Ben Moon (climber)
{{short description|British rock climber}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox climber
| image =
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| name = Ben Moon
| nationality = British
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|06|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = London
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| typeofclimber = Sport climbing, bouldering
| highestgrade =
| highestredpoint = {{Climbing grade|9a}}
| highestonsight =
| highestboulder = {{Boulder grade|8B+}}
| knownfor = First to climb consensus {{Climbing grade|9a}}
| firstascents =
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| website = {{URL|www.moonclimbing.com}}
| retired = 2003
| updated = 13 May 2013
}}
Ben Moon (born 13 June 1966) is a rock climber from England. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Moon, along with climbing partner Jerry Moffatt, were the two strongest British rock climbers and were key pioneers in the development of standards in international sport climbing. In 1991, Moon made the first-ever redpoint in history of a consensus grade {{climbing grade|8c+}} climbing route with his ascent of ''Hubble.
Climbing career
Moon's first officially declared {{climbing grade|8c}} routes had somewhat controversial names. The routes were both in France and had been previously attempted for a long time by local climbers. After climbing them Moon named them after French military disasters, first the Maginot Line, at Volx,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=158|title=Sport Climbing World Powers|publisher=ukclimbing.com|date=July 2006|accessdate=14 May 2013}}{{Cite web|url=http://desnivel.com/personajes/entrevista-a-ben-moon|title=Entrevista a Ben Moon|publisher=desnivel.com|date=25 June 2001|accessdate=14 May 2013|language=Spanish|archive-date=13 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313031620/http://desnivel.com/personajes/entrevista-a-ben-moon|url-status=dead}} and secondly Agincourt, at Buoux.{{Cite web|url=http://www.climbing.com/route/buoux-revisiting-frances-crag-of-the-1980s/|title=Buoux: Revisiting France's Crag of the 1980s|publisher=climbing.com|author=Jim Thornburg|date=22 April 2010|accessdate=14 May 2013}} On 8 June 2015, Moon redpointed the Steve McClure route Rainshadow, {{climbing grade|9a}}, at Malham Cove in North Yorkshire, England.{{cite web |url= http://www.planetmountain.com/english/News/shownews1.lasso?l=2&keyid=42811 |title=Ben Moon storms through Rainshadow 9a at Malham Cove - Planetmountain.com, climbing, News, mountaineering |work=planetmountain.com |year=2015 |accessdate=9 June 2015}}{{cite web |url= https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2015/06/ben_moon_on_rainshadow_9a_-_im_over_the_moon-69776 |title=INTERVIEW: Ben Moon on Rainshadow 9a - "I'm Over the Moon!" |work=ukclimbing.com |year=2015 |accessdate=10 June 2015}}
Business ventures
In 2002, Moon founded his climbing clothing and equipment company, Moon Climbing, after splitting from his previous company, S7.{{cite web |title=About Moon Climbing |url=https://moonclimbing.com/about-moon |website=moonclimbing.com}} One of Moon Climbing's most popular products is the MoonBoard, an overhanging climbing wall used to train dynamic climbing.{{cite web |title=How and Why to Train on the Moonboard |url=https://www.climbing.com/skills/how-and-why-to-train-on-the-moonboard/ |website=Climbing |access-date=17 July 2021 |date=2 December 2017}}
Notable ascents
- Statement of Youth {{climbing grade|8a}}, Lower Pen Trwyn (UK), first ascent (1984)
- Hubble {{climbing grade|8c+}}, Raven Tor (UK), first ascent (1990)
- Voyager (low start) {{boulder grade|8B+}}, Burbage (UK), first ascent (2006){{cite web |title=Ben Moon |url=https://dmmclimbing.com/Climbers/Ben-Moon |website=DMM Climbing |access-date=15 July 2021}}
- Rainshadow {{climbing grade|9a}}, Malham Cove (UK), repeat ascent (2015)
Filmography
- One Summer, Bouldering In The Peak (1994)
- The Real Thing (1996)
- Hard Grit (1998)
- Stick it (2001)
- Stone Love (2001)
- Winter Sessions (2006)
Bibliography
- {{cite book |title=Statement: The Ben Moon Story |first=Ed |last=Douglas |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Statement-Moon-Story-Ed-Douglas/dp/1906148988 |date=2015 |isbn=978-1906148980 |publisher=Vertebrate Publishing |accessdate=31 December 2021}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.moonclimbing.com/}}
- [http://www.ifsc-climbing.org/index.php?option=com_ifsc&view=athlete&id=89 IFSC Profile]
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Category:British rock climbers
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