MAMMUT HAS RICH HERITAGE IN THE MOUNTAINS. WHAT’S YOUR HERITAGE/BACKGROUND?
My name is Ethan Naylor, I am 14-year-old Aboriginal rock climber. I am Anaiwan (I was born in Armidale, NSW) but am now living on Gubbi Gubbi land at the Sunshine Coast. I have been climbing for 5 years. I have always wanted to climb (I’ve always been one of those kids that knows exactly what they want to do). There was a climbing gym in Armidale, however it was only open to the public once a week late at night. At the time, regular climbing was not an option. I did have a couple of awesome rock climbing parties though! I was actually sick pretty much all of the time with asthma and respiratory issues in Armidale. In 2014, my family moved to the Sunshine Coast for my health (I’m pretty much asymptomatic now except I still get sick when I go back to Armidale!). I knew there was a climbing gym on the Sunny Coast and about six months after moving here, I started climbing lessons. I have never looked back since.
MAMMUT PRODUCTS ARE TESTED IN THE MOST EXTREME LOCATIONS. WHERE’S THE MOST EXTREME LOCATION YOU’VE BEEN WITH YOUR MAMMUT GEAR?
The most extreme place I have taken my Mammut gear is last year in Tasmania. Tasmania is so rugged, old and beautiful. I saw snow on Cradle Mountain, it was the first time since Armidale that I have seen snow, and the first time I will properly remember it. Although I’ve heard the snow there is not as good as places overseas, it is the best snow I have seen so far. Later this year I’ll be traveling out into Expedition National Park in western Queensland where I’ll be having a crack at some fresh, untouched rock.
MAMMUT IS KNOWN FOR QUALITY AND INNOVATION. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF MAMMUT GEAR?
My favourite piece of gear would have to be my Togir harness. It is really comfortable when working projects, especially when I am finding the little intermediate holds. I really like the hard-plastic gear loops, I find that my gear isn’t collapsing into one pile in the middle, as it does with the more flexible gear loops. The indicator on the webbing is another smart feature, which, luckily, I haven’t had to use.
CV-19 HAS FORCED US TO ADVENTURE AT HOME. WHAT HAVE YOU TAKEN FROM THE CV-19 SITUATION?
With crags and gyms closed, the best way to train was to set up a regular routine involving workouts, and hang board training, and, after the installment of a new home-climbing wall, climbing too! At the start of isolation, it was hard to get into the habit of training regularly, I rode my mountain bike quite a lot, usually riding around 100km (≈60 miles) a week. I am lucky enough to have Mooloolah River National Park five minutes away from home. Once in the habit (with a lot of reminding from my parents!) I was doing a variety of training routines.
WORDS OF WISDOM?
“One thing at a time” (Phil Box, Coolum Sendfest, 2020) is an incredible saying that keeps me focused.
