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Alex Honnold’s Netflix Skyscraper Live Free Solo of Taipei 101 is Postponed
Netflix’s Skyscraper Live special featuring Alex Honnold’s Taipei 101 climb has been postponed due to weather concerns. The event was originally scheduled to air live on Friday night, Jan. 23, at 8 pm ET, which would have been 9 a.m. Saturday morning in Taiwan.
Honnold is attempting to climb Taipei 101, the 11th tallest building in the world, as a free solo ascent, meaning he will use no ropes or safety equipment. Given the extreme risk involved, weather conditions must be ideal for the climb to proceed safely. Any moisture on the building’s surface could significantly increase the danger.
The climb has now been pushed by 24 hours and will air on Saturday night instead. Netflix made the announcement just 30 minutes before the scheduled broadcast, stating, “Due to weather, we are unable to proceed with today’s #SkyscraperLIVE event. It has been rescheduled for Saturday, January 24 at 8 PM ET | 5 PM PT. Safety remains our top priority, and we appreciate your understanding.”
Ahead of the event, producer James Smith discussed contingency plans in an interview with Variety, noting there was a 30 per cent chance of rain earlier in the day. “Our main contingency planning is we can delay the broadcast by maybe an hour, maybe slightly longer,” Smith said. He explained that if conditions remained too wet, postponing to the next day was always an option, adding that Honnold and the safety team both needed to be fully comfortable before proceeding.
Netflix unscripted series vice president Jeff Gaspin echoed those sentiments, saying, “We’ll be on site for a few days after if, for some reason he doesn’t go on that day.” He also noted that seasonal weather limits the window for attempting the climb.
Read an interview here with Dan Goodwin, another experienced urban free solo climber, who said, “We must clearly distinguish between a staged performance, a dress rehearsal perfected on top-rope where the variables are controlled, and a death defying performance, an on-sight free solo. One is a show; the other is ‘do or die.'”
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