**Alex Honnold to Scale Taiwan’s Taipei 101 Live on Netflix**
Key Takeaways:
- Alex Honnold will free-climb Taipei 101 in a global Netflix livestream on January 23.
- This marks his first attempt to climb a skyscraper of this scale.
- The event is produced by Plimsoll Productions with Honnold as executive producer.
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Professional climber Alex Honnold is trending after announcing he will free-climb the exterior of the towering Taipei 101 skyscraper on January 23. The climb will stream live on Netflix as part of a two-hour special, “Skyscraper Live,” starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
Skyscraper Climb to Be Streamed Worldwide
This high-stakes attempt will see Honnold ascend the 1,667-foot building — one of the tallest in the world — entirely without ropes or safety equipment. Known globally for his record-setting free solo climb of El Capitan in Yosemite in 2017, Honnold now shifts his focus from sheer cliff faces to urban architecture. He told Netflix’s Tudum that climbing Taipei 101 offers a “cool” and “exciting” vertical challenge, different from natural rock faces.
Why This Urban Climb Is a First for Honnold
While Honnold has scaled some of the world’s most iconic natural walls, including El Capitan and Half Dome, he’s never before ascended a man-made structure of this magnitude. Skyscrapers present a unique test: they are often more vertical and repetitive in design than natural formations, requiring a different set of movements and endurance. Honnold noted that most rock faces aren’t perfectly vertical throughout the climb, which sets Taipei 101 apart as a physical and mental challenge.
What to Expect from “Skyscraper Live”
The event is being produced by Plimsoll Productions and includes Executive Producers Alex Honnold, Grant Mansfield, James Smith, Alan Eyres, and Jonathan Retseck. The live broadcast aims to capture not only the climb itself but Honnold’s preparation and the risks involved. For Netflix, the show represents a continuation of its investment in extreme sports live events, using real-time tension to draw large global audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is alex honnold trending?
A: He is attempting to free-climb Taipei 101 in a live global Netflix broadcast on January 23.
Q: What happens next?
A: The “Skyscraper Live” event airs on Netflix at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
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