FITNESS is a way of life for leading Port Stephens personal trainer Tim Hayes.

When he’s not helping the local community achieve their fitness goals at his Nelson Bay centre, the respected fitness guru can be found honing his defensive skills in the sport of ultimate frisbee.

The Medowie native was introduced to Ultimate by a friend back in 2008 and was immediately hooked.

He gravitated to this non-contact team sport played with a disc flung by hand as it tested his endurance, speed, balance and athletic prowess.

Two teams of seven players compete on a playing field about the same length as a football field but narrower and at each end there is an end zone that teams defend.

“Teams can score a goal if one of their players catches the disc in the opposite end zone,” the experienced Hayes told News Of The Area.

“As a defensive player Ultimate really challenges your endurance and stamina and that is why I enjoy playing in either the field or beach version of the sport,” Tim revealed.

The frisbee warrior is part of the much vaunted Newcastle Pie Wagon Mixed Ultimate line up – tagged the most consistent Division One Mixed team in Australia.

Having competed in three of the past four World Ultimate Club Championships events, the Pie Wagons have proved tremendous ambassadors for the sport.

“For a regional town to perform as well as we do speaks volumes for the pathway programs and talent in our country,” reflected Hayes.

The defensive ace linked with the Pie Wagons back in 2013 and has carved out a decorated career to date that includes representing Australia in the beach version of the sport.

On the national club scene, Tim has produced herculean displays to spearhead the Pie Wagons to silver medals in 2018 and 2019 and helped them finish ninth at the World Ultimate Club Championships in Ohio.

He was identified as one of the country’s best defenders when selected to represent Australia at the World Championships Beach Ultimate 2017 in France and the Asia-Oceanic Beach Ultimate Championships held in Japan during 2019.

On the local front, Pie Wagon has a team competing in each of the Division Two and Division One Australian Mixed Ultimate events being held on Friday October 20 and October 27 respectively at Tomaree Sports Complex.

By Chris KARAS