GET TO KNOW...TEAM CHECKPOINT ZERO

Photo: Poby/Amazon Studios

Welcome to our series of interviews with American adventure racing teams who participated in the World's Toughest Race Eco-Challenge: Fiji! This 11-day adventure race took place in September 2019 and will premiere on Amazon Prime on August 14th, 2020. Check out USARA's dedicated Eco-Challenge: Fiji page for interviews from other teams and additional material concerning the race!

Please introduce yourself!
I am Shane Hagerman, and we are team Checkpoint Zero. I live in the mountains of North Georgia, and have a consulting business.

What was your adventure racing experience prior to Eco-Challenge: Fiji? Have you participated in previous Eco-Challenges or other adventure races? 
Everyone one our team has been competing in adventure races for 10-15 years. Prior Eco-Challenges were the races that inspired us, but none of us had raced in one before.  We have all raced 50-100+ races in the US and internationally.

How did your team come together, and how did you train for Eco-Challenge: Fiji?
We have been racing against and with each other for over a decade. We did some joint training on ropes, climbing and SUP's before the race.

What were you most looking forward to at Eco-Challenge: Fiji, and what scared you the most?
I was most looking forward to being a part of the iconic Eco-Challenge experience, and immersing ourselves in the Fijian culture. I think I was most scared of letting my team down and/or getting hurt.

What was your favorite piece of gear and/or clothing and/or food?
I love my Cannondale Scalpel full suspension bike. 

Photo credit: Solomon/Amazon Studios

Describe a favorite moment of Eco-Challenge: Fiji, or one where you suffered the most.
I loved being out on the clear blue waters that surround Fiji. Sun in your face, salt water spray...wow!

After Eco-Challenge: Fiji, would you do another adventure race? Would you do the Eco-Challenge again?
Heck yes, and yes!!!

What internal struggles did you experience during Eco-Challenge: Fiji? Did you experience any moments of self-reflection and/or growth?
Races are a great synopsis of life. There are all sorts of things that affect you, and you have to figure out what you can influence and what you have to live with. 

What was re-entry into civilization like, both after the finish line in Fiji and back in your home country?
It was a shift from constantly being focused on moving to being able to just sit still. At first, I felt as if I should be doing something.

How would you like fans to interpret your participation in Eco-Challenge: Fiji? Did you set out to inspire another group of people and do you think you accomplished that?
Eco-Challenge: Fiji was everything it was hyped up to be. It gave me ample opportunities to push myself to new physical and emotional limits. I hope everyone is inspired by Eco-Challenge: Fiji. From the views, to the people to the challenges of the race course, it provided an opportunity to excel through perseverance. 

Stay tuned for more from USARA! Visit www.usara.com for more information on adventure racing in the United States.