Taipei skyscraper climb generates buzz in very flat Saskatchewan

A rope-free climb up one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers is sparking conversation far beyond Taiwan, including in Saskatchewan’s climbing gyms.

On Sunday, elite climber Alex Honnold completed a free solo ascent of Taipei 101, scaling the landmark without ropes or safety equipment. The climb was streamed live on Netflix and quickly spread across social media, drawing global attention.

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At the Regina Climbing Centre, owner Katie Gammon said the climb generated immediate buzz, particularly among younger climbers.

“It brought a lot of buzz, especially among the younger crowd,” Gammon said. “Social media really amped it up.”

Gammon said her own reaction shifted as she watched the coverage and learned more about the climb.

“At first I was really excited, and I thought it would be really neat to watch,” she said. “Then I started thinking, this guy must be crazy because what if something happens?”

Honnold is best known for free soloing, a high-risk form of climbing that leaves no margin for error.

Gammon said while the danger may look extreme to non-climbers, experienced climbers understand that free soloists carefully manage their risk.

“Each climber has their own risk tolerance,” she said.

“The people who do free solo never attempt something unless they’re absolutely confident they can do the climb. I don’t think Alex would be doing it if he felt it was quite risky.”

Gammon said Saskatchewan’s flat geography shapes how climbers here experience the sport. With few outdoor climbing options in the province, most climbers train indoors and travel long distances for natural rock.

“We’re about an eight-hour drive from any good outdoor climbing,” she said.

“Most people head to Canmore in Alberta or Kenora in Ontario. Saskatchewan is one of the flattest places in Canada.”

She said the local climbing community continues to grow despite those limitations, built largely around indoor gyms.

“Our climbing community is really encouraging and supportive,” Gammon said. “It’s welcoming and inclusive, and it’s just a great group of people to be around.”

While Honnold’s Taipei climb drew widespread attention online, Gammon said not all climbers reacted the same way.

“A lot of people who’ve been climbing for a long time weren’t necessarily that interested,” she said. “If I’m being honest, I’d rather watch him climb rock, not a skyscraper.”

From a technical perspective, Gammon said natural rock faces such as Honnold’s well-known ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite remain far more demanding.

“El Cap is definitely harder,” she said. “There are very few spots where his entire foot would be on a hold. On the building, many of the ledges were repetitive and more predictable.”

Gammon said she briefly considered hosting a watch party at the gym, but weather delays and scheduling issues prevented it. She said she hopes to organize similar community events in the future.

“It would be a really cool way for climbers to hang out and connect outside of just climbing,” she said.

As for whether she would ever attempt a free solo climb herself, Gammon said it would only happen under very specific conditions.

“If I ever did try it, it would be on a route I was 1,000 per cent comfortable on,” she said. “I don’t think I would climb a skyscraper, but I wouldn’t say.”

Read more:

• American rock climber Alex Honnold reaches top of Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes
• ‘A great deal of disrespect’: Canadian veterans outraged by Trump’s Afghanistan comments
• Trump’s latest 100% tariffs threat ‘degradation of the free and fair trade system,’ Moe says