Alex Honnold's highly anticipated free solo climb of Taiwan's 1,667-foot Taipei 101 skyscraper has been delayed to Sunday morning (Taiwan time) due to weather. The event, airing live on Netflix, has generated both excitement and ethical debates over the high-risk endeavor, especially given Honnold is a married father of two.
Professional rock climber Alex Honnold's unprecedented free solo ascent of the 1,667-foot (508-meter) Taipei 101 skyscraper, without ropes or protective equipment, has been postponed until Sunday morning in Taiwan due to weather conditions. The live Netflix broadcast will air at 9 a.m. in Taiwan and Saturday evening in the U.S. (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT). Honnold, renowned for his ropeless climb of El Capitan, aims to push climbing limits globally, viewing Taipei 101 as a singular objective. While French climber Alain Robert scaled the building with ropes in 2004, Honnold will be the first to free solo it. He has trained for months, practicing moves and consulting Robert, expressing confidence it will be 'engaging' but 'not that extreme.' The climb involves 101 floors, with the challenging 'bamboo boxes' section offering balconies for rest. The 'Skyscraper Live' broadcast will feature a 10-second delay for safety, with extensive production measures including cameramen inside, suspended high-angle operators, and continuous communication with Honnold and event producer James Smith. The event has sparked ethical discussions regarding the live broadcast of such a high-risk activity, particularly concerning Honnold's role as a father and the potential influence on impressionable youth. Experts like Subbu Vincent emphasize the importance of a 'back-off clause' and the broadcast delay, while author Jeff Smoot notes that embracing risk is fundamental to climbing culture, acknowledging the public's draw to danger. Local Taiwanese climbers, like Chin Tzu-hsiang, express excitement, seeing Honnold's climb as fulfilling a dream.
