Endless Summer

Working the Hemispheres

Sunday’s “furthest travelled” award must go to Vancouver brothers, Ken (left) and Ray (right) Faubert, although, obviously, they didn’t just pop down from Canada for the weekend.  Here, we might be starting to complain about this year's endless sunshine and the dust, dust, dust but certain persons regularly swap hemispheres to actively seek out that endless summer (or winter if they are into skiing and the like). Former local pro rider, Mason Phillips, did both the Canadian and NZ MX nationals  for several years.

Ken Faubert’s been in New Zealand for several months and competing in the NZ National Downhill Mountain Biking series while he’s been here. “I like to ride all year round”, he says, “and here I’m avoiding the Canadian winter.  There’s a lot of work in Christchurch so I worked and was based there. Now I’m just travelling around before heading home in March for my third summer in a row”.  

Downhill mountain biking may be his main interest but Ken (pictured at left) is also a keen MXer.  He first came to NZ in 2010 partly because Dan Sims, an ex-pat  ex MXer from NZ who rides for the same Vancouver downhill team as himself,  had told him about the great tracks to be found here. “I bought a KX250F off a friend to use during my stay and it’s been great”, Ken continues. “I was able to do the Summercross event in December, although, I must admit, the conditions were challenging.  I’ll sell the bike before I leave and hopefully won’t lose too much on it.”

Ken is currently sharing the bike with his brother Ray who is more recently arrived and is “just travelling”. 

“Our Dad was a traveller”, says Ray (pictured at left). “He used to talk about places he'd been and I think his tales have inspired us to go places too. It’s my first “long distance” trip and I’m looking forward to a month in Australia on my way back.”

Ray is really impressed by the number of tracks in NZ and they are trying out as many as possible. “It’s a great way to meet real NZers as opposed to the usual back-packing community.”

Their third sporting interest is surfing and, after their day at Maddix Park, both brothers are keen to hit the waves at Mount Maunganui, a mere 20 minutes drive away.

“We usually have to drive a few hours to get to the surf beaches and other tracks”, they say, “and we often make the trip south of the border into the U.S.A.”

(As the song goes “We don’t know how lucky we are”. The Bay of Plenty “tourist triangle” certainly has lots to offer the discerning outdoor enthusiast.)

Happy travelling guys and enjoy the rest of your time in New Zealand.