MEET THE TEAM
SAM COX
Sam Cox founded the Pole to Pole Academy after a 13-year career in the Royal Marines, where he operated in some of the world’s most remote and unforgiving environments while leading high-performing teams under extreme pressure. His military service took him to the furthest latitudes and harshest terrains, which demanded resilience, precision, and the ability to perform when it mattered most.
In life beyond the military, Sam has channelled that expeditionary discipline into new challenges and bold ventures. Every expedition has deepened his belief in the transformative power of pushing human limits of endurance, self-reliance, and immersion in the unknown.
That ethos now drives everything we do at Pole to Pole: purposeful, demanding, and designed to bring out the very best in those who take part. A trip with Pole to Pole isn't as simple as a holiday. The Challenges and Adventures are carefully designed expeditions that reconnect people with the natural world, with resilience, and with themselves, making the aspirational accessible and delivering experiences that leave a lasting impact far beyond the journey itself.
JAMES BENSON KING
James Benson King is a renowned endurance cyclist, adventurer, and record-setting athlete. With over 32,000 km cycled from Alaska to Argentina and a Guinness World Record under his belt, James brings unmatched experience and resilience to the Pole to Pole team.
A specialist in extreme, unsupported expeditions, James has spent years understanding the mental and physical demands of long distance cycling in some of the harshest environments on Earth. Through storytelling via speaking and content creation, James inspires others to push beyond their limits. His work focuses on resilience, goal-setting, and mental endurance.
At Pole to Pole, James leads the cycling division with technical expertise, creative energy, and an unwavering belief in the human capacity to do the impossible.
OUR COMMITMENT
SAFETY FIRST, ALWAYS.
Our safety planning and protocols are uncompromising. Developed by expedition veterans and medical professionals, we ensure that everything we do is planned and accounted for, should the worst happen.
ACCESS WITH INTEGRITY.
We don’t believe in adventure at any cost. Our routes and experiences are selected with care, responsibility, and permission.
COMMUNITY BEYOND THE TRIP.
Joining a Pole to Pole Challenge or Adventure means entering a long-term community of driven, like-minded explorers.
