Kiwi endurance athlete Braden Currie and teammate Josiah Middaugh have won the Red Bull Defiance two-day multisport race around Wanaka.
Things were challenging on day two with freezing temperatures bringing snow to the mountains of Wanaka.
It forced a number of the 66 teams competing to pull out of the race, but that didn't stop Currie and Middaugh completing the final day in less than four hours.
"That kind of racing to me is what it's all about. It was one of the coolest experiences of my life," said Currie.
"I don't think I've ever raced in such bad weather conditions. When we hit the top of that mountain bike ride it was snowing, it was consistent headwind - it was freezing cold."
Currie's team-mate Middaugh is the 2015 World XTERRA Champion, and no stranger to an off-road battle.
"I came a long way to this race and I know I wasn't coming here for a cake walk," he said.
"I was coming here for a big challenge and it delivered. It was epic out there, everything was thrown at us."
Currie and Middaugh completed the two day event in a final time of 10 hours, 22 minutes and 19 seconds.
Currie's next focus is reclaiming the Coast-to-Coast title in just two weeks' time.
Newshub.
