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(BPhed, BSc)
Founder / Performance Coach / Head Honcho
I have been racing and adventuring for over 20 years. It all started back at Otago Uni when I brought my first mountain bike (the fully rigid type) to go exploring on the hills surrounding Dunedin. I then entered the 3 Peaks challenge (a 26km run) in Dunedin and it was during training for this that I was asked by a friend to join a team to enter the Coast to Coast. It was a big step and initially I wasn’t sure that I was up to it but I said yes and figured that I would sort how I was actually going to do it later…
After purchasing the bike, boat and all of the gear that goes with it I got stuck into training. Following a few months training I figured that if I was going to spend the money and enter I should just do the whole lot myself to save having to go back to do it again. However in that first year I placed 11th in the 2day and was hooked…
Since then I have raced at the pointy end of the longest day field, won the teams event, had a crack at adventure racing, kept up in A grade on the road bike, fallen off my mountain bike plenty of times and had fun doing it.
One of the reasons that I took up multisport and kayaking in the early days was that I was never much of a swimmer so a couple of years ago I had a crack at learning to swim (properly) and completed the Motatapu Xterra event. I am really proud of that achievement and enjoyed trying to master a new skill (although it was frustrating at times). I think as a coach that it is important to keep challenging yourself. Going back to being a beginner again was good for me as these experiences help me to relate to those that I am coaching.
My wife Tarsh and I have 4 kids – Nate, Bella, Lachie and Fletch who are between 11 and 5 years old. They are great fun and really keep me on my toes especially now as they are getting pretty quick and I am definitely in trouble if they gang up on me. I suspect that this will just get worse…
During the last 12 years I have while coaching and developing CP I have been teaching for the Southern Institute of Technology delivering the PT courses in Christchurch. In that time I received an award for outstanding coaching in multisport at the 2010 Canterbury Sports awards and in 2014 I was super proud to receive the Educator of the year at the NZ fitness awards.
Team CP is now my full time gig and I am really enjoying the variety of athletes that I work with and the business development that I get to do on a daily basis.
A background to TEAM CP
I started TEAM CP back in early 2007 when we arrive back from spending a couple of years overseas and those people that I had previously coached were still asking me to give them a hand. So wanting to make sure that I did it properly I started Complete Performance which has now evolved into TEAM CP. With my science background the idea behind Complete Performance was that I wanted to offer the same level of coaching service that an elite athlete would expect to those people aiming to complete an event for the first time. While that service is still the same over the years we have developed a great community of cool people that we coach and come along to our group sessions. We have rebranded to TEAM CP because we feel that it better reflects who we are. The element of Team is super important and we focus on people striving to be the best that they can be (whether that is completing the distance, competing against others or going faster than last time).
Why I love my job / sport:
I am privileged to work with a fantastic group of people at CP be it the other Coaches, or those that we coach. I love helping people be the best that they can be and I find it really satisfying when it all just clicks. Be it a simple skill on the bike, having a great training session or executing the perfect race plan to finish with a smile and a fist pump.
Recommended Event:
Any event that has helicopters buzzing overhead and that big event feel – Motatapu, Coast to Coast, Round Taupo or any adventure into the hills with a few friends.
Inspirational quote:
“Never take no for an answer, and never give up if you really believe in what you are doing and you’re really keen, then you will succeed. It’s as simple as that.”
Sir Peter Blake
Favourite recovery food:
Ice Cream…
