Matt Segal (born May 8, 1984) is an American professional climber.[1] He participates in a variety of climbing activities including single-pitch traditional climbing and bouldering.[2][3][4]

Matt Segal
Personal information
Born (1984-05-08) May 8, 1984 (age 40)
OccupationProfessional climber
Websitewww.mattsegal.com
Climbing career
Type of climberTraditional climbing, Bouldering

Early life and education

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Originally from Miami, Florida, Segal learned to climb in a gym as a child.[5] He studied religion at Naropa University.

Career

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Segal began climbing in 1998 with indoor competitions across the United States and Europe. After the 2004 climbing competition season, Matt began participating in outdoor climbing.

At Squamish in 2006 Segal and his climbing partner Sonnie Trotter climbed The Shadow 5.13b, The Grand Wall 5.13b, and The Black Dyke 5.13b on the Stawamus Chief all free in a single 12-hour session.

Matt Segal worked with National Geographic on an archaeological exploration of 800-year-old man-made caves high on rock faces in the Mustang Region of Nepal.[6] He was recruited for his climbing skills as well as his education in religious studies.

In 2014, Segal was featured in the film Karsts of China, highlighting Enshi Grand Canyon National Park and the Stone Forest.[7]

In 2015 Segal lived in Boulder, Colorado. He sometimes partners with Canadian climber Will Stanhope.[8][9]

Segal has also begun climbing and paragliding with fellow climber Cedar Wright.[10] The pair traveled to China in 2015 for National Geographic, where they were photographed with Emily Harrington climbing the Red Dragon sport route.[11]

In 2016, he appeared with Harrington and Stanhope in the film Boys in the Bugs, which screened as part of the Reel Rock Film Tour.[12][13] Also in 2016 Segal and Wright began paragliding down after their climbs.[14]

Completed traditional ascents

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  • Iron Monkey 5.14 (1st ascent FA) Eldorado Canyon, CO[15]
  • The End of the Beginning 5.13 (1st ascent FA) Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
  • Cobra Crack 5.14b, Squamish, BC
  • Deadline 5.14- (2nd all gear ascent) Boulder Canyon, CO
  • Trippin 5.13 (2nd ascent) Eldorado Canyon, CO
  • Free Line 5.13 R Eldorado Canyon, CO
  • Frayed Line 5.13 R Eldorado Canyon, CO
  • Surfs Up 5.13 R Eldorado Canyon, CO
  • Death of a Cowboy 5.13- Indian Creek, UT
  • Less than Zero 5.13- Indian Creek, UT
  • Ruby's Café 5.13- (Flash) Indian Creek, UT
  • Triple X 5.13 R/X (2nd ascent) Vedauwoo, WY
  • Chief Link-Up: Black Dyke 5.13, Free Grand 5.13 and The Shadow 5.13 (one day with Sonnie Trotter, over 20 pitches total) Squamish, BC
  • The Free Rider Grade IV 5.12+ (33 Pitches El Capitan) Yosemite, CA

Bouldering

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  • Forced Entry V12 Grampians, Australia
  • Lost For Life V12 Grampians, Australia
  • Eternia V12 Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
  • Sun Spot V11 Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
  • Bush Pilot V11 Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
  • Barbed Wired Beard V11 Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

References

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  1. ^ "Sports|'Unexplored' China? Not for Long...". New York Times, May 31, 2016
  2. ^ John Sherman (8 November 2011). Better Bouldering. Falcon Guides. pp. 139–. ISBN 978-0-7627-7558-3.
  3. ^ "Matt Segal Bags 2nd Ascent of Carbondale Short Bus (5.14-)". Rock and Ice, By Hayden Carpenter, 3 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Traditional Ethics in Boulder Canyon". Mountains and Water, April 26, 2008
  5. ^ "Q&A: Will Stanhope talks sky-high adventures". Vancouver Sun, By Shawn Conner, Special To The Sun November 11, 2015
  6. ^ "Bones Evidence of Himalaya Death Ritual?". National Geographic. Archived from the original on March 4, 2011.
  7. ^ "Climbing China's Incredible Cliffs", 06.07.2014 Planetmountain.
  8. ^ "Teen climbing camp a successful model". PiqueBy Lynn Martel,
  9. ^ "The Top 7 Climbing Achievements of 2015". Rock and Ice, 09-Dec-2015 By Hayden Carpenter
  10. ^ "Flying Off Mexico’s Highest Peak With (Almost) Zero Experience". Men's Journal, by Lauren Steele
  11. ^ "How to Capture China’s Wildest Formations? By Drone, of Course.". Outside, By: Chad Copeland
  12. ^ "Mr. Movie review: ‘Reel Rock 11’ to show Nov. 11 in Richland". Tri City Herald, November 10, 2016 By Gary Wolcott.
  13. ^ "Climber Brette Harrington brings elevated perspective to Reel Rock adventure series". Vancouver Courier, Erin McPhee October 17, 2016
  14. ^ "Accomplished rock climbers go to new heights". 9 News, Blair Shiff, June 20, 2016.
  15. ^ "Matt Segal Interview - Friday, July 11, 2008". Climbing.
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