The Climb was an 8-episode reality TV series that pitted 10 amateur climbers against each other in multiple climbing scenarios and styles. The winner received $100,000 USD and a $100,000 USD sponsorship from outdoor gear producer, prAna. The show starred professional rock climbers Chris Sharma and Meagan Martin and featured actor Jason Momoa.
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 | Name | Original Air Date | Location | Climb Type | Eliminated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deep Water Solo | January 12, 2023 | Majorca, Spain | Deep Water Solo | Maiza Lima |
| 2 | The Precipice | January 12, 2023 | Majorca, Spain | Free Climb | Mario Stanley |
| 3 | High Ball | January 12, 2023 | Albarracin, Spain | Bouldering | April Welch |
| 4 | The Cave | January 19, 2023 | Albarracin, Spain | Free Climb | Brad Burns |
| 5 | First Ascent | January 19, 2023 | Wadi Rum, Jordan | Free Climb | Tiffany Soithongsuk Deco Braga |
| 6 | The Crack | January 19, 2023 | Wadi Rum, Jordan | Crack | Alice Hafer |
| 7 | The Spire | January 26, 2023 | Barcelona, Spain | Multi-pitch | Robyn Ragins |
| 8 | El Diablo | January 26, 2023 | Majorca, Spain | Deep Water Solo | Dom Barry |
Criticism
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]