Tradie says yes to adventure
Christchurch construction worker Holly Woodhouse is hoping her adventure magazine will encourage people to get out of the house and into the outdoors.
Say Yes to Adventure founder Woodhouse collated stories of adventure from all walks of life and combines contributors from around the world.
Her favourite story was from Sam Smoothy. He had retraced his father’s footsteps and documented his journey skiing across Bolivia, including potential first-ski descents on the west face of Aguja Negr.
Not all the stories are that ambitious, she said.
‘‘You don’t have to do anything crazy. Just do something.’’
She hoped people would be inspired to try something new and get out in nature.
The idea for the Say Yes to Adventure magazine came from Woodhouse’s passion for travel, and as a creative way to contribute to the Running for Rangers charity.
Her sister lives in Kenya and the pair are passionate about fundraising for the cause, which supports the welfare of rangers in wildlife conservations.
Woodhouse was no stranger to hard work.
She grew up in Mayfield, near Ashburton, and after completing her first Coast to Coast in 2014, she went to Britain and dedicated herself to sport.
She has competed in endurance events around the world, from a six-day, 250-kilometre multi-stage adventure race in the Sahara Desert to the Jungle Ultra five-day trek in Peru.
It was some of that drive that she used to balance her work, from her day job in construction, to her endurance training and designing, editing, publishing, selling and marketing the magazine.
Since Say Yes to Adventure was established in March last year, dozens of contributors had shared their stories.
Scorpio Books worker Rebecca Harris said the magazine was very popular, which she attributed to the range of stories.
She said it appealed to both ‘‘real adventure seekers and people who just loved the photography’’.
The magazine’s distribution has now extended to 20 countries.
"You don't have to do anything crazy. Just do something." Say Yes to Adventure founder Holly Woodhouse