The Current Who's Who

Martin was one of the first professional climbers and was a ubiquitous figure on the UK and world scene from the early to late 1980’s with many important first ascents and repeats to his name. These included the first 8B+ in the UK, ‘Mecca’ in 1986, the fifth ascent of ‘Chouca 8B Buoux, France, in 1985, and an incredible flashed ascent of To Bolt or Not To Be 5.14A, at Smith Rock in 1987.

Martin pictured in his full 80's glory of garishness on the first ascent of Mecca...and with hair...

All this experience led to work and sponsorship with many of the larger emerging outdoor companies including Scarpa, Berghaus and Mammut, and meant ‘Basher’ – his nickname, gained from his forceful climbing style and large muscles - got an early lead into the world of business. This led to him laying down his ‘pro-climber’ status and joining Mammut in 1988.
Eight years at the Swiss giant as Salesman then International Product Manager gave Martin the experience he needed and in 1995 he moved back to the UK with his young family to take over Wild Country and revitalise it with a new dynamic approach.

Injuries have restricted Martins climbing in recent years to bigger goals rather than the hardest routes and now he’s more likely to be found in ‘the Valley’ than in the nearby ‘dale’!

Martin as he is now - older and wiser but quicker - atop Half dome after a quick day out on the North West Face....

Steve Foster – Sales Director / Marketing Director / Product Design

Another long serving figure on the UK climbing scene, with over 35 years experience, and well versed in both the trade and retail sides of the outdoor business, Steve cut his teeth in the previous era to Martin. Renowned for his steely fingers and tenacity Steve ‘Snakehips’ Foster was most closely associated to the developments of the late 70’s 80’s which saw grades rocket and this climbing game spread to a wider audience. Steve climbed with the likes of Ron Fawcett and the other ‘senior’ pro’s of the time.

As he was - Steve Foster in his new routing prime in 1978 on the first ascent of an E3 5C at Lands End Cornwall, UK. Unfortunately (unlike Steve) the route has since fallen into the sea....

On the business side, Steve successfully managed one of the most renowned independent outdoor retailers in the UK in the mid 80’s then had his first spell as a Sales Rep at WC. He then moved on to work with several rope companies and established his own distribution company before being tempted back in to the fold when Martin took over in 1995.

Steve has climbed extensively in the UK and Europe, and while we say in the office he’s ‘over the hill’, he is still trying to push his grade - and be found on the walls in winter and redpointing his way round Europe in summer.

As he is now - Steve grappling with the remarkable tubing tufas on 'Tube Nural' 6C+ in new money, Seynes....

Jason Myers - UK Sales Manager

The new UK Sales Manager is another example of Wild Country attracting and employing those who shine both on and off the crag, to keep up the company pedigree

Jason, has a wealth of experience in the trade, cutting his teeth heading up the climbing department during the early days of the famous Outside shop in the heart of the UKs Peak District. A break to complete a degree in business and marketing from Sheffield Hallam University was followed by more 'hands on' experience with a move to the supply side of the trade, with a high level of commitment and success.

Jason, as he was, on the awesome Le Spectre Du Sur Mutant, Buoux, 1987.

However, Jason is a possibly an even more well known figure on the crag. A very talented climber, and one of the leaders of the bouldering upsurge in the mid nineties, many of his boulder problems have attained "must try" status across the Peak and Yorkshire. These include the infamous Brad Pit 7C+ and the awesome Crookside Roof 7C+.

Less well known is Jasons roped heritage and the fact that after spending many months living with the Moons and Moffats at Buoux he was one of the first Brit's to climb F8b+ way back in 1987. A time when 8B+ was more than a tick, it was an event….A real all rounder Jason is certainly not afraid to put on big boots and a rope, and consequently has many Scottish and Alpine classics under his belt.

A more recent shot of Jason on the brilliant problem Crookside Roof 7C+, Crookrise.

Mark ‘Skeletor’ Smith - as he became known after an early nineties dieting phase – hails from nearby Chesterfield and is another fixture on the Peak District climbing scene. A strong climber on both limestone and grit, trad, bolts and bouldering, Mark has done a number of first ascents as well as building the most impressive training venues ever seen in Chesterfield.

Mark on an early ascent (for him) of Hot Fun Closing 8A in 1993 - ah the long hair and boyish looks.

