me. The thrill, the challenge, the connection. Chapter 12 stood out not only for its spectacular new setting, but for the extraordinary opportunity to race as an all-female team. I’m fiercely passionate about empowering women in adventure sport, and there’s no greater way to prove what’s possible than tackling one of the world’s toughest races shoulder to shoulder with friends who once believed it was beyond their reach.

Who are your Chapter 12 teammates (have you raced together before) and what are you all looking forward to the most?
Our Chapter 12 team brings together a group of first-timers to expedition-length adventure racing, each with her own unique strengths and story. Carla Johl, who works alongside me at HPSNZ as a performance life coach, supports Olympic athletes through the ups and downs of sport and life—and she’s also a skilled hockey player and coach. Alex Thornton is an accountant and ultra runner who’s already conquered several endurance races and was ready to try something new and even more challenging. Millie Johnston, our South Island local, is a scientific content writer with a real passion for adventure, especially when it comes to paddling. And I’m a sports physiotherapist with the NZ Olympic cycling team who rediscovered adventure racing through my original team ‘Uncomfortably Numb’ after injuries and lockdowns brought my Olympic rowing career to a sudden stop. We’re all looking forward to stepping into the unknown together, supporting one another, and seeing what we’re capable of.

What do you expect the Marlborough course to offer in terms of a layered adventure?
We’re hoping the Marlborough course gives us a real taste of the region’s natural diversity—from remote coastal inlets to rugged alpine terrain. There’s something special about the challenge of tackling wild white water one day, then emerging out into the calm beauty of untouched bays in the sounds. And of course, there’s the reward that comes with climbing into the high country—the kind of effort that earns you a view. It feels like the course will offer many layers of physical, emotional, and environmental exploration, and we’re excited to see how it unfolds.

How many times have you raced at One NZ GODZONE before (which chapters)?
I’ve had the privilege of racing three GODZONE chapters so far, starting with Chapter 9 right in my own backyard in Rotorua, as part of team ‘Uncomfortably Numb.’ That race sparked some interest in the people around me, so my partner and a few close friends were keen to join me for Chapters 10 and 11 down south. For Chapter 10, we raced as team ‘Waterboy,’ raising over $5,000 for the Waterboy Foundation—a cause close to our hearts. Our final chapter together was as ‘Trek’n Travel,’ named in honour of our biggest supporter, Colin, who runs the beloved independent outdoors store by the same name on Hamilton’s main street. Across all three races, we competed in Pursuit due to the high costs associated with packrafting, but were still challenged by all three courses—finishing with two second-place results and a third.

What do you personally find the most challenging about AR?
Keeping my feet happy and healthy… I’ve struggled big time after the longer (wet) treks with some of my previous footwear choices and not addressing hot spots earlier, which then ends in me paying a hefty price with blisters and infected wounds!

What is the one thing you like to carry in your pack or that your support crew have to keep the team in their happy place?
In the pack is always a stash of caffeine gum, especially for the long paddle or bike stages through the night! Sometimes the hardest and most dangerous thing for a team is falling asleep in the wrong place and at the wrong time, so a hit of caffeine and something to chew on is the best way to kick start the energy levels to get you to your next nap.

Best GODZONE memory to date?
There were so many parts of each chapter that I love to look back on so I’ll need to highlight one from each: Ch9 (Rotorua) was the elation when we finally got when we stumbled down to Waipakihi hut fron Junction top after spending a big two days in the Kaimanawas. Ch10 (Traverse) has to be popping out of the bush up at Park Pass to be one of the first teams to meet the brave marshall at the checkpoint up on that saddle. Ch11 (Fiordland) stole the show with the first dawn of the race showing off a stunning Mt Titiroa sunrise for us with a light dusting of snow to top it off!