Jody Maill at the Mexico City World Cup Bouldering Championships


	At the time this article was written Jody Maill was Canada’s #1 competitive boulderer and had recently traveled to Mexico City to represent Canada at the North American Bouldering Championships. He said that as a climbing experience, he was not at his personal best but that it was an eye opener for him. He felt that Canada still had a long way to go when it comes to supporting it’s athletes especially in climbing. “Other teams have government back up, supplied uniforms, legitimate sponsorship, not to mention trainers and massage therapists etc… I’m really proud to represent my country and I consider myself an ambassador of the sport, so for that I always try my best. However; it’s hard remainig a competitive athlete when I’m always forking out cash to travel and register for these events, not to mention all the time that goes into training. You have to really want it because it’s like having a full time job and making little or no money. I realize that climbing as a sport still has a long way to go if it’s going to be able to generate enough interest and money for it’s athletes. Because it’s sort of bohemian sport I understand the hesitation towards commercialization, but at the same time I’d like to see more organization and professional representation for the serious athletes.” “Mexico as a whole was an interesting experience especially the cab ride back to the airport. I’m still not quite sure what happened, there was some kind of union strike and rioters/mob took to the streets. I was in my cab in grid lock traffic when the cabi got out of his car, went to the trunk and handed me my bag. I wasn’t quite sure what was going on but when the cabi left his car running I decided to follow suite, especially when I saw that mob heading straight for me and a huge piece of the side walk was thrown into the hood. I headed in the direction from where I had just come and there was a car on fire and someone was burning alive on the street. The image still really haunts me. I’ve never experienced anything like it. I finally manage to get another cab actually 2 cabs later I arrived at the airport and just made my flight. It’s good to be Canadian! Mexico city can be a pretty scary place.” When I asked him about being number one in Canada he was very humble and said “ Sure it’s great to be #1 in Canada but it doesn’t mean all that much except that I’m the one who showed up to the most comps and won, sure in the standings I’m #1 and that is something I’m proud of but when one of my friends from out of town shows up at my gym like Sacha Deschenes, he doesn’t compete that much but he gives me a major run for my money and I realize it’s all relative. There are a lot of guys out there who could hand my ass to me on a platter. My attitude about climbing and being the best has changed quite a bit over the last year or so. My focus now is about recognizing my bodies natural rhythm, I have my highs and lows and I’m learning to accept that. Don’t get me wrong I still love to push my limits and there is a real high out of being at the top of my game, I think that is why I love to compete so much but I’m trying to look at the bigger picture now. It’s not just about physical strength and ability, there is also a very real mental game that is played. I’m participating in a study with a sports phsycologist and so far it’s been very interesting and I’m learning to understand myself in relation to my performance. I’m also very interested in exploring other mental training techniques such as subliminal messaging and visualization.” When I asked Jody if he realized he’s a role model for younger wanna be serious climbers, here’s what he had to say. “ I’m always got my eyes open for that next talent, that kid that stands out of the crowd! I want to be a good role model but mostly I just love climbing and I want to share that with others”

At the time this article was written Jody Maill was Canada’s #1 competitive boulderer and had recently traveled to Mexico City to represent Canada at the North American Bouldering Championships.

He said that as a climbing experience, he was not at his personal best but that it was an eye opener for him. He felt that Canada still had a long way to go when it comes to supporting it’s athletes especially in climbing. “Other teams have government back up, supplied uniforms, legitimate sponsorship, not to mention trainers and massage therapists etc… I’m really proud to represent my country and I consider myself an ambassador of the sport, so for that I always try my best. However; it’s hard remainig a competitive athlete when I’m always forking out cash to travel and register for these events, not to mention all the time that goes into training. You have to really want it because it’s like having a full time job and making little or no money. I realize that climbing as a sport still has a long way to go if it’s going to be able to generate enough interest and money for it’s athletes. Because it’s sort of bohemian sport I understand the hesitation towards commercialization, but at the same time I’d like to see more organization and professional representation for the serious athletes.”

“Mexico as a whole was an interesting experience especially the cab ride back to the airport. I’m still not quite sure what happened, there was some kind of union strike and rioters/mob took to the streets. I was in my cab in grid lock traffic when the cabi got out of his car, went to the trunk and handed me my bag. I wasn’t quite sure what was going on but when the cabi left his car running I decided to follow suite, especially when I saw that mob heading straight for me and a huge piece of the side walk was thrown into the hood.

I headed in the direction from where I had just come and there was a car on fire and someone was burning alive on the street. The image still really haunts me. I’ve never experienced anything like it.

I finally manage to get another cab actually 2 cabs later I arrived at the airport and just made my flight. It’s good to be Canadian! Mexico city can be a pretty scary place.”

When I asked him about being number one in Canada he was very humble and said “ Sure it’s great to be #1 in Canada but it doesn’t mean all that much except that I’m the one who showed up to the most comps and won, sure in the standings I’m #1 and that is something I’m proud of but when one of my friends from out of town shows up at my gym like Sacha Deschenes, he doesn’t compete that much but he gives me a major run for my money and I realize it’s all relative. There are a lot of guys out there who could hand my ass to me on a platter.

My attitude about climbing and being the best has changed quite a bit over the last year or so. My focus now is about recognizing my bodies natural rhythm, I have my highs and lows and I’m learning to accept that. Don’t get me wrong I still love to push my limits and there is a real high out of being at the top of my game, I think that is why I love to compete so much but I’m trying to look at the bigger picture now. It’s not just about physical strength and ability, there is also a very real mental game that is played.
I’m participating in a study with a sports phsycologist and so far it’s been very interesting and I’m learning to understand myself in relation to my performance. I’m also very interested in exploring other mental training techniques such as subliminal messaging and visualization.”

When I asked Jody if he realized he’s a role model for younger wanna be serious climbers, here’s what he had to say. “ I’m always got my eyes open for that next talent, that kid that stands out of the crowd! I want to be a good role model but mostly I just love climbing and I want to share that with others”