Matt Maddaloni
Passion: Adventure rock climbing
Home Base: Squamish, Canada
Matt (aka The Matt Scientist) has completely immersed himself into the world of climbing, with a focus on adventure rock climbing and deep water soloing. With an impressive climbing resume, Matt has completed major first ascents in areas including the Waddington Range, Squamish, The Bugaboos, Thailand, Pakistan, and Baffin Island. Matt is currently the lead construction rigger and machine designer at Ziptrek.com, a company he has huge pride for as they have introduced sustainability to hundreds of thousands of guests from all over the world. As an engineer (self taught!), Matt has also started his own company called SeaToSkyCam.com offering Hollywood level camera angles by using jib booms and radio controlled cable cams at a price that the outdoor adventure film industry can afford. Matt and his newest invention, the Anticam, were recently featured in the web TV series "The Season", where Matt yet again pushed the boundaries of climbing as he engineered, built, and tested a new piece of climbing equipment which would offer protection where traditional pieces could not. Now at the age of 32, Matt has been living in Canada's granite destination, Squamish B.C. for the past 15 years and 6 of those years with his wonderfull wife Annie.
"Join me on a life quest to explore the endless possibilities of our world and what lies within ourselves. The more unbelievable the idea, the better the challenge. I believe in working hard and playing hard. All we need to do to realize our dreams is take that first step... Anything is possible!" ~Matt Maddaloni
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Q&A with Matt Maddaloni
CFC: How have the mountains/outdoors changed your life?
MM: My true passion is learning and in climbing you can never learn it all. I don’t want to follow the norm and love the challenge of the unknown. One day I’m designing a new piece of climbing gear and the next I’m setting up a trapeze net to climb over. Climbing was a fringe sport when I discovered it 18 years ago but if your creative and are not afraid to fail there are endless new situations to find yourself in. As a sponsored climber I feel like I’ve reached my potential in pure difficulty but my mission is far from over. This sport has so many genres and something new is always just around the corner. Recently I discovered a 60-foot horizontal roof requiring every move in the book and even some that aren't like an upside down hand jam dyno with my feet over my head. The key to this sport is to realize someone will always be better than you, to get better you have to fail… a lot, and in the end what really matters is the process and taking the time to slow down and appreciate it.
CFC: What are some of the biggest ‘mountains’ you’ve overcome?
MM: Some of my climbing successes have been a 25 day big wall route in Baffin Island, a solo big wall ascent in Pakistan, a 10 pitch 5.12 route in the Bugaboos and a new 4500 foot 5.13 free climb on Mt. Combatant in the Waddington Range. In 2007 I completed two record link ups. In Squamish I climbed three 5.12 long free routes in a day and then 4 days later I climbed 50 pitches and reached 5 summits in the Bugaboo Range and all without a rope.
And along the way my perspective has changed. I’m stoked about the deep water solo routes I’ve put up in Thailand that have no bolts or any other sign that we were ever there. The challenge of designing the Anticam to pinch a death flake so I could climb it safely. The 50 foot free falls over the world’s largest inflatable crash pad or being able to film climbing with a vertical cable cam. To me these were all summits.
CFC: Why Climb For Change?
MM: Climb For Change is just that. Breaking out of your comfort zone, trying something different, taking a chance. It’s only then that amazing things happen and we change into better people.
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Matt's Website
www.mattmaddaloni.com