Netflix
Netflix pulled off one of the most nerve-wracking live events ever, streaming Alex Honnold’s ropeless ascent of Taipei 101 in real time. This climb was somehow both awe-inspiring and really unpleasant to watch. Skyscraper Live follows Honnold as he scales one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, with no safety net, no second chances, and no room for error.
The climb, originally scheduled for earlier in the week before being postponed due to inclement weather, was successfully streamed on January 24, turning a familiar city landmark into a grueling test of endurance and precision. Rising 508 meters (1,667 feet) above Taipei, the 101-story tower became a vertical gauntlet as viewers watched as Honnold methodically worked through its unforgiving geometry, floor by floor.
Netflix later released another highlight video capturing key moments from the climb. From Honnold’s feet on the wall, through some tense mid-climb sections, to his final push at the top (there was also an amazing moment where we saw him relax and take a breather, using just his legs, before reaching the top). Even though it’s been edited, just watching it will make you sweat.
Experience the mountain climbing you’ve spent years imagining in real time.
Honnold is no stranger to seemingly impossible climbs. The American mountaineer is best known for his ropeless ascent of El Capitan, which was chronicled in Free Solo, but Taipei 101 presented an entirely different challenge. Unlike natural rock walls, the industrial surfaces of skyscrapers are nearly unforgiving, and fatigue can be as dangerous as a single mistake during long, repetitive movements.
The most shocking thing for Honnold wasn’t just completing the climb, it was the feeling of finally achieving what he had spent years imagining. “It’s incredible,” he said after completing the climb. “You spend a lot of time thinking about it and imagining it possible, but actually doing it always feels different.”
Despite the obvious risks, Honnold never framed these feats as life-changing moments. “I don’t want them to feel like something crazy is happening,” he says. “We want them to feel like it’s a relatively normal day.” That idea extended to the setting itself, which felt oddly unrealistic before the climb began. “There’s something surreal about waiting for the light to change, crossing the crosswalk, and then jumping up and climbing,” he says.
Discipline, repetition, mental restraint
Once I hit a wall, the experience quickly narrowed. “Once you’re up there, the experience basically feels the same,” Honnold said. The most important thing in the preparation phase was not bravery, but self-control. “The hardest part in the last two weeks before the climb is sticking with the program,” he explains, explaining the temptation to push too hard as the event approaches.
The scale of Taipei 101 means repeated movements over long periods of time, where physical exhaustion and mental deterioration can silently worsen. Honnold rejected the idea that boredom creeps in. “You don’t have to worry about getting bored while climbing a giant skyscraper freely and solo,” he said. Instead, his focus remained deliberately narrow. “I want to embrace the meditative side of it,” he said. “Concentrate on one movement at a time and work your way all the way to the top.”
Netflix’s calculated risk
Broadcasting the ropeless climbing live added an extra layer of suspense not only to the viewers but also to Netflix itself. While large-scale live events come with broadcast safeguards and delays, the platform still took significant reputational risks by airing rising programming where a single mistake could have devastating consequences.
But for Honnold, once he hit the wall, the presence of a global audience became almost imperceptible. “There are cameramen filming. They’re all friends of mine,” he said. “In other words, it feels exactly like making a documentary.” The moment when it felt different happened right after we started. “The biggest challenge was staying calm,” he said. “I felt a little nervous at the start.”
At the top, with Taipei stretching out below us and the city operating as usual, it was a theatrically-free moment. “What a view! Amazing!” Honnold said with a laugh about the wind and timing. A dramatic turnaround was not in store for him. “I love having a reason to get up and train,” he said. “Basically, it’s like the joy of effort.”
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