Alex Honnold Takes You Inside 'Free Solo' | SI Now | Sports Illustrated

[@RedX2276]

Finally a Honnold interview where the interviewer isn't just saying "but what if you fall, wouldn't you die???" over and over

[@polymathematics_]

haha absolutely. I have listened to so many of these..

[@comedycat2]

I was thinking this too after watching so many of these interviews. "Someone who actually saw the film is interviewing him. Finally!"

[@vivavaldez87]

She was a bit annoying towards the end when she addresses that how fear affects him is different from everyone else (something a lot of people keep touching on and Alex, bless him, keeps trying to assert that it isn't the case and the real take away is that proper preparation can help you overcome natural fears in all walks of life).

[@claytonbrown7120]

VivaValdez He avoids the question, we all want to know if he’s been tested for the spectrum but it’s really none of her business so it’s fine that he avoids

[@nobytes2]

This has got to be in the top 3 Honnold interviews easily. Well prepared, asking the right questions with such ease and flow. Other interviews are try so hard, and ask the same over and over again.

[@avahoward]

This is a refreshingly good interview of him, props to the interviewer!

[@tommynikon2283]

Really? having seen more than 20 interviews....Alex always seemed to deliver. The bigger issue is clueless media types....like this wench: tarted up, overly made-up, and a costume disaster.

[@RedX2276]

@@tommynikon2283 I think the quality of the interview comes more from the quality of the questions. It's obvious that this lady watched the movie and did some research, and she asks questions that give some meaningful jumping off points for Alex. You seem more concerned with what she's wearing though...

[@latneyb]

Meh.

[@NevadaSmith2]

I agree, I think she did a great job. I've followed Alex for over a decade -we even went to the same high school (he was only there one year while I was there, and I didn't know him). But being that this gal obviously isn't an avid climber, she had an informed discourse, and the discussion had a great flow. I give her props.

[@AveragePicker]

Clueless media types? Do you expect them to be well versed in climbing and appealing to an accomplished climbing demographic? Yes the questions are largely repetitive but it’s the same questions any 100 random people would likely ask too. Her looks has zero effect on how “clueless” you think she is. Rather it seems you just have some bitter perspective on females with having to back up your idiocy with “wench” and “tarted up...” comments. Honestly you are saying more about yourself than any point you might want to make about her or the general media.

[@michelleeaton6602]

The interviewer was better than most.. but Alex Honnold is so real, true, and authentic, that he doesn’t let any erroneous or misleading statements or assumptions about him stand. He corrects them immediately.

[@mrtheman888]

Free soloing El Cap is the single greatest athletic achievement in human history. Period.

[@romuloambay9624]

alex is greater than anyone else in this field- rock climbing. .in another related endeavor, mountain climbing, reinhold meissner was the first to reigned supreme sometime ago n the '80s. .alex followed through, did the first ever free solo recently- the ultimate test a man can ever do including all sports and adventure on earth. .same with reinhold who was the first ever to scale everest, nanga parbat, k2 and the rest, first 15 highest peaks in the world, with speed and less support from technology. .ropeless and without back up oxygen and other cumbersome gadgets, he scaled alone or with only a companion. . . . .these are the only two individuals worth recognition and remembering for being radicals and daring in their respective sports. . . . ."he who dares, do undarables and succeed are seldom followed or copied. .there were those who tried to emulate but they're up only to form but never have the spirit."

[@jermainewashington7447]

I don't know, man. Joey Chestnut ate 79 hotdogs in 10 minutes. TEN MINUTES.

[@elooouan]

If you think El Cap is crazy, imagine alpine climbing. Marc André Leclerc free solo’d ONSIGHT mixed climbing big walls on sketchy ice and rock in freezing temperatures with no rehearsal. Oh and the walls were even bigger and technical than El Cap. Alpine climbing is just so much harder and hardcore. Still an amazing achievement

[@zraybroske2416]

Love how himself Alex is no matter the attention. He’s a humble guy who happens to be one of the best athletes of all time.

[@nextari]

This interviewer is an exceptional example of being kind and warm, while remaining exciting and respectful and professional. What a personality, I hope to see more of her. Alex is funny! 6:19

[@tommynikon2283]

Solo WINS the Oscar- best Doc! And rightfully so. This guy is balls out....on a different planet.

[@voiceOreezn]

Alex Honnold is absolutely the best athlete on earth. Amazing film, (see it on big screen if possible). I have been following his career well before most people had heard of him. He is unbelievably methodical and I really envy his ability to control his emotions (fear). More than anything, he just prepares for these climbs like few people do.

