Former Rotorua man takes on Australian Spartan TV show

Dan, Aaron and Jayden are Team Conquer. Photo/Supplied

Former Rotorua man Dan Fraser is part of Team Conquer, one of five Kiwi teams to have taken on our neighbours across the ditch in TV show Australian Spartan.

Spartan Race is a world-wide fitness race that pits teams against each other over obstacles engineered to challenge their ability to work together in a test of teamwork.

Australian Spartan starts this Sunday at 7pm on Channel 2.

Conquer is a Waikato-based team that sees Fraser join up with CrossFit mates Jayden Daniels and Aaron Traynor to take up the challenge.

The now Cambridge-based primary school teacher said rugby was his sport of choice at Rotorua Boys' High School but an introduction to CrossFit by his wife resulted in an almost obsession.

"I have to admit I was very anti-CrossFit," Fraser laughed. "I'd heard the rumours and agreed that everyone who took it on was a little strange – until I agreed to go along.

"I'm way too competitive and, once that had kicked in, the rest is history."

Part of Hamilton's CrossFit Taurus, Fraser met Daniels who he describes as a "classic Kiwi bro". Daniels knew Traynor and the three began a "bromance".

While at a CrossFit competition, Fraser saw an advertisement for Australian Spartan and mentally filed the details. Not long afterward, Daniels mentioned he had also seen the poster and thought it looked "epic".

"The whole thing about CrossFit is your ability to be able to turn up and meet any challenge which is the theory behind the Spartan Race, so we thought we'd test our ability."

Team Conquer flew to Auckland to take part in a fitness test before being accepted to take part.

"It was exciting right from the start. Once we knew we were in, we googled Spartan challenges to see what sort of obstacles might be put in the way and talked about the best method of overcoming each of them."

Filmed during the last week of the last school term, Fraser took time off and flew to Brisbane to take on Australian Spartan.

"Obviously we can't give too much away in the lead-up to the show airing, but I can say it was a classic experience and one I would do again given the chance. We got to meet some amazing people and do some incredible things – things I never would have had the opportunity to do if I hadn't entered the competition."

Fraser said with publicity starting to circulate about the show, the young charges he taught were aware he would be on TV.

"I'm not expecting too much of a ribbing from them, it's definitely more the rest of the staff I am worried about."

Fraser said his brother was also getting in on the ribbing action.

"He's started a Facebook group and is talking about an outdoor theatre to watch the show. He's also coming up with memes in readiness for Sunday."