017: Kevin Hodder - Life is not a Spectator Sport

Tales of Toughness

For this episode, we’re going to talk about adventures, roles, and behind the scenes of an Eco-Challenge. Our guest is Kevin Hodder which is a race director, will give us more information on how he got into that role and how they manage all of the things for the Eco-Challenge.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• How Kevin got his way into an adventurous lifestyle and job
• How did Kevin get into Eco-Challenge?
• Why has Kevin gone through this avenue?
• His Role
• Philosophy of course creation
• How to get into Adventure race management

[0:50] Kevin says that it started with their parents. His dad was a field geologist and started inviting Kevin to come along. And so they have adventures together, principally for his father’s work but also part of Kevin growing up.

[2:44] At the time where there was a registration for the Eco challenge in their town, Kevin is working as a Mountain Guide. The race organization was looking for a mountain guide that would both work on the race and guide the camera crews into more adventurous parts. Kevin got a 3-week job working as a guide.

[3:42] Then he got a call asking if he could work race management, accepted it, and instantly grab the opportunity. He worked for 11 years, in 5 different countries and 4 different productions.

[5:52] Kevin said that he always liked events and competitions. He likes working on things that are project-based and be involved in something that is exciting.

[8:49] They went and walked and paddled and grind, climbed the entire racecourse in Fiji. For Kevin, that’s one of the things that he takes a lot of pride in. That he personally travel every inch of that course in the same capacity, carrying the same load as the athletes.

[12:38] Kevin takes on getting the permit for both filming and for racing. And Everyone had to give their consent to allow them to go through, and other things like the coast guard, ministry of transportation. It’s a long process that takes 9-10 months.

[16:57] As a participant in events and races and sports, what Kevin look for in a race director is somebody that is as enthusiastic about their race as the most enthusiastic participant.

‘My job is trying to give you success and power you information, motivation, to have an amazing race experience” said Kevin.

[19:00] During the course design phase, Kevin constantly think of the questions like, Is this reasonable? Is this too much? Is this too easy or should we at this stage get them off their feet because they have been trudging for 70 kilometers by this point? So that’s the process.

[23:15] That’s eco-challenge. You can’t have this plan. Both on how you’re going to manage the race or how you can raise the race.

[28:23] And that was a real challenge both to educate the crew and educate all of the teams that yes, you are going to Fiji, a beautiful tropical island, but the risk of hypothermia is going to be high.

[34:13] You look at your experience, you have this amazing 6-month journey. During that 6 month journey, you learned all these things, skills, increase your health and your endurance through your physical training, you learn a lot about yourself.

[37:32] One advice that Kevin give young people a lot is that you’ve got to have this third thing in your life. That third passion.

[44:33] The outdoors doesn’t generally present a gender specificity. Our culture and our mindset and how we’re raised in communities can kind of dictate gender specificity.

[47:08] One great way to do it, the path that Kevin follow is to become a certified guide. That’s a way that gives potential employers the assurance that you have a certain amount of skills. That certification should get you the interview and that you should get yourself the job.

Start by volunteering at races in your local community or your local country.

Kevin also said that they’re always looking for volunteers. So show yourself as the great assets that can expand your future.

Key Quotes:

[32:19] “That’s part of adventure racing really is, getting to know yourself and your abilities and what you do well, what you struggle at.”

[39:18] “Adventure is really a state of mind.”

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EPISODE CREDITS:

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