The Climb (2023 TV show)

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The Climb is an 8-episode reality TV series that pits 10 amateur climbers against each other in multiple climbing scenarios and styles. The winner receives $100,000 USD and a $100,000 USD sponsorship from outdoor gear producer, prAna. The show stars professional rock climbers Chris Sharma and Meagan Martin and featured actor Jason Momoa.

Contents

Development

Momoa met Sharma in the mid-1990's while boulder climbing at Hueco Tanks, TX. The Climb is a collaboration between Sharma, Momoa's production company, On the Roam, and the Intellectual Property Corporation. [1] HBO Max greenlit The Climb in July, 2021. [2] Climbing locations included Mallorca, Wadi Rum, and Barcelona. [3]

Season 1

Season 1 aired on HBO Max in January, 2023. The ten episodes featured amateur climbers Robyn Ragins, Cat Runner, Alice Hafer, Dominique (Dom) Barry, Tiffany Soithongsuk, Andre (Deco) Braga, Bradford (Brad) Burns, Mario Stanley, Maiza Lima, and April Welch. Cat Runner won the grand prize after outclimbing Dom Barry. [3] [4]

Episode
Number
NameOriginal
Air Date
LocationClimb TypeEliminated
1Deep Water SoloJanuary 12, 2023Majorca, Spain Deep Water Solo April Welch
2The PrecipiceJanuary 12, 2023Majorca, Spain Free Climb Maiza Lima
3High BallJanuary 12, 2023 Albarracin, Spain Bouldering Mario Stanley
4The CaveJanuary 19, 2023Albarracin, SpainFree ClimbBrad Burns
5First AscentJanuary 19, 2023Wadi Rum, JordanFree ClimbTiffany Soithongsuk
Deco Braga
6The CrackJanuary 19, 2023Wadi Rum, Jordan Crack Alice Hafer
7The SpireJanuary 26, 2023 Barcelona, Spain Multi-pitch Robyn Ragins
8El DiabloJanuary 26, 2023Majorca, SpainDeep Water SoloDom Barry

Reception

Season 1 was criticized on climbing websites for various reasons, including: choice of climbing destinations; rating of difficulty of climbs; editing the video footage of climbs; placement of anchors; the presentation to the audience of how difficult/easy climbing is; and when climbers chastised Deco for not finishing a climb after realizing he had qualified. [5] However, the show was also praised for things like: presenting many different types of climbing; blending a competition with an easy-to-watch-and-understand TV show; showing the camaraderie between climbers; and showcasing Chris Sharma. [6]

Although Momoa appeared in each episode, it was noted that he wasn't present during the climbs due to the need for hernia surgery. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solo climbing</span> Style of climbing performed alone

Solo climbing, or soloing, is a style of climbing in which the climber climbs a route alone, without the assistance of a belayer or being part of a rope team. By its very nature, solo climbing presents a higher degree of risk to the climber, and in some cases, particularly where the climber is also not using any form of climbing protection, it is considered an extremely high-risk activity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sport climbing</span> Type of rock climbing

Sport climbing is a type of free climbing in rock climbing where the lead climber clips into pre-drilled permanent bolts for their protection while ascending a route. Sport climbing differs from the riskier traditional climbing where the lead climber has to insert temporary protection equipment while ascending.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Sharma</span> American rock climber

Chris Omprakash Sharma is an American rock climber who is considered one of the greatest and most influential climbers in the history of the sport. He dominated sport climbing for the decade after his 2001 ascent of Realization/Biographie, the world's first-ever redpoint of a consensus 9a+ (5.15a) graded route, and ushered in what was called a "technical evolution" in the sport. Sharma carried the mantle of "world's strongest sport climber" from Wolfgang Güllich, and passed it to Adam Ondra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Realization (climb)</span> Sport climbing route in France

Realization, also called Biographie, is a circa 35-metre (115 ft) sport climbing route on an overhanging limestone cliff on the southern face of Céüse mountain, near Gap and Sigoyer, in France. After it was first climbed in 2001 by American climber Chris Sharma, it became the first rock climb in the world to have a consensus grade of 9a+ (5.15a). It is considered an historic and important route in rock climbing, and one of the most attempted climbs at its grade.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deep-water soloing</span> Free solo rock-climbing over water

Deep-water soloing (DWS), also known as psicobloc, is a form of free solo climbing where any fall should result in the climber landing safely into deep water below the route. DWS is therefore considered safer than normal free solo climbing, however, DWS brings several unique additional risks including trauma from uncontrolled high-speed water entry, injury from hitting hazards above and below the water while falling, and drowning in rough or tidal seas, and is thus considered riskier than normal bouldering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Momoa</span> American actor (born 1979)

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Leo Houlding is a British rock climber and mountaineer.

Climbing is the human activity of ascending a steep object with the hands and/or feet.

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References

  1. "Jason Momoa's New TV Series is a Dirtbagger's Dream". 12 January 2023.
  2. "WATCH: Jason Momoa Takes His Passion for Rock Climbing to New Levels in HBO Max's 'The Climb'".
  3. 1 2 "Jason Momoa and Chris Sharma on Creating Reality Competition Show 'The Climb'". 12 January 2023.
  4. "Cat Runner, Trans Winner of HBO Max's 'The Climb,' Won't Be Tokenized". www.out.com.
  5. "Review: HBO's The Climb Falls Short - WeighMyRack". February 8, 2023.
  6. Simon, Russell Max. "HBO's The Climb shows true climbing culture". www.russellmaxsimon.com.
  7. "The Climb On HBO Max : Stream it or skip it ?". La Fabrique Verticale. January 18, 2023.