Thinking Off-Piste

Aaron Rolph recounts his recent solo attempt to ski the Haute route non-stop which he completed in one self-propelled, sleepless push in only 31 hours! The route from Chamonix to Zermatt is usually skied over a week and covers a distance of 125km and climbing almost 8,000m in ascent. In doing so, he became the first person in the world to complete the popular Verbier route in a single push, proving that "normal skiers" can achieve the extraordinary if they just set their mind to it. Aaron recalls what it's like to ski alone through the night, his experience filming extreme sports documentaries, and country appreciation.

Aaron Rolph is a full-time adventure athlete and photographer based between London and the French Alps.
Follow his updates: @aaronrolph / @britishadventurecollective
Hosted by: @beckylucyking

Thinking Off-Piste is brought to you by Mabey Ski, a Whistler-based adventure ski company creating bucket list ski trips across the globe. If you’re looking to get off the beaten track and away from the crowds, head over to mabeyski.com to discover what lies beyond your lift pass.

Bridget McClarty is a passionate ski tourer, outdoor adventurer, wildlife biologist and teacher. In 2013 she embarked on a month-long ski traverse from Whistler to the Homathko Valley. In this episode, Becky caught up with Bridget on the skills required to make her journey, the challenges she faced, learnings taken, and the experiences she had along the way.

She began her career outside as a wildlife biologist, locating grizzly bears, snow-tracking wolves, and discovering lemmings do not cliff-jump. Since then, McClarty has explored and guided trips throughout North America, traversing glaciated peaks, paddling rivers in the Arctic, rock climbing in the desert, camping in snow caves in the Yukon, bikepacking in Mexico, sea kayaking in Alaska, and extreme snow angel-ing in the backyard.

Alongside her expeditions, Bridget is also a teacher and is currently conducting my master's research into what it means to have a meaningful, or spiritual, connection to nature. McClarty lives and plays in beautiful Squamish, B.C.

Hosted by: @beckylucyking

Thinking Off-Piste is brought to you by Mabey Ski, a Whistler-based adventure ski company creating bucket list ski trips across the globe. If you’re looking to get off the beaten track and away from the crowds, head over to mabeyski.com to discover what lies beyond your lift pass.

Caroline recounts the story of her life-changing injury after having fallen from an outdoor climbing wall in Dubai. She was immediately rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries that included two shattered feet, a displaced & fragmented right pelvis that was no longer connected to the left side of her body and a bust fracture to part of her spine. Initially Doctors told Caroline that she might never walk again. After 14 surgeries, 23 blood transfusions and two years of extensive rehabilitation Caroline regained the ability to walk with the use of crutches.

After 4 years of healing, Caroline returned to work and co-founded the online fitness education platform A Life of Education. To mark the end of her recovery, in which she fully regained the ability to walk unassisted, Caroline endeavored to set a new Guiness World Record to become the first person in the world to summit all of the highest points in the Middle East and The Arabian Peninsula in the fastest possible time - a feat that had never been attempted by a woman alone.

Caroline became the first female mountaineer to climb 10 of the highest peaks across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in a record time of 28 days. Raising funds for children around the world through Gulf4Good, Caroline summited mountains in some of the world's most dangerous countries; Turkey, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the UAE.
Caroline has since gone on to speak publicly about mindset, healing and traveling across the Middle East on Dubai Eye, Virgin Radio, iHeart Radio & Off Script. She also shared her story on TEDX Dubai and various podcasts, News channels and TV interviews. As a result of the expedition Caroline was awarded the "Hero of the Year" and now represents Australia as an Ambassador for Expo 20/20.

What’s Next:

In Dec 2021 Caroline, with the support of DHL, is attempting another Guinness World Record, to summit the highest volcanoes in each of the 7 continents in the fastest possible time.

Caroline Leon is an Australian-born health and fitness advocate who holds a BA. in Medical Science, a Grad Dip. in International Health and is also a Health Coach, fitness professional and the Co-Founder of A Life of Education.

Follow her journey on Instagram: @caroline.d.leon
Hosted by: @beckylucyking

Thinking Off-Piste is brought to you by Mabey Ski, a Whistler-based adventure ski company creating bucket list ski trips across the globe. If you’re looking to get off the beaten track and away from the crowds, head over to mabeyski.com to discover what lies beyond your lift pass.

Joseph Michael Kai-tsu Liu Roqueni (aka JMK) is a Canada-based adventurer and photographer who ran 4,654km solo and semi-barefoot barefoot from Canada to Mexico. Shortly after completing his run, JMK had a life-changing snowboarding accident on Blackcomb. He catapulted through some trees off Zig Zag and shattered his femur in four pieces, fractured and compressed his spine and suffered a brain concussion. This injury resulted in some serious mental health struggles.

JMK is now well into his recovery and will be running from the tip of the Arctic Circle through the Yukon this summer to continue his mission to Run2theEnd. JMK uses his adventure running to help improve the educational opportunities of low-income children through fundraising and generally raising awareness. Some charities include Pathways to Education in Canada; Edible Schoolyard in the US, and Acortar Distancias Institution in Mexico.

JMK's next adventure will raise awareness and funds in support of mental health in men.
Follow his updates: @runningtotheendoftheworld / @run2theend / www.run2theend.com
Hosted by: @beckylucyking

Thinking Off-Piste is brought to you by Mabey Ski, a Whistler-based adventure ski company creating bucket list ski trips across the globe. If you’re looking to get off the beaten track and away from the crowds, head over to mabeyski.com to discover what lies beyond your lift pass.

Andy talks to Becky about his inspiring journey across Canada, as he sets out on his mission to clean up one million bottles. After 35 years in the hospitality industry, Andy witnessed a large volume of food waste and lack of recycling and wanted to do something about it. Having cycled across Canada in 1998 and with multiple marathons under his belt, Andy had always dreamt of running across Canada.

In 2013 Andy’s dream came true as he embarked on his 9,000km(!) run across Canada with minimal carbon footprint to promote the 3 R’s; reduce, reuse, recycle. The moment he set off he noticed a staggering amount of litter along the Trans-Canada Highway and began picking it up as he went. It was a life-changing moment – Andy had never felt so fulfilled before, and he was hungry for more.

Andy is a proud Canadian, nature-lover and outdoor enthusiast who has set himself a goal to collect one million bottles in order to keep Canada beautiful and inspire others to do the same. Hear about Andy’s epic journey so far – where he’s travelled, the friends he’s made along the way and how many bottles he’s collected to date. Andy is a modest man who has never sought any sponsorship – he runs for the joy of making a difference and meeting other inspiring like-minded people along the way.

Follow his updates: @millionbottlepledge / Million Bottle Pledge on Facebook
Hosted by: @beckylucyking
Photo credit: @shawspotlight - check out their video on Andy’s Million Bottle Pledge

Thinking Off-Piste is brought to you by Mabey Ski, a Whistler-based adventure ski company creating bucket list ski trips across the globe. If you’re looking to get off the beaten track and away from the crowds, head over to mabeyski.com to discover what lies beyond your lift pass.