Josef “V10 Joe” Maier, an 18 year old senior at El Camino, is a Pipeworks staple. If you’ve stepped foot in the gym in the last four years, you have probably seen Joe bouldering somewhere in the gym.
The Sacramento high school student began climbing at Pipeworks when he was 13. An older friend brought him to the gym and he just “got more and more into it,” said Maier. Since then, Maier has amassed a solid tick of hard boulder problems in Bishop like Xavier’s Roof (v11) at Dale’s Camp, Beefy Gecko (v11) at the Sad’s, and an onsight of Center Direct (v10) on the Buttermilk’s Grandma Peabody. “My favorite place to climb is in Bishop. I really like Tahoe, but there’s snow there right now. I like to climb wherever there’s good rock,” said Maier.
Maier’s climbing time at Pipeworks not only helped him send on his favorite granite boulders but has also helped him climb well at indoor comps too. Recently, Maier headed to the USA Climbing’s Regional Championships at Rock Sport Climbing in Reno Nevada, where he placed first in the Junior Male Division, the 18-19-year-old men. “It was really fun. It was an all iso comp. You didn’t get to see the routes until you climbed them,” said Maier. “This is my first year competing. It’s fun. I am glad I am doing it.”
Maier plans to represent Pipeworks at Nationals, which take place in Boulder Colorado from February 18th to the 20th. To show support for Maier, there is a donation jar on the front counter to help the climber get to the comp. Maier needs money for airfare and accommodations to get to the comp. On Wednesday, February 9th at Sacramento Pipeworks there will be a bake sale for him and the two other NorCal Climbing members, Matt and Hannah Grossman, heading to the comp.
Support V10 Joe’s trip to Nationals by donating to the V10 Joe fund at Pipeworks or by stopping by the bake sale on Wednesday February 9th.
Find out more about our rock climbing teams at Sacramento Pipeworks!
