The North Face Sponsors Bear Grylls

British mountaineer Bear Grylls is the latest outdoors athlete to be sponsored by The North Face.

Grylls, who is just 29, is best known as the youngest Briton ever to summit Everest and return alive, though most members of the general public will probably know him as the Everest climber who worries about his anti-perspirant before addressing the RGS thanks for his appearance in a Sure For Men TV ad. His dry underarms should, of course, mean valuable dry cleaning savings for the company.

Grylls was just 23 when he climbed Everest, before that he was the youngest Briton to climb the beautiful nearby peak of Ama Dablam then in 2003 he led the first team to cross the Atlantic via the Arctic Circle unassisted in an open rigid inflatable boat in aid of the Prince's Trust.

Remarkably, all this was achieved after he broke his back in three places during a freefall parachuting accident in southern Africa, whilst serving with the British SAS.

"Bear loves The North Face brand and is as extreme in his enthusiasm for our clothing and equipment as he is in his expeditions. His passion for conquering the outdoors and his sense of adventure is inspirational." Says Keith Byrne of TNF.

"The North Face will be supporting Bear Grylls on all his projects for 2004 and will provide all his clothing and equipment from the most specialised technical gear to lifestyle garments."

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