Cheyne Lempe Joins Rab N.A. Athlete Team
For all of you climbers out there, Rab just announced the the addition of Cheyne Lempe to their North American athlete team.
photo by: Kyle Berkompas
Still close to the beginning of what promises to be a long climbing career, Cheyne Lempe only started climbing 5 years ago, yet already he has several climbing records and first ascents under his belt.
In just a few quick seasons Cheyne’s eagerness to learn granted him access to some of climbing’s best mentors with opportunities to cut his teeth on the big walls of Yosemite and in the high mountains of Patagonia. When a brief stint at the University of Colorado solidified the idea that Cheyne’s heart was truly in the mountains, he gave up school, tossed everything into the car and moved to Yosemite Valley.
Cheyne honed his skills by volunteering for Yosemite Search and Rescue before just recently being made an official member of the highly exclusive 8-person team. When not helping to pluck injured climbers off big walls, Cheyne works on his strength training and earns extra cash by carrying haul bags down El Cap for climbers who are too tired to do so themselves. In just the last two years Cheyne’s gotten strong, confident, and really started proving his worth as an up-and-coming climber; he’s established several impressive speed records in the Valley, bagged a few first ascents in Patagonia, and even been featured on the cover of Alpinist magazine.
Lempe joins Aaron Mulkey, Scott Bennett, Melanie Bernier and Eli Helmuth to complete Rab’s small yet talented North American Athlete Team. “Cheyne is eager and extremely hard working. His commitment to the mountains combined with a natural talent for storytelling and photography would make him an ideal member of any athlete team. We are honored that he has chosen to work with us.” says Samantha Killgore, Marketing Manager at Rab USA.
Recent additions to Rab’s athlete team highlight the brand’s growing presence in the North American market and serve to emphasize the brand’s ongoing commitment to alpinism. “Rab is not interested in watering down our brand message or our commitment to climbing. This brand was born in the mountains and by working with individuals who subscribe to that same commitment, we keep the brand focus where it needs to be.”, underscores Killgore.
Below is just a brief look at some of Lempe’s recent accomplishments:
-The North Pillar Sit Start (1,900 meters, 5.11, A0), Cerro Fitz Roy linkup – First Ascent
-Monos Al Cielo (500 meters, 5.11), Aguja Giullaumet – First Ascent
-The Nose (5.9, C2, Grade VI), El Capitan – Youngest person to solo in a day, 19 hours 21 minutes
-The Zodiac (5.8, C3, Grade VI), El Capitan – Youngest person to solo in a day, 19 hours 7 minutes
The clothing brand Rab was started in 1981 by Rab Carrington, who was one of Britain’s foremost mountaineers. Thier goal was to design and manufacture the world’s finest down clothing and sleeping bags. From its earliest days, Rab created a reputation for producing garments that are for ‘the most extreme conditions in the world’ and for searching out the finest technical fabrics to use in its designs. Rab clothing stands among the most technical and innovative on the market, designed to meet the exacting demands of the Scottish mountains that remain the inspiration and testing ground for many of its products. The Rab brand continues to be run by climbers for climbers. All products are tested in extreme environments by our team of mountain athletes.
Check out a few of Rab's product in our review section:
Rab Scimitar Soft Shell Pants and Jacket
Rab Alpine Shorts, MeCo 120 Shirt and Orbit Pull-On
Rab Infinity Down Jacket for women