JOIN OUR CREW
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES (12-20 MARCH 2027)
We have limited opportunities for energetic and enthusiastic people to join the event crew in support of our permanent/paid event staff, in several volunteer roles. In return for your time, all volunteers get a chance to follow the event first-hand, have lots of fun, get to ride much of the course, and you’ll meet a whole load of like-minded new friends in the process.
We’ll provide provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner if you need it, plenty of free beers, and transportation for you throughout the event – all you need to bring is lots of energy, a well-maintained bike & backcountry-suitable clothing (if your role demands it), a healthy team spirit and an appetite for adventure!
All volunteers should be prepared for early starts (07h00), and you will often finish late. An intense, yet fun & rewarding rewarding week that you won’t forget in a hurry! You’ll need to be with us full-time from Friday 12th March 2027 from 5pm for crew intro & safety briefing, training, and kit allocation.
For those who need it (eg traveling from overseas or from outside of the Nelson region), we can provide you with crew accommodation too. We can usually arrange car-shares and/or contribute towards fuel costs if you are travelling from within the South Island of NZ.
But let’s address the elephant in the room. If you are basically looking for a free entry to the event and nothing but good times and high fives with little real responsibility – you should probably just sign up for the race instead.
As a volunteer you’ll be here to perform an important role, but sometimes that might feel you are having less fun than the others. Suck it up, buttercup! Expect long days, and at times, it could get hectic. We’ll try our best to get you onto a heli, but there’s no guarantee* since this depends on the exact role we’ll need you to do.
*Returning crew get priority for the heli-drop roles.
There’ll also be plenty of high fives and good times by the way, we’re just trying to put off the free-loaders out there!.
If you’re serious about coming and are able to commit to the whole week, we’d love to hear from you – don’t hesitate to get in touch to find out more.
If you are local and available for only one day or less, but still willing to help – please do also sign up but be sure indicate this on the form. We may be grateful for your help with a bit of course marking or perhaps a feed station. (This still earns you a ticket to our legendary Deville’s afterparty!) However, we will always prioritise those who can join use the whole week, start to finish…so check your holiday schedule, and make it work – you won’t regret it!
Please complete our online form (via the button below) and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can (that might not be right away). Feel free to drop us a line to our Crew Manager, Gabi: info@nzmtbrally.com, if you haven’t heard back, to ask for an update
*depending on your role. On-bike Marshalls can ride at least 50% of the course each day, and at least 75% of the crew gets a Heli-ride, if they want one.
***PLEASE READ THE FULL INFO HERE INCLUDING ALL THE DETAILED ROLE DESCRIPTIONS BELOW, BEFORE APPLYING**
VOLUNTEER ROLES 2027
ON-BIKE ROAMING MARSHALL
You may take a position at a start and finish gate, but also you will help with signage / course marking, such as: Pre-ride special stage ahead of race and sweep the course behind the field of riders. Take down all course marking immediately after the racers have passed. Help with organisation and implementation of contingency plans in the case of accident / emergency / adverse weather / unplanned lift failure / competitor lost out on course. You will usually get the chance to ride about 50% of the course each day, in completing this role, as well as a ringside seat for at least one special stage per day, albeit in a responsible role.
Any of the following experience is especially relevant: MTB or Outdoor Guide, backcountry / mountain expeditions, adventure racing, PHEC or other Outdoor First Aid Training.
Hopefully it goes without saying that your bike skills and fitness need to be on-point. That means riding Grade 6 trails well within your comfort zone. If you have an e-bike, then this will be especially useful for this role.
DRIVER
Driving a minibus or 4×4, pulling a large bike trailer (prior trailer towing experience required). You’ll need to be a confident driver on unsealed roads. If you have a P-lisence, please do get in touch (paid roles potentially available).
Our preference is to recruit dedicated drivers happy to drive all week. (You’ll still get to ride the Heli-drop if you want to).
However, there’s a limited-choice 2nd option to share the driving role: driving one day, then riding one day as an on-bike marshall) and alternating like this all week, with another crew member.
You can indicate your preference on the form, but note that full time (all week) drivers will probably get priority when it comes to the crunch.
ON-BIKE MEDIC
If you’re a medic, hopefully we don’t need to explain what this involves. But you’ll need the same skills as an on-bike Marshall, plus be qualified (or be in training) as PHEC minimum (or equivalent). We are more interested in your strong skills on the bike and general outdoor / multi-sport / multi-day proven experience in remote conditions than we are in your skills in Open Heart Surgery or as a world-leading Oncologist. (Hint: Emergency paramedics, ED Doctors, or MTB guides / Ski Guides & Patrollers tend to fit, the bill perfectly!)
MEDIA
This is a tricky one. We’ve got limited media opportunities, and you’ll be working with some of NZ’s (and international) established and renowned talent. So the bar is set high. Please send us details / your portfolio and we’ll see what we can work out. We’re always keen to hear from experienced pros who are keen to contract to us, for filming & editing.
We also have a superb role for our social media content creation pre, during, and post event. This role will be unpaid, but you do get to ride most of the course and have an excellent time all week. But its not simply a free entry to the race. You’ve got an important job to do and we’ll expect quality output from you. Please send us examples of what you’ve done in the past. If you’re suited for this role, you’ll already know what we need without us having to spell it out! :-)
Please contact Ali@trailAddiction.com with your resumé, for paid media roles.
WHAT TO BRING
You’ll be out the mountain all day and enjoy the buzz of an active, ringside seat throughout.
You will start early and it can be very cold (maybe even below freezing, at altitude) before the sun rises, so bring warm clothes, and also lots of sunscreen and a cap to shade your face.
Please also bring a LARGE rucksack (min 30 Litres, with a bladder) to carry supplies such as your timing beacon or course marking, a packed lunch & warm jacket….plus water (one bottle is definitely not enough).
If you’re staying in crew accommodation, you’ll need a sleeping bag. Bring a battery bank to keep your phone topped up (absolutely essential at all times!) and we recommend ear plugs just in case you’re lumped in with a snorer!
