Mahroof Malik - loves mountains, bikes, maps, coffee. And something sweet, maybe a toffee.
What drives you to spend time outside?
I like the spirit of adventure, it’s so carefree like children playing… and I like playing. I live by the George Bernard Shaw quote: ‘we don’t stop playing because we grow old… we grow old because we stop playing’.
Where are your favourite places to go?
I most like to be in the mountains, whether that is climbing, cycling or walking, nothing feels as good. Give me a map and compass and I am in my happy place.
What is your favourite thing to do outdoors?
In my hobbit like way, I love going on an adventure. This usually means a walk, climb or bike ride somewhere but I could equally be exploring new places. I just love being in connection with the natural world.
Who inspires you and how?
Anybody who faces adversity but fights through it to carry on doing what they love. It makes me so grateful about the opportunities I have. I think somebody like Martyn Ashton (Mountain Biker) is a real great inspiration to me as he broke his back during a stunt and is now paralysed from the waist down. To see him ride a bike again was unreal.
What are your focuses this year to help people get outside more often?
Ideally I would like to increase my online presence, so that I can inspire more people to get out and try different activities like exploring bothy’s. I’d really like to visit all the other champions in their ‘element’ and broaden my horizons too as they are such amazing people and it would be great to learn from them too.
What are your 3 biggest life achievements?
Kilimanjaro summit, Mountain Leader, Lands End to John O’Groats cycle ride. All of these had been on my list for a long time and so achieving them was monumental… as for the rest of that ‘list’ of mine…
3 words you live by…
Proper – Fun – Adventure
Do you have any guilty pleasures?
I have a sweet tooth so I warn you now, put any cake, chocolate or ice cream in front of me and I can perform a magic disappearing trick for you!
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