A Lake Hāwea athlete’s life-long interest in multi-sport adventure has led him to explore the Wānaka origins of the sport: The Alpine Iron Man event.

In 1980, a collection of skiers, mountaineers and canoeist were helicoptered to End Peak, where they skied down until the snow ran out, ran downhill with skis strapped to steel-frame packs, and paddled leaky canoes through the freezing Motatapu River to the finish, “where they became the world’s first multisport athletes”, Matty Graham told the Wānaka App. 

“It was [a] tough, chaotic, and totally unique event that started what we now know as multi-sport and adventure racing.”

Matty said his early love of multi-sport grew from watching the Coast to Coast athletes from his childhood home on the West Coast.

A poster for the second Alpine Iron Man event. PHOTO: Supplied

A degree in physical education and many multi-sport adventures later, he took on the 40th Coast to Coast race wearing and using gear from 1983 (the first year of the event). His exploits are captured in ‘The Old School Coast to Coast’, filmed by Deane Parker and Dylan Gerschwitz.

Deane and Dylan are teaming up with Matty again for a new film about the Alpine Iron Man, the brainchild of Robin Judkins - who went on to create the Coast to Coast event.

“The Alpine Iron Man wasn’t just ahead of its time - it was completely outside of it,” Matty said.

“I think this is a piece of history that needs to be captured and a worthwhile story that needs to be told.” 

The event took place annually for a decade in different locations and courses around the lower South Island.

Wānaka’s Sandy Hazeldine at the start line of the 1980 Alpine Iron Man event. PHOTO: The Southland Times.

Now, more than 40 years later, Matty plans to head into the hills to retrace the original course and capture the story behind it. 

“We’re not trying to recreate the race - health and safety would never allow it,” he said.

“We’re trying to capture this piece of history that underpins all modern multisport and adventure races around the world. These sports have shaped my life to a great extent personally and professionally as I know they have for many others as well.” 

Matty said the planned documentary “aims to immerse viewers in the spirit of the Alpine Iron Man, through interviews with original participants, recreations of key segments, and investigate how this event was the catalyst for multisport and adventure racing around the globe”. 

The film will also celebrate an era “when rules were loose, people made things happen, and adventure was everywhere”, Matty said. 

The filmmakers have launched a Givealittle page inviting those who love multisport, adventure racing, mountain culture, and a good old kiwi yarn to chip in and be part of the journey back in time. 

All donations will support the film crew cost, archival work, and interviews of those who helped create this slice of Kiwi history, Matty said.