Will Nathan Fa\'avae get to Primal Quest?

Rob / 31.07.2004

Nathan Fa\'avae wants to race Primal Quest with team Seagate this year, but the fact that he got a $50 fine from a Californian local judge in 1995 for \'souveniring\' a poster at a mountain bike race may mean he won’t make it.

He’s already been unable to pass through the USA twice (on the way to the Canadian AR Expo and to Explore Sweden) and couldn’t get a visa for the Balance Bar 24 hour race in July. If the U.S. immigration department does not back down and allow his visa application he’ll miss Primal Quest, and it seems he may never get to the USA again.

His troubles began in April. “I was on my way to Canada and had to pass through LA airport. When I got to passport control the officer asked me why I didn\'t have a waiver for my arrest. For about a full 30 seconds I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. He then asked me what happened in Mammoth Mountain in 1995. \"oh that!\", I laughed, feeling relieved. I honestly thought I would quickly explain that little episode and he\'d laugh with me and I\'d be on my way - I couldn\'t have been further from the truth.” Despite trying to explain his case he was held for 12 hours, before being put on a plane back to New Zealand.

Since then he’s tried to get the necessary arrest waiver so his visa application can be approved, but with no success, though he’s still hoping and has sought the help of the U.S. Ambassador in New Zealand. He’s frustrated and perplexed at what has happened. “It is difficult understand, that with all the trouble going in the world, that stealing a Mountain Bike banner nearly 10 years ago rates highly in US safety. After all, USA is the global power, Nathan Fa\'avae surely is someone the USA can handle ...“