[@voiceOreezn]

@Tom Silverheart I agree with you that there are hundreds of climbers with his climbing ability, and even significantly better than he is. But I did a fair amount of climbing in my younger days, and personally believe that climbing ability alone is just one factor. To free solo that wall requires far more than climbing ability. It requires hours of sustained mental focus, which is unbelievably difficult (much harder than the public knows). What I think sets him apart is dedication, focus, his preparation methods, his ability to get into a headspace for a climb like this. I don't believe he is a daredevil, (to speak to the volcano analogy), he just imagines things that are thought nearly impossible, then relentlessly prepares to minimize subjective risks. Not sure if K2 is a fair comparison here. While certainly more deadly, it's higher death rate is due not only to difficulty, but to a high level of objective risk, (yet Ed Viesturs climbed it without oxygen). I believe what sets Alex apart, is not his physical prowess, but a combination of vision, combined with relentless preparation and years of learning to control his own mind. Just my opinion.

[@elmoblatch9787]

​@Tom Silverheart a quick google search reveals that 306 people have summited K2. A quick check on Google reveals that one person has free solo'd El Capitan. Of course there are hundreds with Alex's level of climbing. He is the first to admit this, but that "extra risk" makes all the difference. It makes him, if not the best, than certainly the boldest athlete on earth. You can "calculate" that risk 100 times, but it only takes one moment and you are dead. K2 is an endurance test that requires some luck, but the majority of people who FAILED to summit K2 are probably alive. If you FAIL climbing El Cap without ropes, you are 100% dead. Don't try to minimize this accomplishment. Have the courage in yourself to simply sit back and admire one of the most astounding achievements in the history of humankind.

[@izzylava]

@Tom Silverheart Jesus lol RIP bro

[@dextiir]

We didnt just see a guy climbing up a 3000 foot wall. We saw a guy who choreographed every movement of the human body to the last digits and execute it flawlessly. This is contemporary art in its purest form. The mental strength you got to have before attempting something like this is insane.

[@codynova]

I came to the comments to say that the interviewer did a fantastic job, and I can see that others agree. I've watched a lot of interviews with Alex and you can tell he also appreciates the interviewers questions and insight. He seems to engage a lot more here than in many other interviews I've seen with him.

[@StephenJonesGoreville]

This was honestly a decent interview, I'm in shock.

[@FirstLast-cd6vv]

The average person can't appreciate nor comprehend what he has accomplished here.

[@leevanfleet]

I'm pretty average, I can appreciate what he's done, maybe not fully comprehend but nearly

[@news4usunshine]

Anyone who has ever done any multi-pitch rock climbing can easily and fully comprehend and appreciate what Honnold did. I am one of them.

[@userjeffe]

I can, I free soloed el cap yesterday but it took 7 hrs

[@MeanGeneSanDiego]

@@userjeffe Fart.

[@mariuscroitoru4983]

The sense of entitlement here is crazy 😂😂😂

[@KatherineUribe-1]

Alex "No Big Deal" Honnold. Love him!💟👍😎

[@lalibertenordsud]

Happily surprised of the quality of the interviewer. Good interview!

[@SuperLooneyrooney]

The Best Athlete on the face of the earth

[@Marauder1981]

best athlete

[@Ureyeuh]

Climbers are truly a different kind of people. It's insane to see a climber and the climbing community at large getting the attention that they are from outlets like Sports Illustrated. Alex's feat (along with the filming crew) has thrown climbing into the spotlight, and this is going to do wonders for the "sport".

[@largeformatlandscape]

Very good interview with decent questions finally

[@Maquenchie]

Its nice to see an interviewer who knows nothing about rock climbing and free soloing, but avoid most of the frustrating questions that alex gets asked often. Shes very talented

[@Nikita-jo4cl]

I always love be to hear Alex speak whether it’s in a north face episode, Ted talk or interview and I love it when he essentially calls out an interviewer for a stupid question which he always does with respect too but interviews like this one where the questions are more interesting and best of all the interviewer doesn’t interrupt or ramble on after asking a question (I’ve seen Alex say something like “so what was the question” when someone does this) and gives him time to answer the question. Definitely one of my preferred interviews that’s for sure

[@TheGiarcC]

What a great interviewer...really well done.

[@StaffRecordPlayer]

good interviewer and questions indeed. didnt expect that

[@KONAMAN100]

His brain must be wired in a different way. He's very calm never ruffled very articulate and analytical and precise in interview. Which he also must be the same climbing. Can anyone else do this stuff!?

[@duganrocks100]

They did an mri and his fear and some other values were measured super low to non-existent. Not sure if it's genetics though, cause I bet being on the verge of death so often forces your brain a certain way. He a prodigy

[@ThisHandleFeatureIsStupid]

@@duganrocks100 The FMRI scan shown in Free Solo does not prove, or even suggest, any difference between Alex's fear responses and those of most people. The control "group" was invalid. (it was one person)

[@mikesantimore6971]

If we were all as humble as him it'd be a great world

[@alwatson4352]

The best "interviewer" gives the best interview.

[@scottg6754]

Good interviewer. Right off the bat "fall to your death" without it sounding judgemental. That is somebody who gets the bigger picture.

