Vertebrate to publish autobiography of legendary British climber Ben Moon

Ben Moon, one of the world's greatest ever rock climbers, has signed a deal with multi-award winning publisher Vertebrate Publishing to release his autobiography. The book is scheduled for release in September 2013, with a working title of 'Statement'.

From a fascinating childhood – his father was the celebrated abstract artist Jeremy Moon – and a climber since a young age, Ben shot to fame in the 1980s as one of a group of talented British climbers – alongside Jerry Moffatt and Johnny Dawes – prepared to push the boundaries of rock climbing both in the UK and abroad.

In 1984, aged only 18, he made the first ascent of Statement of Youth (F8a) at Lower Pen Trwyn, and in doing so laid down a marker for how climbing – and specifically sport climbing – could develop in the UK.

In 1990 he made the first ascent of Hubble at Raven Tor in the Peak District. Internationally significant, it was the first route in the world to be given F8c+. Earlier this year, Adam Ondra – arguably the world's best sport climber – suggested in an interview with www.planetmountain.com that the route could be F9a:

'The world's first 8c+, which could be easily even 9a in my opinion ... one must admit that it is of revolutionary difficulty for its time and I believe that it isn't by any means easier than Action Directe, the world's first 9a established a year later.'Ondra commented.

For many years one of the world's leading boulderers, Ben has established and repeated problems of Font 8b difficulty around the world, including Black Lung in Joe's Valley, Utah, and High Fidelity at Caley in North Yorkshire. In 2006 he made the first ascent of Voyager Sit-Start (the stand start being also his problem) – graded Font 8b+, and still unrepeated, it is one of the hardest in the UK.

A successful businessman, his company Moon Climbing produces climbing equipment and clothing, sold and used around the world.

John Coefield, Vertebrate’s Publishing Manager commented: 'We're motivated at Vertebrate to publish books that we want to read, and I think Ben's is a fascinating story that needs to be told. His hardcore sport climbing and bouldering legacy belies a thoughtful personality that speaks to the heart of climbing. He's a climber for life, and his life story will make for a great read.'

Statement will be published in September 2013.

Notes to Editors

For more information contact John Coefield at Vertebrate Publishing on john.coefield@v-publishing.co.uk or +44 (0)114 267 9277.

For more information about Ben Moon and Moon Climbing please visit: www.moonclimbing.com