Sam has been Head of Design at Mountain Equipment since 2009. His lifelong passion for climbing played a large part in his decision to steer his way from an international position back to the UK. Crucially, living and working on the Eastern edge of Manchester puts the iconic gritstone climbing and bouldering of the Peak District within range.

Simply getting out on the rock is not necessarily as simple as it sounds though, with a demanding day job and family life compressing personal climbing time into narrow windows of opportunity. But there is always a way. Some days begin with a pre-dawn start to fit in a session on a project, others finish with late night training on his board.

In between the bustle of the high summer and alpine winter months, Natalie Berry finds ways to embrace the changing of the seasons in a deserted Chamonix.