Finally! News About Momoa and Sharma’s Reality Competition Show “The Climb”
In a press release, HBO said it would be an “exploration of the human spirit.” Cheesy? You betcha. Imma stock up on popcorn now.
Enjoy unlimited access to Climbing’s award-winning features, in-depth interviews, and expert training advice. Subscribe here.
In June 2021, HBO Max ordered a climbing competition show with Jason Momoa—yep, the star of Aquaman—and Chris Sharma. Personally, I’ve been waiting to hear more about the show ever since. I tried to picture the format:
“Climbers, welcome to Rocky Island! You will have 10 days to summit Mt. Kalipso to retrieve the red flag!”
Knowing that Chris Sharma was involved, I predicted some deep water soloing. But what else? Bouldering? Lead climbing? Surely there’d be some pretty fantastic destinations involved, likely across various climates for each challenge and discipline. I hoped there’d be a voting element:
“Who was this week’s mega gumby? Cast your ballots into the chalk pot of despair!”
In a press release, HBO said it would be an “exploration of the human spirit.” Cheesy? You betcha. Imma stock up on popcorn now.
The trailer released today, confirming a small handful of my guesses. The 10 contestants—all amateur climbers—ride in on a boat to Mallorca. We see them soloing a 70-foot seaside cliff. They visit the sandstone towers of Wadi Rum, Jordan. They go bouldering, sport climbing, and even race up ascenders. Pro climber Meagan Martin is involved, perhaps as a judge. The specifics of the competition format are still undisclosed, but it sure looks exciting. Oh, and there’s a big prize: $100,000 and a prAna sponsorship.
The Climb premiers January 12 on HBO Max. Stay tuned for more info!