Braden Currie performs during the Xterra Race in Rotorua, NZ on April 11, 2015.

WHEN BRADEN Currie hit the multisport scene no one quite knew what to expect. Coming from a farming background he entered the world of triathlon and racing late but has since gone on to prove his worth as a serious athlete and one who is as dedicated as any other out there.

His achievements so far include consistent podium finishes in Xterra, multisport, half-ironman and multi-day adventure races while he has also had a back-to-back win at the World Multisport Championships and a fifth place at the World Xterra Championships.

We were delighted to talk to Braden about transformation to a world beater and were enthused by the honesty and dedication that shone through from his answers. Read on to learn more about what it’s taken to get where he is today as well as his goals for the future.

Could you tell us about where you grew up in New Zealand and how it shaped the person you have become today?

I grew up in Methven on a large crop/sheep/cattle farm. I was always on the farm as a kid and started working pretty young. I spent most of my mornings and afternoons milking cows for the neighbours in high school. My dad was a hard worker and I think that installed some pretty important traits in me – that nothing comes easy and you have to work for what you want in life.

I could have easily become a farmer but my brother became interested in multisport and raced his first Speights Coast to Coast in 2005. I was overseas at the time but when I returned a year later I decided I would give it a crack. At that time I had very few obligations and so I could put everything into training. I didn’t know anything about how to train for a race like the Coast to Coast, but my general attitude was to train hard and train lots. I came third in the two-day that year after having two flats on the first ride.

After that I continued to do a few races here and there and won most of them, maybe all of them. My girlfriend and I had a baby not long after this time and we moved to Byron Bay and bought a mountain biking business. We worked pretty hard to make that a success and juggled it with being parents. So there was not much time for racing. But within 2 years we sold that business and I could put most of my energy back into racing.

My first race was a half-Ironman on the Gold Coast and I came third. I then did the Anaconda series in Australia and placed second overall to Richard Usher. At that time, Richard was at the top of his career and deemed to be unbeatable. So I tried to beat him and eventually I did. It took a year or two. Richard was pretty awesome to me and asked me to race with him and Elina in China. And this started my career in professional sport. My wife and family fully supported this and we went out on a limb to make it happen. But I was very lucky in my first few years and managed to have a few stellar years and establish myself within the sport.

Braden running – the discipline which he describes as his ‘weapon’.

Were you involved in sport from a young age and if so what were any particular successes you had?

I wasn’t much of an athlete when I was young. I did compete for NZ in the Junior World’s for snowboarding and enjoyed the competition aspect. My P.E teacher at age 14 got me into running and used to pick me up every morning at 6am to run with him. I won a few cross countries but nothing spectacular.

You rose quickly from ‘farm boy’ to beating world champions and being placed in races around the world. What allowed this transformation to take place and how hard did you have to work for it?

When we had our first baby, my partner Sally told me that she thought it was a blessing in disguise that I would have to take a few years playing it low key in the racing and multisport scene. She thought otherwise I would of blown myself up before I even got started. She might have been right. Having to support a family and having everything ride on the new business we created taught me a lot about what I could do as a person.

Once I got back into multisport, I knew that if I wanted to make it part of my life then I had to be the best. There wasn’t any room for being mediocre as Sally would of quickly told me that being a full time athlete and coming fifth, wasn’t going to cut it. She was hugely supportive of me and gave me a year with nothing to focus on except training. And I feel like I gave that year my all. This set me up and I think we are always both looking for ways that I can get faster, so the next four years after that have seen me get better and better.

I now have a great team including a mountain bike coach, who works with my normal coach Tim Brazier, a mentor, Sally as my manager and a PR Manager. Together we bring it together and make sure it all works. I am as dedicated as I have ever been and maybe more dedicated then ever.

This year has been a real eye opener as I have raced the best in the world in 70.3 half Ironman. And they are good, and there are lots of them. If I want to diversify into on road its going to take huge commitment but the challenge excites me. But for now I have my eyes set on the USA champs on the 19th of September and the World XTERRA champs on November 1. These have been my big goals for the year and this year has had it’s ups and downs. But the downs have made me stronger as an athlete and I hope to go into these two races stronger than ever.

Braden is currently focussing hard on his cycling.

What have been some of your biggest achievements and what are your own personal highlights of your career to date?

Winning my first Coast to Coast was one of the biggest highlights for me. Everything suddenly became possible. It was a dream and it became reality and I couldn’t quite believe it at the time.

This year I won NZ XTERRA champs and backed it up the next weekend by winning the ASIA Pacific XTERRA champs. I beat some good competition to do this and it really made me think that winning the World XTERRA’s was a possible reality. Only one kiwi has ever done this before and it was Hamish Carter, so I have big shoes to fill.

I also managed to win the NZ Long Distance Triathlon title this year from Cam Brown, who had owned it for ten years (I think). This was pretty huge for me as I had no idea whether I could compete against guys like him. It opened up another door and it’s something I might pursue with full commitment next year. But nothing has been decided on yet.

Braden Currie performs during the Xterra Race in Rotorua, NZ on April 11, 2015.

Which discipline do you have to work hardest at and where do you really excel?

Running has always been my weapon. Swimming was tough when I first started to get back into it. I got schooled in the US a few years ago when I tried to race triathlon and 70.3. But I put a lot into it and training with Nicky Samuels for awhile and now I feel really confident in my swimming ability.

I’m onto biking now. I can fend for myself on the hills but the flats are my weakness. I realised that I wasn’t making any improvements even though I thought I was putting a lot into the bike. That is the reason I asked David Plew to be my mountain bike coach. He is Anton Cooper’s coach and I am really enjoying his approach. Mountain Biking has become the dominant part of my training programme and I am riding more than I ever have. I am also working with a power metre for the first time and I am enjoying learning about how it works and seeing progress.

What are your ambitions for the coming year and beyond and what are you currently training for?

USA XTERRA Champs in five days time. I will be racing Josiah Middaugh who has been the USA Off-road champ for ten years. I won that title off him in May but this race to me is the real deal.

I then have XTERRA Worlds. Ruben Ruzafa has won this for the last few years and has not been beaten for 18 of his last races. It’s a big challenge and I won’t have raced him at all this year until the Worlds. But the course suits me. It has lots of climbing and I can put a few minutes on Ruben in the swim. So I am looking forward to seeing what I can do there.

Braden Currie wins the Xterra Race in Rotorua, NZ on April 11, 2015.

If you could sum up your philosophy on life in no more than 15 words what would those words be?

Fake it till you make it! This has been said a lot over the last few years. When I feel like I am in way over my head, I just pretend I am suppose to be there and that I am just as good as anyone there and I put all my focus into beating everyone around me, rather than doubting myself. It seems to work out.