Sam Elias

Sam is a late blooming, all-arounder whose combined accomplishments set him in a league of his own. He started climbing in 2005 at 23 years old after college and a serious ski racing pursuit. He's done 5.14d sport, 5.14- trad, V12, M13, Ice comp podiums, international climbing development, Mt. Everest, and more. Sam is the son of a Syrian immigrant father and a Polish-American mother, and was born around Detroit. He feels deeply connected to the cultures of his parents and also to the place where he grew up. He believes in the blue-collar way of life, and in earning your keep, and also in taking active roles in community.

His creative passions are just as varied as his climbing ones. He studied ceramics in college. Now he is a printmaker, and loves to sketch and doodle. Sometimes he writes. He's done a partial tattooing apprenticeship. He's done design work from some of his own tattoos to clothing and the Beyond the Wall line for The North Face, as well as other concept lines. He has shaped climbing gym holds and designed gym spaces.  Curiosity and creativity and contrast are some themes in Sam's life. He draws as much inspiration from urban environments as he does from the mountains. When he travels, he loves to learn about places by visiting museums and galleries, parks, cafes or a city’s high point. It's important for him to get the many sensations of a city’s lifestyle and culture. This all brings context and balance to his climbing life and to the more wild and natural places. Source: www.thenorthface.com/en-us/about-us/athletes/sam-elias