King of the Mountain

14/01/2026

🏔️ THE BAR HAS BEEN SET 🏔️

The 2026 King of the Mountain was the first chapter in the No Code Events era - and with that, something new was born…

✨ AGE GROUP COURSE RECORDS ✨

Our very clever website wizard, Balāzs at Barefoot Web Design has locked in the Top 3 from every age group on the site - and from here on in, the winning time in each age group now stands as the official course record.

From this year forward:
• Beat the record
• Get your name + time immortalised on the website
• Take home a Course Record keepsake at prizegiving

No filters. No fluff.
Just you, the mountain, and the clock.

Think you’ve got what it takes to knock one off?
We’ll see you on the start line in 2027 😉

www.kompauanui.co.nz

04/01/2026

Churrrr…that’s a wrap, Pāuanui. 🖤👑

What a day.
What a mountain.
What a community.

The 2026 King of the Mountain was an absolute weapon of an event - and it doesn’t happen without people.
Our runners who dug deep.
Our volunteers who showed up early and stayed late.
Our sponsors & supportes - Paradise Gym Pauanui, Pauanui Takeaways, Clean Collective, Chilled Edge Photography and Tailwind Nutrition NZ - who backed the vision.
And the legends of Pāuanui who once again welcomed us with open arms.

Putting this event together is always a labour of love - but seeing smiles like this charging down the finish chute makes every late night, every spreadsheet, every trail reccy 100% worth it.

Massive aroha from Sara and Mark for being part of the journey.
This one will stick with us.

Now…no rest for the wicked.
We’re flicking the switch straight into Pauanui Trail Epic mode - coming in hot on Saturday 14 March 2026.
If you loved the vibes, the trails, and the challenge…we’d love to see you back on the line.

👉 www.pauanuitrailepic.co.nz

Until next time.
No Code Events marches on 💥🌿

02/01/2026

02/01/2026

That thing we all did…

We woke up early.
Pinned a number on.
Stood on the start line pretending we weren’t nervous.

Then 194 of us pointed uphill and sent it.

Roots grabbed.
Lungs burned.
Legs questioned every life choice.

And somewhere between the South End and the summit, we all did that thing —
dug deep, shut the noise out, and kept moving forward.

Sara’s stitched together a ripper reel capturing the pre and post-finish smiles from the 2026 King of the Mountain.
If you were there, you’ll feel it.
If you weren’t…this is the one you’ll regret missing.

Pāuanui turned it on.
The people showed up.
The mountain did what it always does.

👑⛰️

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTBqXRFkwrn/?igsh=MXBnY2lsdnpvOTB1dg==

01/01/2026

WE’RE ON. TOMORROW. 🏔️

The course is set.
The trail is calling.
The maunga is waiting.

Whether you’re here to race, grind, jog, hike or just soak it all in — tomorrow’s about getting outside, giving it a crack, and sharing the mountain with good humans.

Early start. Big smiles.
Dirt on the shoes. Salt in the air.
King. Queen. Or just bloody proud finisher.

See you at the Surf Club.
Bring the grit. Bring the vibes.
Let’s do this. 🤍

Still on the fence? There’s time.
Jump online and lock it in 👉 www.kompauanui.co.nz

30/12/2025

LEGENDS WALK AMONG US (usually carrying loppers).

Last week, without a word, without being asked, and without any expectation of thanks — local legend, Ian Hancock quietly headed up the Cave Bay trail and cleared it bottom to top.

That was a job I fully intended on doing myself in the lead-up to event day…but Ian saw something that needed doing and just cracked on.

That’s the sort of bloke he is.

Ian loves seeing people out there — moving, sweating, hurting (a bit), and soaking up our ridiculously good backyard. He’s also a weapon of an athlete himself, so he gets it. He knows that something as simple as being able to clearly see where you’re landing your feet can make all the difference to everyone's race day experience.

Ian will absolutely hate this post. He’s not about fuss, credit, or pats on the back.
But events like King of the Mountain don’t happen without people like him quietly doing good mahi behind the scenes.

So we’re saying it anyway.

Ian — you’re a ripper of a human.
And we’re bloody grateful.

www.kompauanui.co.nz

28/12/2025

POV: Mt Pāuanui absolutely ruins you.

You didn’t “run” it.
You survived it.

Lungs on fire.
Legs full of concrete.
Ego stripped naked and left on the climb somewhere.

Not a big mountain — just steep enough to humble you, and rude enough to enjoy it.

Laid out at the top like: “Yeah…that’ll do.”

If you’ve sent it — you’ve been here.
If you haven’t — she’s sharpening her teeth.

5 days to go...www.kompauanui.co.nz

Disclaimer: This is my brother. He is not injured. Just dramatically humbled by gravity and poor life choices.

23/12/2025

10 DAYS.
That’s all that stands between you and starting 2026 the right way.

January 2.
Pāuanui.
Standing on the start line.
Overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Lungs full of salt air.
Heart thumping like a bass drum.

The King of the Mountain isn’t just a race - it’s a statement.
A line in the sand that says: “I didn’t ease into the year…I charged straight at it.”

Raw climbs.
Rooty trails.
Ridge lines that bite back.
Views that make it all worth it.

Whether you’re chasing a crown, testing the engine, or just keen to kick off the year with something proper, this is your invite.

If you’re in Pāuanui on Jan 2…there’s no better way to welcome 2026.

Lace up.
Commit.
Summit or nothing.

👉 Registrations close soon
🔗 www.kompauanui.co.nz

Start the year on the maunga 👑⛰️🔥

22/12/2025

Kia ora whānau 🖤

The finisher medals have landed — and these beauties hit hard.
Clean. Solid. Timeless.
Something you’ll actually want hanging up, not buried in an un**es drawer.

Massive aroha to Gabby & Shane at Paradise Gym Pauanui for backing these legends. Local support, local mana, done right.

Every finisher will have one of these slipped over their head at the line…and be handed an ice-cold can of Clean Collective ENERGY to seal the deal 🍻

You earn this.
Step for step.
Root for root.
All the way to the top.

⚠️ Reminder: Entries must be completed online
👉 www.kompauanui.co.nz

Summit earned.
See you on the maunga.

20/12/2025

RECOVERY, SORTED 🔥🧖‍♂️

We’re stoked to have Vanessa & Ra-Tane from The Sauna Project - Coromandel Coast parked up at the South End on event day.

After you’ve pinned it up and down the mountain, there’s no better way to treat the body than an epic sauna recovery session — loosen the legs, calm the mind, and soak up those beachside vibes 🌊

✅ Mobile wood-fired sauna
✅ Perfect post-race recovery
✅ Unreal setting, unreal people

⚠️ Bookings are essential and made online:
👉 https://www.thesaunaproject.co.nz/coromandelsauna

Do the hard mahi on the mountain…then reward yourself properly 💪🔥

14/12/2025

I’ve always believed events should be built from the trail up — not the spreadsheet down.

Earlier this year, while deep in prep for Faultline 160km, I spent a long day paying my respects to Mount Pāuanui / Cave Bay.

10 laps.
46.76km.
4,713m of vert.
9hrs 46mins moving through roots, ridgelines and resolve.

No crowds.
No shortcuts.
Just the same climb, over and over, asking the same question each time:
"Have you still got it?"

King of the Mountain has been testing legs and lungs here for decades.
I’m just lucky enough to be part of the crew entrusted with looking after it for the next wee while — making sure the course, the challenge and the spirit stay true.

If you’re lining up on Jan 2, know this:
the mountain doesn’t care about your pace or your place. It only asks for effort.

Summit or Nothing. 🏔️🔥