At Hillary Outdoors, there is nothing we love more than seeing new school teams join the Hillary Challenge journey for the first time. Watching students dive in, embrace the unknown, and give it their all is exactly what Hillary Challenge is about!

Last month, Long Bay College joined the Hillary Challenge North Island Regional in Rotorua to give the event a go. They set out not knowing they’d be in for a longer day than planned and spent an extra two hours out on the course.

Let’s pass it over to Long Bay College team member Lyla to share her experience.

Lyla’s and the Long Bay College Teams’ uncharted adventure

“We all really enjoyed our experience of the Hillary Challenge and learned so much about adventure racing and the outdoors. We went into the challenge with little to no experience in this type of event, but we made memories that will last a lifetime. 

After hopping on our bikes for the second stage, we made a few decisions that led us onto a trail that wasn’t exactly built for cycling. After about 10 minutes of pushing our bikes up increasingly steep terrain, we realised we might have taken a wrong turn, but by then, it was too late to turn back! 

It took us three hours to reach the end of that trail, pushing and carrying our bikes over various obstacles (the view was amazing, though I’m not sure it was worth the struggle!). Our excitement at reaching the top was short-lived when we realised the bike trails back down had been removed by forestry, meaning we had to follow the road all the way back. 

Even though we made it to the finish line two hours late, we finished with big smiles. Everyone in the team got to know each other so much better, and we learned the importance of bringing all the survival gear on the list! Next year we will definitely be coming back, although hopefully, we’ll actually get to ride our bikes instead of pushing them!” 

Resilience in Action 

The moment the team realised they were off course, they stopped, checked their bearings, and contacted our Events Manager, Darren, to let him know exactly where they were and what their return plan was. Their commitment to teamwork never wavered; they continued to prioritise each other’s wellbeing by taking breaks, layering up, and providing constant updates to ensure a safe return. 

When they arrived at the finish line, they were in high spirits, having handled the day’s unexpected challenges with impressive composure. Most importantly, they were quick to dive into reflection, sharing their learnings and discussing how they managed the many surprises. 

We are so proud of your effort, Long Bay College, especially working through and adapting when things didn’t go to plan. 

We look forward to seeing you back for Round 2 of the Hillary Challenge adventure next year! 

Want to get your school involved in the next Hillary Challenge? Click the link!