gsport is
delighted to announce that celebrated mountaineer and top conference speaker,
Deshun Deysel, who is currently busy with her Seven Summits Program, is our
September gSTAR.
Deshun also
has the honour of being our first gsport Cover Girl as we continue our
bid to raise the profile of women in sport and showcase vibrant South African
women who serve as role models.
Since she was
9, Deshun dreamt of climbing Mount Everest,
and she is currently living her dream in more ways than one.
In 1996,
earning just R2 000 a month in her job as a schoolteacher, her dream became
reality when she was selected for the 1st South African Everest Expedition. She
was the first black woman to set foot on Everest and she hasn’t looked back.
Deshun is
excited about her 7 Summits program in which she aims to climb the highest
mountain on each of the 7 continents. Last month, Deshun summited Mt Elbrus,
(Europe’s highest mountain) in Russia
and then in December/January she’ll travel to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro, the
highest mountain on the African continent.
The first two
mountain expeditions have been sponsored by 1st for Women Insurance
Brokers.
Deshun is still hoping to secure sponsorship for her five remaining mountains
in the 7 Summits projects: Carstensz Pyramid (Indonesia
– Oceania), Aconcagua (Argentina
– South America), Denali (Alaska – North
America), Everest (Asia) and Vinson Massif (Antarctica).
Among the
reasons why Deshun believes women have the advantage when climbing mountains:
that women are less likely to compete with mother nature, because we understand
the female temperament. She has also realised that being a woman is not at all a disadvantage
when climbing mountains.
So Deshun
celebrates her femininity at every opportunity and enjoys having her hair and
makeup done! Femininity, for her, is feeling confident about yourself; being
strong and determined, but not applying ‘hard’ energy to do so.
With her incredible
experiences as a mountaineer, and the lessons she’s learnt along the way,
Deshun has become one of South Africa’s top conference
speakers and has captivated audiences around the world with her inspiring and
fascinating talks.
Her company, D Deysel & Associates, is a
speaking, training and consulting entity and is also associated with Business
Presentation Skills (BPS) SA as well as the global TomorrowToday.biz network.
Deshun is super fit, and also enjoys
swimming; she does 70-80 laps in a 25 m pool twice weekly plus another 7hours
of a combination of spinning, cardio, running stairs and weight training.
Her favourite sports star is Ryk
Neethling. Her greatest passion is helping people reach their full potential.
Introducing our September gSTAR, gsport’s
first Cover Girl, Deshun Deysel!
What made you decide to climb seven of the world’s
highest mountains?
Over the past
12 years I’ve ended up on the slopes of five of the seven summits. I’ve come
really close to the top of all of them. My experience on these mountains and
the fact that my summit bids were mostly foiled by bad weather meant I thought
that I stood a good chance of succeeding this time.
Who is funding this initiative?
1st
for Women Insurance have generously agreed to get the 7 summits project
kick-started. I’ve just come back from climbing Mt.
Elbrus (Europe’s
highest peak) and will be climbing Kilimanjaro in January 2008. I’m still
working on getting a funding partner for the other 5 expeditions.
Describe your experience of climbing the first
mountain -Mount Elbrus – obstacles,
challenges, highs and lows?
Amazingly, my
Elbrus climb went off with very little drama. We had fantastic weather from
start to finish. My body/mind/spirit balance was in sinc. I was very positive
about getting to the top. I basically just decided to have very strong mind
control and didn’t allow my thoughts to wander off into the possibility of
disaster. That, together with my heavy reliance on God, got me to the top.
What are your plans for the next six climbs?
I’ve been so
fortunate in partnering with a sponsor who understands my passion for mountains
and helps me promote the sport to more South African women. It would be wonderful to find another such
sponsor for the remaining 5 espeditions.. I’m hoping to finish the 7 summits
project by July 2009.
Eleven years ago, you were on the 1st
South African expedition to Mount Everest. How
did that feel?
To be honest,
to climb Everest was always my dream. No, make that fantasy… I grew up
fantasizing about the life I have now. I didn’t actually think its going to
become a reality. So, being on Everest for the first time in 1996 was both a
dream come true and surreal. I stepped up wholeheartedly because [as a team] we
were making history. We were the 1st South African team to set foot
on Everest. I was the 1st black woman in the world to set foot on
Everest and we put the first South African on top of Everest. It was amazing
and a little scary.
