At Trailblaze, we believe that the heart of orienteering lies in the community that navigates its challenges, which is why we are proud to introduce our inaugural team of ambassadors. By partnering with these dedicated athletes, we aim to showcase the grit, strategy, and passion required to master the terrain while inspiring the next generation of navigators to find their own path. We are incredibly excited to follow their journeys across the league this season, and to kick things off, we sat down with them for a Q&A to learn what drives them when the compass is out and the clock is running.
The TrailBlaze Ambassadors are Felix Hunt, Zara Toes, Greg Flynn, and Christina Freeman.
1. When and how did you get into orienteering?
Felix: I started orienteering in Year 6 or 7 at primary school, through a program organised by Christina Freeman (another Trailblaze athlete!). I was hooked basically from the start, but it took a few years to gradually convince my parents to give up all of their weekends.
Zara: I started orienteering in 2018. My older sister, Sofia, was trying out the sport, and our family was inevitably dragged along to try too! Through schools and club orienteering, I was encouraged to keep attending events, and my confidence quickly grew.
Greg: 1995 at St John's College (Hamilton), orienteering was known in school thanks mainly to the Barr family. I was convinced to give it a go during orientation and I've been hooked ever since
Christina: Back in the late 90s, while at Waikato University, I flatted with Rachel Smith and Neil Kerrison in Hamilton. They encouraged me to attend a park event, and I was hooked. For a very long time, I was that runner getting passed by every orienteer that knew what they were doing on their way to a control – this actually still happens :)
2. What is the funniest thing that has happened to you in a race?
Felix: Back when I first started doing PAPO events I always looked up (and still do) to the legendary Chris Forne. One time, I remember running behind him in the forest for the first time, and as I was admiring him floating over the terrain, he suddenly completely disappeared. A couple of seconds later, he popped back up, turned around and said "ooop, there's a little hole there". I think the "little hole" was deeper than I was tall.
Greg: Can't think of anything during a race, but plenty during training, one being ending up in the bottom of a roadside soak pit while practising 'green' speed in a traffic light exercise, in front of everyone, of course!
Christina: Nationals 2019 Long Course, it took me an hour to find the first control……. I’m sure someone was running away with it ahead of me, cause otherwise where had it been all my life!!! Thanks to Ann and Matt Bixley for getting us back out on the Kuriheka map at Canterbury Champs. Great map, great adventure!
3. Do you have any rituals you do to prepare for a race?
Felix: As many people know, I swear by my Aunt Bettie's Creamed Rice an hour and 15 minutes before my start. A full can for a long, a half can for a middle or relay, and a quarter can for a sprint.
Zara: I always tie my shoelaces in a fancy braid taught to me by Anna Simkovics when she visited NZ from Austria. While I tie my shoes, it’s a good time to settle my nerves and bring my focus to my warm-up for the race. So far, it’s never come undone…
Greg: Always wet my orienteering shoes before putting them on (if it is not a sprint race), otherwise nothing superstitious per-say, I like to arrive at least an hour before my start to ensure I can get some good banter in while catching up with everyone.
Christina: It is hard to stick with rituals as a mum and a coordinator responsible for school-aged orienteers. If I am not needed as much at an event, I like to have lots of time to chill before I start, quietly get myself and my gear ready, then walk/run to the start area with a friend and chat.
4. What does a normal week of training look like?
Felix: I usually run six times a week, including a long run and a couple of interval sessions. I try to run on the hills as much as possible, and also do some strength training.
Greg: Trying to exercise consistently these days more than anything else with more mt biking and a bit of off road running, I try to get a longer session and an up-tempo session in at some stage during the week with easy days in between. Once I have some goal events set I'll look at specific sessions based on a macro plan, eg hill workouts or speed reps.
Christina: Training is whatever I can do, when I can do it. The only thing that is regular for me is 3 trips to the gym a week so I can stay strong and keep doing the things I love doing without falling apart. On other days I love riding my mountain bike, running, doing rogaines and heading out on day adventures with kids.
5. What are your goals for next year?
Felix: As a first-year senior, I don't really have any specific results goals. But I am aiming to keep improving my physical shape and hopefully gain some more international experience and WOC (World O Champs) in Italy and/or WUOC (World University O Champs) in Portugal.
Zara: My goals for next year are to represent New Zealand at JWOC in Sweden, as well as at the Australian Orienteering Champs (and Southern Cross Challenge). As I’m moving into W20E grade, all of the experience I can get at events and training camps is super important to achieving my best at trials and competitions!
Greg: Physical side is to improve my consistency of strength/conditioning work to help with the back issues I've had. Ticking off some of the ONZ coaching modules. Performance-wise, I like to keep these to myself, but Nationals is always a target.
Christina:
- Introduce another awesome bunch of primary-aged kids to navigation sports, including orienteering, in 2026 by continuing to facilitate school adventure race squads.
- Work with high schoolers, getting them into navigation sports by encouraging them to have a go at Kaikoura Adventure Race, Canterbury Adventure Race and Get2Go and Hillary Challenge, using orienteering to improve their navigation.
- Stay healthy, fit and injury free so I can keep doing as many orienteering events as I can get to.
6. How do you like connecting with the O community?
Felix: There's nothing better than a good event center. I happily hang out there for hours after a race.
Zara: I love the pre and post-race chats at events. The O community is always so welcoming, and there are always plenty of inspiring people who want to talk to you! Whether it’s giving advice to those new to the sport, chatting with elites about their overseas adventures, or discussing route choices with friends, the social side of orienteering is undoubtedly a factor that keeps me hooked.
Greg: For me, orienteering has always been an inclusive community, and I enjoy giving back where I can, in person. Through running the sport ident/tech side for OBOP, setting and controlling, and coaching. I've been trying to establish a common accommodation subsidisation policy for OBOP to get club members all staying at the same place for major events, to get more club members to these events and enable engagement across all members.
Christina: Being involved in the thick of things. I like to help plan events, I enjoy bringing a crowd to orienteering and other navigation sports events like adventure racing whenever I can, encouraging new people to get involved. I also love to catch up with the orienteering community at events all around the country.
7. What is your favourite map(s)?
Felix: I had an amazing time running on Crater Block last year. It's hard to say but that might be one of my favourites.
Zara: My favourite map has to be the Graz City Centre sprint map in Austria. It was amazing running around the intricate palace grounds on the hill, before dropping down into the busy city streets below. My favourite part however were the controls placed inside the tunnel which stretches under the palace - there was some intense multi-level mapping going on, but it was so cool running in the dark, underground!
Greg: Crater Block, Naseby, Just about anything in Woodhill or the Manawatu Coast (especially what were known as White Lightning, Otakanini Topu, Spaghetti Soup), Guardamar in Spain and some maps around Salo in Finland, where it is technical bare rock slabs, clean open forest and blueberries on tap.
Christina: It’s a close call between Flock Hill and Hogsback. I love running and navigating in native bush, but the rock cathedrals at Flock Hill are pretty spectacular.
As you can see, these athletes are an amazing bunch and we're sure they'd love to have a chat so feel free to ask them for any tips you might need!