Hi Fay! To start, can you introduce yourself?
My name is Fay, I am 38 years old and I am a professional mountaineer and skier. I worked in tech as a data analyst, but I now dedicate myself full-time to mountain sports, exploring new routes and projects around the world.
What sport do you play? And for how long?
I'm a mountaineer and skier: ice, rock, mixed terrain, and even steep skiing. I started about ten years ago, which is relatively late, but it means I've been fully committed ever since. The mountains are now a part of me.
Aside from sports, what motivates you?
The simple act of being in the mountains. Observing them. Imagining new ideas. I'm inspired by history, by what people did before all the modern equipment came along. I also love creativity: connecting disciplines, approaching the terrain differently, and bringing a playful spirit to the most demanding environments.
Can you tell us about some of the highlights of your sporting career?
During COVID, my lifestyle completely changed. I stopped commuting and started living life to the fullest in the mountains. My skiing improved rapidly, and I began training properly for climbing. I found strong female partners and started tackling more challenging routes. Within a year, I climbed the Eiger's North Face, the Walker Spur, Denali, and made the first female ascent of the Phantom Direct on the Grandes Jorasses. That was the year The North Face noticed me, and I embarked on my life as a full-time athlete.
What is your best performance or your best sporting memory?
My Ride to Steep Lines project : a 10-day, purely physical journey starting in Chamonix, cycling to Switzerland, skiing three steep lines from the valley, and then cycling back home. It was raw, calm, and deeply personal. This project truly reflected who I am.
What is the most wonderful encounter that sport has offered you?
My encounter with Line van den Berg . She was strong, courageous, and unfiltered, and we clicked immediately. We climbed some of the most iconic routes in the Alps together, and she became one of the most important people in my life. Her death, two years after we met, was a tremendous loss, but the time we spent together remains one of the greatest gifts the mountains have given me.
…And your best day?
An early spring ski descent in perfect snow after a long backpack, just me and a partner, no tracks, no noise, just calm, effort, and fluidity. One of those days when you feel perfectly at one with the mountain.
Why did you agree to join the COOKNRUN team?
I needed a reliable fuel source, and I loved the chocolate-peanut butter energy bar . It tastes great, gives me energy, and fits perfectly into my outdoor adventures!
What do you like about COOKNRUN?
Taste. Values . Natural ingredients. Community spirit and a shared love for outdoor adventure.
Do you have a favorite product in the range? Why that one?
Without a doubt, the famous peanut butter bar : super tasty, easy to digest and ideal for long days in the mountains.
How would you describe your partnership with COOKNRUN in a few words?
Tasty, authentic, energizing and designed for the great outdoors.
What are your next goals or projects?
I'm returning to India this year with Michelle Dvorak to attempt the first ascent of Chaukhamba III , a still unclimbed peak we've dreamed of for years. We tried last year and failed. If we succeed, we will be the first team, and the first all-female team, to reach the summit.
What can we wish for you in the future?!
Wish me good conditions and the strength to continue pushing my limits creatively.
One last word?
True growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone!