What was it like being the only black female high
altitude mountaineer in the world at the time?
At the time,
I didn’t realize that there were no Black women climbers anywhere. Those in the
know told me. All I focused on, was my love for the mountains. It matters to
some that these titles exist. I really just want to climb, that’s all.
Why do you believe women have the advantage when
climbing mountains?
Women are
patient, have a natural affinity to be patient and flexible. We are built more
for endurance than speed and we have a high pain threshold. We’re more process
oriented and although we also want to get to the top, we’re less likely to
compete with mother nature, because we understand the female temperament…..
What has mountaineering taught you?
I’ve been
taught an enormous amount of humility! I’ve also learnt to enjoy the process of
climbing, rather than just looking down at my boots and missing everything on
the way to the top. More importantly, I’ve learnt that I don’t have to turn
into a man to be a good mountaineer!
What did you do before you fell in love with
mountaineering?
I’ve always
been in love with mountaineering! I was a school teacher between 1992-1997 and
graduated into the speaking/consulting work after returning from the 1st
Everest expedition in 1996 – where I’ve been ever since.
What are your other current projects?
7Summits,
building my consulting practice and growing the community initiatives I’m
involved in.
It must be great to have the support of a sponsor
like 1st for Women?
1st
for Women have been amazing! They support and believe in creating a platform
for empowered, passionate and visionary women. The synergy between my
activities and 1st for Women is astounding.
How do you enjoy your role as an international
motivational speaker?
I’m in the
fortunate position of living out two of my passions: climbing mountains and
educating people. I love to tell stories
about my experiences as a mountaineer. This work has taken me to places like Canada, Germany,
Kenya, the UK, etc. My favourite audiences are
still South Africans.
What lessons have your learnt along the way in life?
I’ve learnt
that life is not about money. We often tell ourselves that more money would
make us happier, make our dreams come true, make us feel safe, etc. I’ve learnt
that following your passion generally allows you to make money. Living to make
a difference to people has become my life’s work. In the process, I earn enough
to get by. It’s put things into perspective. I trust God more than I trust my
bank balance now.
How do you deal with challenges in your life?
I pray. I
have a wonderful group of praying friends. I can always count on their help and
support and the support of my family. My mom prays a lot for me too. She knows
I need it!
How do you keep fit?
I try to fit
in a 2hour training session at least 3 times a week and three 1hour sessions.
My general
activities are:
70-80 laps in
a 25m pool
7-9 sets of
the Westcliffe stairs (205 uneven steps in Northern
Johannesburg)
Spinning +
Strength training
Super Circuit
+ Strength training + core stability
What is your favourite sport?
Apart from
climbing, I really love swimming. I started at 2 yrs and dreamt of becoming a
SA swimmer at one point. I also played (and loved) volleyball throughout high
school and college. I played provincially for 5yrs.
Who is your favourite sports star?
Ryk Neethling…
gsport strives to celebrate femininity. How would you
define femininity?
I’m a very
feminine woman. I was an unrepentant tomboy as a child, but somehow, my
femininity just crept up on me in my late 20’s and 30’s. I dress in a more
feminine way; I love getting my hair done and I can chat over a cappuccino for
hours. I engage more intimately with people than I used to in my tomboy days. I
love hanging out with women far more than with men. Femininity, to me, is about
feeling confident about yourself; being strong and determined, but not applying
‘hard’ energy to do so.
Who are your role models?
My mom
What inspires you?
The laughter
and hope in children’s eyes. A prayer answered. The beginning of another day.
Our theme for this month is PASSION. What are you
most passionate about?
My greatest
passion is to help people reach their full potential…or at least some of their
potential. There is no greater satisfaction than to know that you’re doing what
you’re meant to with your life. I want to help as many as possible get there.
What advice do you have for women aspiring to be
mountaineers?
You have what
it takes already; guts, determination, endurance… Start small and build up to
the big ones. Not making it to the top doesn’t mean you’re not a good climber.
Many of the world’s best mountaineers have had to return to the same mountain
two, three, even four times, before getting to the top. If you can do life, you
can do mountains!
What is the best thing about being South African?
My strong
sense of identity. The wonderful climate. The diversity of our nation. The
endless potential and possibility.
What is your greatest ambition?
To please God
Find out more
about Deshun at the Deshun Deysel website .
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