Mark is a well known and well respected climber who also commented on the scene for a few years as Peak correspondent for the now defunct OTE magazine.

Mark as he is a few years on, wiser, stronger, leaner and with much nicer hair...at Font on Gospel 7c+

Neil Preston - Sales Representative

Neil was a late starter who only took up climbing at the age of 23. Deciding 'I can do that' after seeing people climbing whilst out walking, he and his mates bought shoes and took up soloing...(!). After a year or so of soloing - including a memerable day when he fell from 25ft onto his mate and they both decked - he decided to teach himself to use gear and to lead climb,

Neil Preston at Red Rocks in 1996

After the bug had fully ensnared him he left his job in Manchester to travel to alone to California. One of the most memorable events of this trip was doing Lost Arrow Spire in Yosemite. Several years and several trips to Europe followed this initial phase and has enjoyed some really fun trips away and tries to make the most of his weekend’s cragging time.

Over recent years, he's done some remote waterfall ice climbing and Alpine rock climbing in China and would like to explore these areas further. But right now his grade is improving on sports and trad to a healthy level and he's currently enjoying the varied climbing in the UK - on a rope.

Neil grabbing some worldly experience on a 7C+ near Bejing, China.

James Blay UK Sales Representative

James is one of UK Sales Reps and has joined us after university and a couple of years 'in store' at one of the UK's best stores.

He is a super keen climber and mainly boulders with many pretty damn hard ascents under his belt Brad Pitt 7c+, the Storm 7c and many more.

An ebullient climber of longstanding experience Richie has over 25 years of rock climbing experience under his belt.

Starting climbing in the northeast of England and serving a traditional apprenticeship, his grade started improving at college in Leeds in the late 80's and then a move to Sheffield saw a big leap in standards. With his grade improving, he became a bit of a fixture on the scene and started contributed to it by repeating and establishing a number of hard gritstone and limestone routes: perhaps the most famous being Born Slippy, a bold E8/6C 5.13RX at Curbar in the Peak District.

A very young, but stylish(?) Richie in 1984 on Falcon, Tremadoc....a bloody hard E1..

Richie has climbed extensively throughout Europe and the USA, as well as all around the UK and is happy on sports and trad on most rock types. Currently rehabiliating from two shoulder operations Richie is definately on the Wild Country subs bench at the moment.

On the business side Richie got into 'the outdoor world' proper when he moved to Sheffield in the early 90’s and started working in 'Outside' in Hathersage - mainly because it was so close to the crags to go climbing after work.
Richie started with Wild Country in 1997 as a Sales Rep and worked his way up to Sales Manager over the next few years. In between he was also active on the design side of the business and is most proud of the Matrix Harness concept, Superlight Rocks and the Xenon biner - three products which were his design and development projects.

Richie mainly now works as a consultant on the advertising and marketing side of the Wild Country operation, through his own company, RP Outdoor.

Richie in more halcyon days making his (only) front cover on Born Slippy E8 6C Curbar...

Ben Heason - The Staff Trainer

Ben joined Wild Country in 2006 properly, as a full time part-time staff trainer.....which effectively means he has signed on as the official Wild Country Staff Trainer but in a part time role. One month on and a couple off....one of those great jobs only a climber wants. After a period of working with the company more and more in a capacity of Sponsored Climber / Lecturer / Raconteur, Ben's ability with people shone through and this seemed the ideal move for both sides.

Ben in solo mode back on Parologism E7 6C, Roaches UK, for the photos - Photo Ian Parnell

There's no point in running through a full biog of Ben here as because he is one of our best known sponsored climbers there is a full biog in the site (click here to see Bens Biog). However, save to say that Ben's undoubted ability as a climber has been seen by all over the last few years in the UK, as he has impressed everyone one with his boldness, from big wall adventures (see Angel Falls story) to his ascents on his native gritstone.

His knowledge of our gear, from Infinity Ropes to Red Chili shoes to Wild Country hardware has been founded on hardcore use, and is now backed up by the insider knowledge from our designers. So if you do get to meet him you can know he speaks from a solid base...

PS. And if he's he's doing the kind of thing he's doing in this pic....don't disturb him...we don't want to have to find another trainer...

The next section gives some details of our distributors around the world - and we're proud of the fact they're all climbers like us. So to find out more about who you can get Wild Country products through and where to find them and a bit more about them click here..... Friends Around The World

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