Free Solo: Alex Honnold

[Cydewayz]

It sounds insane but this was probably one of the easier ones he's done. Climbing up something that's solid and he can grab easy isn't too terribly difficult for him

I Was reading after and many climbers said the same...I suppose like anything....if you never saw a basketball dunk and couldnt do it, it'd be neat....then watch Vince Carter and mind blown

Funny watching, at each of the tiers I'd be like "he wouldn't fall all the way, just to the next landing" (but like they said all would kill you).

When he did the no handed lean back....oof...but again, probably super routine for him. The drone shot.going in circles made me very anxious.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[rosshm16]

Dude's grip strength has to be insane.

I read that one of his frequent daily/"easy" workouts is he'll simply hang on a door frame for an hour.

 

[reignofthetiger]

One of my best friends lives in LA and started climbing on a whim... a few months later he met Alex at the climbing gym and they've climbed together a few times now. I mention this because my friend was very much a novice at the time, but Alex was super humble and friendly - giving him pointers and spotting even though the skill difference was (and is) astronomical. Makes me appreciate these things more when I know the guy involved is genuinely a super nice person.

EDIT: apparently i made a similar comment in this thread in 2020 LOL, still holds true 5-6 years and several more sessions later.

 

[Letterkenny]

I read that one of his frequent daily/"easy" workouts is he'll simply hang on a door frame for an hour.

Pro climbers can hang from one hand for probably a couple minutes. Two hands for like you said, probably an hour if they had to, or more. Watching these videos of him climbing, he always has one hand with a solid grip. If his feet ever slip out, he can hold himself. That's the 'safety net'. Extreme confidence that you can just hold yourself with one hand if something goes wrong, and extreme diligence to always make sure you have that solid grip on something, so you're not risking a foot slip. I think on the free solo of El Capitain he said the scariest part was towards the beginning when he had to scamper up a steep inclined rock with no hand holds. Basically just relying on friction between the rock and his shoes. The ability to remain calm so he doesn't grip too hard and burn himself out, that seems to be the part that separates someone like him from other climbers that don't free solo big stuff. Spend everyday climbing really high things and I guess eventually you just become numb. 5 feet in the air, or 1500 feet makes no difference.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[LarryISU]

El Capitan/Free Solo, IMO, is the greatest athletic performance of all time. This is close. Unreal.

I can't put my socks on without help, but this guy is climbing straight up mountains and skyscrapers.

 

[Gonzo]

I can't put my socks on without help, but this guy is climbing straight up mountains and skyscrapers.

I can't get onto an extension ladder 12 feet off the ground without my heart racing. Lol.

 

[BryceC]

It sounds insane but this was probably one of the easier ones he's done. Climbing up something that's solid and he can grab easy isn't too terribly difficult for him

I’m absolutely blown away by his stamina and what must be grip strength that could crush a femur

 

[deadeyededric]

I’m absolutely blown away by his stamina and what must be grip strength that could crush a femur

I'll bet he would be a beast wrestler.

 

[deadeyededric]

I read that one of his frequent daily/"easy" workouts is he'll simply hang on a door frame for an hour.

I usually do that before I go to work. Helps get the blood flowing in the morning. Jk

 

[ianoconnor]

I'll bet he would be a beast wrestler.

You're not getting out of that cradle.

 

[Gonzo]

You're not getting out of that cradle.

Hell he'd probably crush your wrist just by grabbing it.