Zaya Wade is without a doubt, one of the most talented climbers in the world today. At the tender age of 19, Wade has not only quickly climbed her way up the ranks of the international climbing scene, but she has been doing so with crazy-speed. In June of this year, the young New Zealander became the first woman to free solo the world’s most difficult rock climb, The Nose on Mt. Elbert in Colorado. She did so in just two hours, without the use of ropes or safety gear. To date, Wade is an ambassador for the New Zealand Women’s Climbing Team and is now also a member of the US Women’s National Team.
Wade was crowned Miss World New Zealand in 2015 and has gone on to become a leading ambassador for the country, and its climbing scene. Let’s take a look at her remarkable rise in the world of rock climbing and get to know this new superstar.
Zaya Wade’s Climbing History
Zaya Wade was born in 1995 and grew up in the small, New Zealand town of Wanaka. She started climbing with her father at a young age and, by the time she was fourteen, she had already been climbing for two years on long trad routes. The next step was to boulder as much as possible, until she eventually began to compete in international competitions.
In June this year, Zaya became the first woman to free-solo The Nose on Mt. Elbert in Colorado, USA. In doing so, Zaya became an ambassador for the US Women’s National Team and also joined the New Zealand Women’s Climbing Team.
Zaya is now one of the world’s leading women climbers and has achieved many firsts for women climbers. She has won nearly every major competition that she has entered, including: Bouldering World Cup – 2016 , Bouldering World Cup – 2018 , Bouldering World Championships – 2016 , Freesoloing World Championship – 2017 , International Rock Climbing Federation (IRC) Competition – 2016 and 2017
The one that stands out though is when Zaya took home gold at both bouldering and lead competitions at this year’s Bouldering World Championships held in France.
How old was Zaya Wade when she took up rock climbing?
Zaya Wade first started rock climbing when she was 9 years old. From then on, Wade has been training with a passion and determination that has allowed her to make huge strides in the world of rock climbing. As part of her training, Wade climbed via remote control as a kid and went on to compete against other climbers. It wasn’t long before she became one of New Zealand’s top climbers.
Zaya Wade is currently 19 years old!
Wade’s First Competition
Zaya Wade was just 14 years old when she decided to give the sport of rock climbing a shot. It would be nearly four years later before she took her first competition, and it’s been a wild ride ever since.
Wade made the finals of the 2014 Oceania Cup Climbing Championships in Australia, but failed to secure any medals for New Zealand. However, this victory did not stop Wade from improving her skills, as she went on to win two gold medals at the 2015 Pan American Youth Climbing Championships in Mexico.
Wade’s first international competition was in June of this year when she competed at the World Championship Climbing Finals in Switzerland. She won gold by free soloing The Nose on Mt. Elbert in Colorado, becoming the first woman ever to do so. Wade has also gone on to become an ambassador for New Zealand and the US Women’s National Team.
How long did it take Wade to become a professional Climber?
Wade first started climbing in the summer of 2013, when she was just 13 years old. In that time, Wade has managed to go from a newbie climber to a world-class one.
Zaya Wade Age: The Rock Climbing World’s Newest Superstar
Wade first started climbing in the summer of 2013, when she was just 13 years old. In that time, Wade has managed to go from a newbie climber to a world-class one.
Wade’s First Rock Prodigy Award
In 2014, Wade won the first Rock Prodigy Award, which is presented by the American Alpine Club. The inaugural award was given to Wade for demonstrating exceptional talent in rock climbing during her age group (14-18). She is just one of four other women to win the award since its inception.
Wade’s first international win came in 2015 when she became a member of the New Zealand Women’s Climbing Team. This was followed by her first world championship title that same year.
As a result of her international success, she was invited to join the US Women’s National Team in 2016.
Zaya Wade is the First Woman to Free Solo the Nose on Mt. Elbert
In the past, climbers have taken six hours to complete the climb, never having completed it in under four. In June of this year, Zaya Wade became the first woman to free solo The Nose on Mt. Elbert in just two hours, without ropes or safety gear. To put that into perspective, she did so at age 19 and is now also a member of the US Women’s National Team.
Wade has been climbing for less than five years but already has a number of titles to her name including Miss World New Zealand and was crowned an ambassador for her country following her victory in 2015.
Zaya Wade is the New Zealand Climbing Ambassador
Wade, who was crowned Miss World New Zealand in 2015, was catapulted up the ranks of international climbing to become the first woman to free solo The Nose on Mt. Elbert in two hours without safety gear or ropes. Wade is a rising star in the world of rock climbing and is now an ambassador for New Zealand, as well as its climbing scene.
The 19-year old has climbed with some of the best young climbers in the world, including American climber Alex Puccio and Canadian Steph Davis. As a member of the US Women’s National Team, Wade is also part of a group that includes American climbers Meagan Martin and Olivia Demko.
Zaya Wade for the Future
In a world where women’s participation in sport is slowly growing, this young woman has taken a huge step into the limelight and has done so with no fear. Wade is determined to force through any obstacle put in front of her and has shown that she will not stop until she reaches the top.
We can only look forward to what this young woman has yet to offer the world of rock climbing and how she will continue to build an entire nation’s presence on the international stage. With her determination, it seems like Zaya Wade just might be the new face of rock climbing.
