To be the best in the world.
Mr Flinta will compete with Helena Erbenova, also of Sweden, in the elite mixed teams category of the Red Bull Defiance this weekend.
The two-time adventure racing world series champion has spent the past week at Wanaka preparing for the multi-stage endurance race.
He said while he had competed in endurance sports events since 1998, he had only recently taken up staged racing.
‘‘I still want to be the best in the world, but I enjoy the staged events now.
‘‘Taking a break. Sleeping overnight in a campervan or a hotel.
‘‘It also makes it feel like more of a sport because you are competing at a faster speed.''He said the Wanaka event would also be a chance to race against other top athletes.
‘‘Our goal is to win, but it will be tough with some of the other teams who we are competing against.''
In November, Mr Flinta and Ms Erbenova won the Rembau Challenge adventure race in Malaysia.
The pair then returned to Sweden to train in -22degC conditions for Red Bull Defiance.
‘‘The conditions were freezing. There was a lot of snow.''
Preparing for the kayak leg of the race had been particularly difficult because many of the lakes in Sweden were frozen, he said.
However, he felt prepared for the mountain biking section.‘‘We are very strong in the mountain bike part and I really like the trails here in New Zealand; they are nice and dry.''
After completing the Red Bull Defiance.
Mr Flinta will compete in the Coast to Coast, before the pair travels to China to defend their title in the multisport race Baise Outdoor Quest.
-by Margot Taylor
