MARK SHEEN - ADVENTURER
Mark is a keen mountaineer and has climbed in New Zealand and participated in mountaineering expeditions in Pakistan. In 2007, he was the first WA-born person to summit Mt Everest, when he reached the summit on 5 June, fulfilling a long-held dream which he has tirelessly worked and trained towards for years. And Mark, who got much of his equipment from Mainpeak for the past six years, says the gear and the product advice he has gained during that time has been first class. In 2008 Mark was part of a team of 10, led by experienced Dutch climber Wilco Van Rooijen. attempting an ascent of K2, the worlds second highest mountain and arguably the most difficult to climb.
Click on any of the links below to read the details of Mark's adventures.
Mt Elbrus, Russia August 2009
Denali Alaska July 2009
JOSHUA THELWELL - CLIMBER
Joshua is heavily into bouldering and also occasionally likes to get on the ropes too.
Josh started climbing in late 2007. Since then he has set his eye on climbing the hardest and most beautiful routes that are available. He has climbed in places such as America and throughout Western Australia. Josh finds that the sport is forever developing and enjoys pushing himself to the limits to discover what his body and mind are capable of. Most of all he enjoys getting out on Bouldering trips with close mates.
Josh’s proudest sends include:
Bouldering:
Conto’s Cave V10 - Margaret River, Western Australia Unnamed V9 - Malibu Creak State Park, California USA The Seam V7 - Berkeley, California USA
Sport:
Cardio Funk (29) - Perth, Western Australia Mixed Emotions (25) F.A - Perth, Western Australia Whiplash (25) - Meriden, Western Australia
BERNADETTE BENSON - ULTRARUNNER
Canadian-born, Bernadette has a passion for travelling the world and outdoor pursuits. She spent several years paddling canoe, snowshoeing, winter camping, mountain biking and has competed in a few team adventure races (24-36 hours).
Her main athletic pursuit since 2007 has been running ultra marathons. In 2010 she won the 24 Hour Australian National Championship, running nearly 201 kms. In training for other events during the year, she ran and hiked a 42km circuit of the Stirling Ranges in a day, getting an opportunity to trial some Mainpeak gear at the same time.
Bernadette spends many hours running hilly trails around Perth and south-western WA, including the Bibbulmun and Munda Biddi track systems.
LIBBY LeCOULTRE - PADDLER
Libby recently received selection to represent Australia in two disciplines – Sprint Kayaking and Canoe Polo. With the Australian Women’s Canoe Polo team, she will tour Europe in August and compete in the World Championships in Milan, Italy in September. In the Sprint Kayaking Emerging Athlete team, she will tour Europe in June. Libby trains in sprint kayaking with a WAIS scholarship and is also supported by Mainpeak. She loves the Lettmann Nordic LCS70 paddle over all others. As a member of the 2009, U23 Australian Kayak Team, she toured Germany and Poland claiming 2 silver and 2 bronze medals. Her love of water sports has seen her competing in all kinds of events - open-water swimming, rowing, surf-skiing, Avon Descent-ing, Iron Womaning, and Adventure Racing. “Make sure you have the right equipment, and good advice. Never stop talking, never stop trying and never stop buying!” Libby has also bungee-jumped and white-water rafted in New Zealand, surfed on the Sunshine Coast and been team leader on numerous Bibbulmun Track walks. As to her past, Libby worked on fighter jets as a mechanical and structural maintenance engineer. As to her future, she hopes to be travelling the world of adventure!
JACKIE DILLON - WAVESKI CHAMPION
Jackie has been waveski surfing competively since 1996 and is the current World Invitational Women’s Waveski Surfing Champion having won the most recent event held in Gisborne New Zealand.
Jackie embraces a healthy lifestyle combined with running, aerobics and her love of surfing. She has been the West Australian Womens waveski surfing champion since 1996 and in 2008 won the West Australian Open State Round Championships.
Jackie has won four Australian Waveski Surfing Championships, has been runner up twice in the World Waveski Surfing Championships and in 2008 won the Association of Waveski Surfing Professionals Series One in Reunion Island. Jackie currently holds the portfolio of President of the World Waveski Surfing Association and is the nominated waveski surfing delegate on the International Canoe Federation.
Jackie has had a ten year association with Mainpeak and continues to try out new clothing lines, equipment and other products. She has provided a great resource for the Waveski Surfing Community by way of junior mentorship and coaching as well as a role model for women engaging in extreme sports.