Passion, Experience and Knowledge.

BENJAMIN EITELBERG

OWNER AND HEAD COACH

Hometown:

Auckland, New Zealand

Athlete:

A competitive age-group athlete

Trail and ultramarathon running
Swimrun
Sprint to half ironman distance triathlons
XTERRA and cross-triathlon
Mountain bike stage racing

International:

South Africa representative at the ITU World Age Group Championships 2003
New Zealand representative at the ITU World Age Group Championships (including team captain on 2 occasions) 2008 to 2016 - 2008 to
XTERRA World Championships 2017
Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc: UTMB - CCC 2023

Ben has multiple years of experience in triathlon and endurance sports coaching, with a keen interest in plant-based nutrition and its relationship with performance and recovery. He has had unique opportunities to shadow world-renowned individual and team coaches, work with a vast range of ability and experienced athletes in achieving their own goals, and deliver training camps, workshops and clinics throughout New Zealand and Australia. Ben continues to achieve success with both beginners and seasoned athletes, tailoring his approach to each individual.

As an athlete, Ben has won numerous provincial and national age-group titles aquathlon, duathlon and triathlon. He has been competing for over 25 years across the various distances of triathlon, both on and off-road, as well as swimrun, trail running, mountain bike stage racing, and more recently, ultramarathon running. Ben has a wealth of experience and knowledge to share with his athletes.

With a diploma in vegan nutrition and numerous collaborations with plant-based health professionals, Ben continues to experience tremendous success in his advocacy for a plant-based lifestyle. These include educational workshops, speaking engagements, and personalised consultations that inspire many to make the shift. Ben is also the co-founder of The Lentil Intervention, a not-for-profit organisation advocacy platform disseminating all aspects of planetary health.

Ben highlights a crucial link between physical activity, immersion in nature and the responsibility of undertaking behavioural changes benefiting the planet. Founder of Sports Gear Revived and Athletes for Nature, his advocacy extends well beyond his 'coaching with a purpose' by collaborating with event organisers and other climate action groups in leading change.

Undertaking a concurrent 20-year-plus career in a very demanding corporate world whilst accommodating a passion for training and competing, Ben knows first-hand that there is no secret formula to balance. It's a constantly moving target that requires delicate management, best achieved through a well-established athlete-coach relationship.

Coaching Achievements:

National Triathlon and Aquathlon Age Group Champions
ITU World Long Distance Championships Age Group Silver Medalist
Ironman 70.3 podium finishes, in New Zealand and abroad
Secondary Schools National Mountain Bike Champion
Qualifications to ITU World Championships, XTERRA World Championships, Ironman 70.3 World Championships and ABBOTT World Marathon Championships
Guidance to completion of extraordinary endurance events – The Pioneer, Cape Epic, Comrades Marathon, trail ultramarathons, and various Ironman events abroad.

Qualifications:

Triathlon New Zealand Level 3 Accredited Coach - 2017
XTERRA Certified Coach - 2021
Cycling New Zealand MTB Accredited Coach - 2012
Triathlon New Zealand Certified Open Water Swim Coach - 2012
No Exceptions Training Certified Coach (Halberg Disability Sport Foundation) - 2012

Stryd Certified Coach - 2023
CORE Certified Coach - 2023
Foundations in Heart Rate Variability - 2019

Vegan Nutritionist Diploma - 2019
Sports Nutrition Business Diploma - 2019

Certified Carbon Literate - 2023
Te Ao Māori for Professionals: Kete 1 - 2022
Leading Beyond Sustainability Micro-Credential - 2022
Sport for Sustainable Development Micro-Credential - 2021

Certified Functional Movement Systems Professional, Level 1 - 2016
TRX Suspension Certified Trainer - 2014
Trigger Point Performance Therapy Certified Trainer - 2013

St John First Aid Level 1 - 2023