KEY POINTS
- Alex Honnold’s Taipei 101 free climb was postponed because of weather concerns.
- The 1,667-foot skyscraper presents physical and mental challenges unlike natural rock faces.
- Netflix will broadcast the Alex Honnold Taipei 101 free climb live worldwide.
World renowned rock climber Alex Honnold will attempt a rope free ascent of Taipei 101 in Taiwan’s capital on Saturday evening in the United States after weather conditions prompted a 24 hour delay, Netflix said.
The Alex Honnold Taipei 101 free climb marks a rare intersection of elite climbing and urban architecture.
Unlike his previous natural ascents, the event places a celebrated climber on one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, drawing global attention to risk, endurance and the limits of human performance.
Honnold, 40, is best known for his 2017 rope free ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, later documented in the Academy Award winning film “Free Solo.”
According to his official biography, the California native began climbing at age 11 and later completed a “triple solo” of Mt. Watkins, Half Dome and El Capitan within 24 hours.
Taipei 101, once the world’s tallest building, rises 1,667 feet and features protruding balconies every eight stories, a design element Honnold has described as disruptive to rhythm and recovery.
“Climbing a skyscraper removes the variability climbers usually rely on for micro-rests,” said Kevin Jorgeson, professional climber and longtime collaborator of Honnold. “That monotony can amplify fatigue.”
Scott Davis, a sports physiologist at the University of Colorado Boulder, said sustained isometric loading on uniform surfaces can tax grip endurance more than varied natural routes, increasing cumulative fatigue over time.
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“There’s a plan and I’m executing the plan,” Honnold said in a Netflix statement, describing his mental approach.
Netflix spokesperson Jessica Braslow said the delay reflects “standard safety protocols for live athletic events affected by weather.”
If completed, the Alex Honnold Taipei 101 free climb would stand as one of the most prominent urban free solos ever attempted, expanding how climbing audiences view the sport’s possibilities.
The Alex Honnold Taipei 101 free climb underscores how elite athletes continue to push boundaries, translating skills honed in nature to the built environment while navigating new risks and global scrutiny.
NOTE! This report was compiled from multiple reliable sources, including official statements, press releases, and verified media coverage.
