Rock Champion - Mayan Smith-Gobat

Mayan Smith-Gobat

5th October 2011
Mayan has just climbed Salathe Wall on El Capitan, a route considered a classic around the world.
"Just a quick note to let you know that I am still in Yosemite, having a great time. I just got down from a successful mission on the Salathe Wall. Check out my blog: www.mayanclimbs.com fro more info.

Mayan is New Zealand 's top woman rock climber. On 4 September 2005 Mayan became the first female in New Zealand to climb a grade 30. She completed the climb of Troglodite at The Cave/Superbowl, Redcliffs, Christchurch comfortably and repeated it a week later. It is not common for female climbers to achieve grades of over 30. Troglodite was first climbed by Ivan Vostinar. Mayan competed in the World Championships in Europe in 2005 and as well as being an outstanding rock climber, is a keen glider pilot.

9 September 2009
"Just a quick note to let you know that my time at Ceuse has come to an end, with a final highlight... on the 5th September I managed to climb my first 8c, "L'arcademicien" at Ceuse. This was also the first female ascent of "L'arcademicien", and makes me the first kiwi woman to climb 8c (Grade 33.)
Unfortunately, this brings my time in Europe to an end, but there could not have been a better end to the trip, and I am already looking forward to returning next year! In just over a week we head over to the USA, to learn to climb cracks in Yosemite Valley. The goal being to free-climb El Capitan..."

December 2006...New Zealand
Mayan joined Paul Rogers, Kester Brown and Derek Thatcher after receiving Sport & Recreation Council funding for a new route in the Darrans, a mountain range in the Fiordland National Park.

September 2006...Germany
After the comp at L'Argentiere, she headed to the Frankenjura. Despite bad weather Mayan managed to get a fair bit of climbing in.
" Driving through the Frankenjura, you would never know there was a world class climbing area there, then all these awsome little outcrops of rock appear from amongst the trees. The climbing is the opposite to Ceuse... often rather short, and very brutal (especially for the fingers), but amazing climbing!"

Mayan's Earth Sea Sky climbing kit

Sport Tank & Sport Top Silhouette Silk Weight T Merino Tank Top Seabreeze Eve

Vapour Jetstream Slipstream Rockhoppers Fast Tracks Wrap Skirt

Nova Moonshadow Gretel