More Than a Race – Filming a True Adventure Documentary in Fiordland, NZ
I’ve always been drawn to the deeper stories — the ones that stay with you. The ones that cut through adrenaline and arrive at something human, something real. So when I connected with the crew at Rab, known for making some of the best outdoor gear on the planet, the idea came up:
What if we followed a female-led team in one of the most demanding adventure races in the world?
Enter: the Adventure Racing World Championships, held in Fiordland, New Zealand — one of the most remote, wild landscapes on Earth. There are places in that national park that no human has likely ever set foot on. It’s raw. It’s beautiful. It’s unforgiving. Perfect.
The Shoot – Going All In as Director, DP, and Storyteller
Over five days, I tracked the team — Rab Wāhine — through valleys, rivers, mountains, snow, and deep bush. My role as Director of Photography, Director, and Editor meant I was leading the story both creatively and practically, every step of the way.
Filming conditions were brutal.
As a self-supported DP operating in remote wilderness terrain, I carried all my backup batteries and power supplies to avoid watching key moments unfold with a dead camera. Every single item of gear had to be waterproofed. The terrain moved between humid bush where you’re soaked with sweat, dense fog that bounced your headlamp right back into your face, and snow ascents that forced every step.
I shot most of the film handheld with a stripped-back Sony A1 + fast zoom lens setup — enough range for the action, light enough for 18-hour days, and also weather-sealed.
Sleep deprivation blurred the lines between decision-making, storytelling, and survival. But this is what I do. This is what I love.
A Story That Refused to Stick to the Script
The biggest creative lesson? Don’t fall in love with plan A.
Just days before the race started, the story pivoted hard — and then again. My job was to adapt in real time. To keep filming, keep directing, and keep believing there was still a cohesive narrative to shape. I had to trust that the deeper themes — resilience, team dynamics, personal drive — would emerge naturally. And they did.
After the race, I worked closely with Executive Producer Joe Murdie to build a four-act story arc from the footage. What we ended up with wasn’t the film we thought we’d make — it was better. More layered. More personal. More true.
Recognition, Awards, and Worldwide Distribution
The finished documentary was accepted into multiple film festivals, winning:
🏆 Best Documentary
🏆 Best Film
🏆 Outstanding Excellence
And it didn’t stop there.
The film aired on Sky TV during a full week of prime-time slots and has since been picked up by Amazon Prime and other global streaming platforms.
Adventure Filmmaking with Heart
This project represents the kind of work I live for – cinematic, challenging, and real.
It blended the physical demand of wilderness cinematography with the emotional weight of character-led documentary storytelling.
Being able to lead this as Director of Photography, Director, and Editor was a privilege – and a wild ride I’d do all over again.
In a world saturated with short-form hype, making space for deeper storytelling – with sweat, silence, and soul – is what drives me.
