[As published in January/February BayBuzz magazine.]
Two rising sports stars are aiming to make their mark in 2025, each with dreams of turning professional.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt Oscar Petersen is racing against time to go pro, while teenage alpine skier Olly Wilkins has the years ahead to chase his goal of becoming one of the world’s best.
Hawke’s Bay athletes are no strangers to success in mainstream sports, but Oscar and Olly are taking a different path — pursuing bold personal ambitions and hoping to inspire the next generation of rising stars along the way.
Race against time.
Oscar Petersen’s personal vision for the year ahead
Oscar Petersen is on the cusp of what he hopes will be his biggest year yet. At 28, the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) practitioner has set his sights on reaching the pinnacle of his sport—winning a black belt world title in the adult division before time runs out.
In BJJ, the clock is always ticking. Athletes have until the age of 29 to claim an open world title in the adult division before they move to the Masters age group. For Oscar, the stakes couldn’t be higher. To even qualify for this elite goal, he first needs to make the leap from brown belt to black belt—a daunting task but one he’s ready to face head-on.
“This is my one shot,” Oscar says with steely determination. “My final year as an adult before I move up to the Masters division. I’ve got to make it count.”
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and combat sport that focuses on grappling and ground fighting. Developed in Brazil in the early 20th century, it is rooted in traditional Japanese jiu-jitsu and judo but evolved to emphasize techniques that allow a smaller, weaker person to defeat a larger, stronger opponent through the effective use of leverage, positioning, and submissions.
Oscar’s just had his first taste of international competition, taking on the world’s best in the under 73.5-kilogram division at the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) No-Gi World Championships in Las Vegas.
He won his first two matches, by triangle choke submission before losing his third round by ankle lock submission.
“I had an incredible experience and it lived up to my expectations.
“I got to rub shoulders and bump knuckles with the legends of the sport. I am super happy with my performance, stepping on the world competition mats itself is almost enough for me but I also got to train one on one with a black belt world champion in my weight division in the week leading up to the event too, truly an opportunity I was lucky to be apart of,” he says.
Oscar’s journey in BJJ began eight years ago and in that time he’s blazed through the ranks, progressing from white belt to brown belt in record time. Competing locally and nationally, he has built an impressive record of around 50 tournaments, claiming 20 gold medals. His most recent victory at the Oceania Open in April 2024 saw him secure two submission wins in under 25 seconds each.
The super-confident grappler’s hard work has not gone unnoticed and although content with his first world event, he’s eager to have another crack.
“It’s whoever can apply their techniques faster and with more eagerness,” he explains.
“When I’m rolling, I’m in a flow state. It’s not about thinking – it’s about reacting.”
A fight in BJJ is one energy-sapping eight-minute round, requiring intense fitness and mental sharpness.
“You can’t afford to slip mentally, even for a second,” he says. “Your opponent is always looking for that chink in the armour.”
Oscar’s love for the sport began in an unlikely place: on a trampoline at age 12, wrestling with his sister’s partner, a jiu jitsu practitioner.
“I didn’t know what it was at the time, but I loved it,” he recalls. “That’s when I knew I wanted to do this.”
After dabbling in karate and boxing during his teenage years, Oscar found his true calling at Gracie Allegiance Jiu-Jitsu in Hastings, training under Damian Smith. Those early days were challenging, but his determination never wavered.
“You’ve got to be willing to lose and willing to die on the mats,” he says. “That’s how you get better.”
While Oscar’s primary focus is on his world championship aspirations, he also happens to be a successful small business owner, running a watch repair shop in Napier alongside his younger brother, Marcus.
The family-owned business has been a part of Oscar’s life for the past four years, with the brothers taking over the shop from their parents, who had owned it for many years prior.
“It’s something I’ve been involved with for a while, and it’s been a great way to put my attention to detail and precision skills to use.”
Those same attributes that serve Oscar so well on the mats – a keen eye for detail, a methodical approach, and an unwavering dedication – translate seamlessly to the intricate world of watch repair.
“I believe the skills I’ve developed through jiu jitsu, like learning from my losses and constantly improving, have really helped me in the business as well,” he says.
“It’s all about identifying what works, doubling down on it, and leaving behind what doesn’t.”
The shop has also provided balance in his life.
