Name:
 

Dave Ayton

Full Time Job:
 

Maths/PE Teacher

Age:

26

Outdoor Qualifications:

Single Pitch Award
Walking Group Leader
Rafting Level 1
REC First Aid

Other Qualifications:

BSc (Hons) Computer-aided Mechanical and  Manufacturing Engineering
Post Graduate Certificate in Secondary Education
Qualified First Aid instructor - Heart Start

How long have you been working in the outdoor industry?

10 years

What did you do previously?

Just climbed, walked, crawled!

What’s your biggest achievement to date?

Leading E7/8.
Onsight soloing E6.
Redpointing 8a's on bolts.
Establishing 1^st ascents of previously unclimbed routes both in Ireland and the UK.

What do you love most about your job?

Bringing people out of their comfort zones and seeing them catch the "outdoors bug".

What do you like least about your job?

Having to go back to a desk on a Monday with my head full of flashes of rafting, gorge walking or climbing from the weekend.

What do you do for fun?

Running - I really enjoy running and have represented North Wales at national athletics, cross country and fell running events.
Slacklining - it's great fun!
Climbing of course! Any chance I get I'm climbing - indoors, outdoors anywhere…it makes me happy :)

What’s your ultimate ambition?

To find and climb some major new routes in the worlds greater mountain ranges.
Develop my "Big-wall" climbing.
Keep improving in all disciplines of climbing through training and experience.
Learn Guitar :)

What’s your favourite…

                 …climb/walking route, etc?

Primal Scream - E6 multi-pitch in Fair Head,
Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland

                 …river/paddling venue, etc?

River Dee, North Wales

                 …book?

Good Omens

                 …film?

So many… Kung Fu Hustle?

                 …song?

Bongo Bong - Manu Chao

Something not a lot of people know about you:

I was the "Fat Kid" and only had my first baked potato when I was 21 in the south of France!

Anything else interesting about you?

I've a little dog called Rocky who has mastered the art of looking like a cute puppy in order to get attention and food from strangers… don't be fooled!!