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Rock Athlete. Ron Fawcett with Ed Douglas
Ron Fawcett is a natural-born climber. In 1969, while still at school in his native Yorkshire, he tied into a climbing rope for the first time and was instantly hooked. From that moment on, it seemed nothing else in his life mattered nearly as much as his next vertical fix. Ten years later, Fawcett was the most famous rock climber in Britain and among the best in the world, part of a new wave whose dedication to training transformed the sport, pushing standards further and faster than ever before - or since. His legacy of new climbs ranks him alongside the very best in the history of the sport. He was also the first to style himself a professional rock climber, starring in the landmark television documentary "Rock Athlete", and appearing on the covers of magazines around the world. But far from enjoying the fame, Fawcett found the pressures of the limelight too much to bear, and at the end of the 1980s he faded from view. Now, for the first time, he tells his extraordinary story, of how his love of nature and the outdoors developed into a passion for climbing that took him to the top - and almost consumed him. Winner of the 2010 Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature.
240 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 7, 2018
Review on Rock Athlete by Ron Fawcett
Ron Fawcett`s “rock athlete” is an up-close and personal story. The story gives the reader an insight into Ron`s upbringing in the 1970-ties in England. The UK born and raised athlete had a safe, lovely and typical British working class upbringing, where climbing in his youth became a Sport of obsession to him. By the end of the book, he still does go climbing, alongside with running. Covering a period of high climbing-activity over two decades.
The scene of the sport-climbing was at a very early stage in the early 1970-ties. Climbing has seen the expansion of it`s availability with indoor climbing gyms. In early the 1970-ties, there were no climbing gyms, and the first climbing gym in Leeds opened in that period. The author`s need to go outdoors and his love for the climbing is very much the driving force for his climbing.
The equipment and the style of climbing were also evolving as one can learn from the book, most routes were climbed in an aid style and slowly moved towards free climbing. Up through history, he meets a lot of famous climbers. The story is almost a biography, but Ron Fawcett writes a tale for the interested along with his co-writer Ed Douglas.
Ron Fawcett`s “rock athlete” is an up-close and personal story. The story gives the reader an insight into Ron`s upbringing in the 1970-ties in England. The UK born and raised athlete had a safe, lovely and typical British working class upbringing, where climbing in his youth became a Sport of obsession to him. By the end of the book, he still does go climbing, alongside with running. Covering a period of high climbing-activity over two decades.
The scene of the sport-climbing was at a very early stage in the early 1970-ties. Climbing has seen the expansion of it`s availability with indoor climbing gyms. In early the 1970-ties, there were no climbing gyms, and the first climbing gym in Leeds opened in that period. The author`s need to go outdoors and his love for the climbing is very much the driving force for his climbing.
The equipment and the style of climbing were also evolving as one can learn from the book, most routes were climbed in an aid style and slowly moved towards free climbing. Up through history, he meets a lot of famous climbers. The story is almost a biography, but Ron Fawcett writes a tale for the interested along with his co-writer Ed Douglas.
May 11, 2025
Met the man himself on his Stanage circuit 2 days after starting the book. For a shy man he sure opens himself up in this autobiography. He has a very raw and honest approach to climbing and I take great inspiration from his dedication. Great book, wish it was longer.
March 19, 2012
I remember seeing Ron climbing in a corner of the Climbing Works in Sheffield. I remember it distinctly as I didn't at the time recognise him. I was trying to work a problem in the same spot and watched in awe at this man, my father's age, climbing so effortlessly that to someone who didn't climb, they'd think he was on the easiest boulder problem there. When I turned to my partner and said I couldn't do my climb because 'that dude's climbing over it', he whispered, 'that dude is Ron Fawcett'. I was glad for the heads up as the year previous I'd said this to Steve Mac: 'Thanks, but I don't think that'll work.' In fairness it wouldn't have. He was suggesting a rock-over. I'm crap at rock-overs. But I didn't know who the devil he was and now knowing who Ron was, I wasn't about to embarrass myself again!
Come on fingers do, your thing! and write a review.
I loved this book. The ghost writer, is superb and credit to them both Ron for creating such an inspiring, but humble book. I learned a lot more about Ron, which was great, but I learned a lot about the climbing scene, the life, the lifestyle, the drive and determination, the bug. At the end of the book, I didn't feel like Ron had been preaching or showing off, wanting the limelight of a biography, I came away with the sense that rock history had been recorded, that like the climbing, he just had to do it. Like he maybe owed it to the rock and the climbing generation/fraternity. The grit had given him the life he lived and he was giving us little rock hoppers an insight into what it was like as a Climber. Full time. I felt inspired with my own climbing and also more at ease with myself for climbing.
For me, the book left me with the great feeling of having had a perfect session out on the crag. You don't feel inadequate, you feel empowered, a success, you've learned some stuff and you've had a laugh with friends.
Come on fingers do, your thing! and write a review.
I loved this book. The ghost writer, is superb and credit to them both Ron for creating such an inspiring, but humble book. I learned a lot more about Ron, which was great, but I learned a lot about the climbing scene, the life, the lifestyle, the drive and determination, the bug. At the end of the book, I didn't feel like Ron had been preaching or showing off, wanting the limelight of a biography, I came away with the sense that rock history had been recorded, that like the climbing, he just had to do it. Like he maybe owed it to the rock and the climbing generation/fraternity. The grit had given him the life he lived and he was giving us little rock hoppers an insight into what it was like as a Climber. Full time. I felt inspired with my own climbing and also more at ease with myself for climbing.
For me, the book left me with the great feeling of having had a perfect session out on the crag. You don't feel inadequate, you feel empowered, a success, you've learned some stuff and you've had a laugh with friends.
October 10, 2014
This is by far the best biography in this genre that I have read. Ron Fawcett comes across as humble and uncompromisingly honest about both his climbing and his personal life. It is not clear how much the ghostwriter contributed, but he did an excellent job. The narrative is personal, conversational and inspiring. Yet another worthwhile trip down memory lane for me, and a book that is worth delving into again from time to time.
June 14, 2024
Inspiring!
January 3, 2015
Brilliant! First true climbing professional in the UK.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews