Steve Gurney is among the biggest athletes this nation has ever produced, and he’s a product of east Auckland’s Howick Faculty.
Gurney has gained the brutal Coast to Coast multisport race a report 9 occasions, he’s a nationwide champion downhill mountain biker, a kayaking champion, a bestselling writer, was named Canterbury Sportsperson of the 12 months in 1991 and 1998, was a finalist for Halberg Sportsman of the 12 months in 2002, and is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Benefit for companies to endurance sport.
So he was a becoming option to obtain Howick Faculty’s 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award at a current ceremony on the college attended by workers and pupils. Principal Dale Burden welcomed these in attendance by saying Gurney is considered one of his private function fashions.
“Once I first began educating in 1990, I believe that was the primary 12 months you gained the Coast to Coast.
“Since then I’ve adopted fairly intently what you’ve carried out over what’s been a improbable not solely sporting profession, however a profession the place you’ve devoted a lot of your life to giving again to others by means of your inspirational speeches, your capability to assist teams of individuals of their management struggles and subsequent steps, and I’ve actually appreciated the work you’ve carried out.
“It’s improbable to have you ever right here and it’s great our college students right here can see what’s potential with their lives.
“As an alumni you present a improbable function mannequin for everybody who’s right here at this time.”
After receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award, Gurney delivered a high-energy 30-minute discuss wherein he shared life classes from his profession, humorous tales and jokes, and inspired the scholars and workers to set and attempt to attain “massive, furry, audacious targets”.
He stated he likes journey racing as a result of nothing ever goes in line with plan, and in that manner it’s like actual life.
“The teachings you be taught from journey racing are good classes for resilience in life itself.”
Gurney stated when he was youthful he wasn’t good at sport and when taking part in bullrush in school nobody wished him on their group as he was small and gradual.
However he persevered, and when he took half in a 5km cross-country race whereas a pupil at Howick Faculty, he completed within the prime three.
“The lightbulb went on that I do have a bodily capability and that’s endurance sport. That’s after I began tramping and kayaking.”
Gurney stated he met the organiser of the primary Coast to Coast race and set a “BHAD”, a giant, furry, audacious aim – to win the race. He completed in twenty second place that first time, which he thought-about a failure, however didn’t hand over.
He doubled his coaching, to 55 hours per week, labored tougher than ever, and the subsequent 12 months he completed second, which he additionally considered failure. However once more, he didn’t hand over.
Gurney labored smarter and used his engineering qualification to adapt his gear together with by making his bicycle extra aerodynamic and his kayak sooner.
“After 5 makes an attempt I gained it. The message is: Is failure truly failure?
“What’s it as a substitute if it isn’t failure? It’s a chance, it’s classes, it’s studying, it’s suggestions.
“The definition of persistence and resilience is to strive once more, however don’t do the identical factor, strive one thing completely different, to get higher outcomes.”
