The multiple adventure racing world cup champion Nathan Fa'avae will put his body to the test in a new enviroment today as part on the Niue Rockman Series.
The 43 year old competed in his first endurance triathlon when he was 17 and today will contest the 41km Rockman triathlon for the first time.
New Zealand endurance athlete Nathan Fa'avae. Photo: nathanfaavae.co.nz
Fa'avae is the ambassador for the Rockman Challenge, which is now in its 5th year.
"For the people who wish to they can actually be up here for a bit longer: there was a mountain-bike event, a running event and a swimming event. I did the mountain-biking event on Monday (local time) and then Thursday is the triathlon and the duathlon, where you combine all of them, and that's where some people are just purely focused on that."
Runners during the Niue Rockman Series. Photo: Niue Tourism Office
Nathan Fa'avae is taking part in the triathlon race and said, amid the hard work, he was enjoying his new surroundings.
"I've been doing a lot of international events for quite some time now - probably coming up to 20 years - and I think any event you travel to it's the country and the culture that makes it special, so that's probably a big part of my interest in being up here is exploring essentially a new country and learning a bit more about the culture up here as well," he said.
Swimmers during the Niue Rockman Series. Photo: Niue Tourism Office
The Rockman Challenge has drawn more than 20 competitors from four countries, including Australia and New Zealand.
"For New Zealanders and probably Australians as well the Pacific Islands are specifically a holiday destination. I guess a lot of people want to go away and have an active holiday where they go away and relax and recharge and have some cheap sunshine but at the end of the day they want to feel like they've got out and done things as well."
Nathan Fa'avae will return to Niue next month for the Round the Rock and Rally of the Rock bike races.