“It’s kind of like a yin and yang, you know?” he says. “When I’m on the mats, I’m fully immersed in the physicality and intensity of jiu jitsu. But then when I’m in the shop, I get to tap into a different side of myself, the more meticulous and detail-oriented side.”
This dual focus allows Oscar to support Marcus, who is pursuing his own dreams of becoming a successful comedian.
The close-knit siblings make a strong team, with Marcus often performing at local venues and events in Hawke’s Bay.
“Marcus is just so naturally funny, and he’s got this incredible ability to read a crowd and get them laughing.
“I’m really excited to see where his comedy career takes him, and I’m glad I can be there to support him while also chasing my own goals.”
While his immediate focus is on claiming a world title, Oscar’s vision extends beyond personal success. He dreams of inspiring the next generation of BJJ athletes in his home of Hawke’s Bay, where the sport is steadily growing.
“If I can win this world championship, it’ll show the kids back home that it’s possible, even if you’re from a small place,” he says. “After that, I want to give back and help grow the sport I love.”
With unwavering dedication, unmatched skill, and a passion that burns bright, Oscar Petersen desires to make history as Hawke’s Bay’s first adult Black Belt World Champion.
As he steps into the biggest fight of his life, Oscar’s message is clear: one year, one shot, one chance. And he’s ready to make it count.
Olly Wilkins
On the fast-track to downhill success
Fifteen-year-old Olly Wilkins loves nothing more than hurtling down the slopes at top speed. Already, he’s clocking 100 kilometres per hour on some of the world’s premier ski fields in Europe and North America.
Olly is the youngest of three Hawke’s Bay brothers who have represented New Zealand in snow skiing. While older brothers Aidan and Luke are accomplished Alpine skiers, Olly is determined to take things further and carve out a career as a professional downhill racer on the World Cup circuit.
“The dream is to be a pro ski racer on the world circuit,” he says. “To get there, I need to stay consistent with my performances and hopefully move up to the Europa Cup, which is the step below the World Cup.”
While many teenagers spend their summers at the beach or skate park, Olly is on a different track – training and competing in Italy and Andorra.
Like his brothers, Olly has traded many Hawke’s Bay summers for the ski slopes of Canada, the United States, and Europe. For the past two seasons, he’s demonstrated his independence and maturity by traveling overseas without his parents, Leah and Tim.
“For the first few days, I feel a bit sad, but once I settle in and meet new people, it’s fine,” he says.
Olly knows his skiing journey wouldn’t be possible without his parents’ unwavering support. “I’m pretty lucky they’ve committed to helping me go overseas to do what I love,” he says.
Though skiing runs in the family, Olly wasn’t always keen on braving the cold. He first strapped on skis at the age of three, venturing out to Happy Valley for a single run before retreating indoors.
“I used to go to Happy Valley, do one run, and then come back inside because I hated it so much. It was just so cold,” he recalls.
But by the age of six, Olly began to love skiing. “Once I could ski all over the mountain and ski alone, I realised it was actually quite fun,” he says.
Olly’s chosen discipline is alpine skiing, where athletes race against the clock down courses marked by gates. He competes in three main alpine events—slalom, giant slalom, and the high-speed Super G.
“Super G is probably the hardest because you go so fast,” Olly says.
To stay in peak condition, Olly combines rigorous on-slope training with fitness work back home in Hawke’s Bay. He’s part of the Hawke’s Bay Community Fitness Centre Trust’s high-performance athlete program and also works with a personal trainer.
“They both create programmes tailored to my skiing,” he explains.
Olly’s best result so far internationally came at age 12, when he finished 31st in a major international race in Switzerland while competing for the New Zealand team.
His favourite alpine skier is Lucas Braathen, who debuted on the World Cup circuit in 2018, won his first race in 2020, retired in 2023, and made a comeback in 2024 racing for Brazil.
“I like him because he’s a bit different. Besides being a top skier, he also has his own fashion label,” Olly says.
Now 16 and part of New Zealand’s under-16 team, Olly is eager to keep progressing. “Next year, I’m hoping to win the New Zealand under-16 title,” he says.
Whether he’s carving turns on the slopes or taking a break with friends, Olly’s passion for skiing shines through. As he pursues his dream of competing at the sport’s highest level, he’s inspiring a new generation of young skiers to chase their own alpine ambitions.