[@dooshmagee2165]

great interview and questions, well done

[@MrRafaelgp]

"I'm afraid of falling out too, but I'm just extremely confident that I won't fall off certain things" - Alex Honnold

[@401sFinest]

Great interview.

[@Kingsizeshrimp]

Really good interview.

[@cindyhurzeler3885]

I was disappointed that RBG didn't win. She rocks. I mean a documentary about a guy climbing El Cap is cool, but you know he makes it before you start watching it so... Then I watched Free Solo. In fact I've watched it four times. And just the part where he climbs I watched about 20 times. And every time my stomach is in knots. I enjoyed getting to know him. I thought it was so sad that he had to teach himself how to hug. I watch the fear in his girlfriend as she left. And I felt every bit of Mikey's pain. And I admit when he got to the top, I too was delighted. When he told Sanni that he loved her, at the biggest moment in his entire life, I burst into tears. That Oscar was earned. And well deserved.

[@DerekMatthewCoverSongs]

I can barely climb a flight of stairs . This is amazing how do they not get tired

[@liadellaporta9158]

i love him

[@elmoblatch9787]

Honestly, I give credit to Alex. For a man who was essentially introverted for the vast majority of his life, he has given a thousand interviews in the last year, and now that will only ramp up again with the Oscar win. He needs to milk the attention and realize how special and unusual it is, because it's a chance for him to make money beyond that of a successful dentist.

[@oceanexploration]

If you rearrange the letters of Honnold, you get "Hold N On".

[@joshuabennett5891]

I love Yosemite national park, Can't wait to get back asap. I managed to get there in January 2020 before the coronavirus shut everything down.

[@txterbug]

This guy had been putting in WORK doing interview after interview after interview.

[@WJJ1961]

Well interviewed lady! (ha ha, I read below, and so it seems we all appreciated her performance!)

[@LBenn302]

He has become my inspiration in life.

[@justinrice7609]

Alex: Fear of clowns is stupid haha Interviewer: I'm afraid of clowns Alex: 😳

[@imagine9033]

Alex is so good in explaining what’s the real point

[@twstf8905]

Awesome dude. 👍

[@13WhiteFang37]

There's one wall (and route) that's arguably more inspiring and challenging Alex: Eternal Flame :)

[@DH-ij9pe]

Greatest athlete in the world.

[@humanityhumanity41]

Great man. He should be rightly called "Captain America" who managed to free solo El-Capitan.

[@MusicMan3]

American hero

[@tomasylamagia]

Great questions !!

[@navi1661]

I used to free solo frequently myself. I free soloed a ton actually, in all kinds of weather, be it freezing or scorching. I remember trying this rock at one time while it's raining heavily and I just kept sliding down and I'd have to climb back up then I'd slide back down again, it was just so ineffective. I said "fuck it" and I came back on a better weather, got on top of that rock and started throwing bombs at bokoblins. lol

[@larjkok1184]

Mira What?

[@senorsavage8702]

what?

[@IzanReality]

Things that never happened for $400 alex

[@LonexCyborg]

Breath of the wild

[@emergenthealing9318]

11 goats are jealous of this GOAT.

[@SpookyFairy]

Alex most favorite actor is The Rock

[@Lee-bx5vc]

Will never see any cheats lining up with there Sherpas ready to still someone else's fame. True legend Alex.

[@mountguitars]

Best interview ever.

[@alanluscombe8a553]

I free solo climbed my staircase, didnt use the handrail once. It all went well but my wife says if i dont clean all the chalk off the walls she will kick me out. Also im still waiting for the documentary crew to show up. Told em what time to be here, maybe they are stuck in traffic.

[@GodismyJudge47]

What's the next thing for you? Free Solo: The Dawn Wall

[@iTadakimAsu85]

6:33 Alex's goofy laugh lol

[@RockOn78]

ForHisGlory honestly, to me, that part of the allure. Watch Valley Uprising (it’s on NF currently), it’s funny to see other more veteran climbers describe him before they see him climb (he’s a goofy “square”), the. They’re all “wait, dudes legit). Just a down to earth and loves what he does.

[@ThisHandleFeatureIsStupid]

By the way, if y'all want the best interviews with Alex, look up "Rich Roll". The host is a pretentious douche, but he's also *immaculately* prepared for the interviews. He did two of them with Alex, and both times it was clear that he'd done some serious homework...which no interviewer seems to ever do now - especially not with these bullshit TV talk shows.

[@steveec9704]

Here's a man who clearly doesn't give a shit about the rigged system we all live in this guy is awesome

[@sveltland]

Hey Alex!

[@Marauder1981]

Hey Mike!

[@coreyorr4206]

I would really like to know how confident can you be on some of the holds? Like especially ones that could pop off or that are extremely small or slippery? Blows my mind. I would be shaking so bad I’d fall off just from that.

[@sambrobst6852]

As far as the physical aspects go, it's sheer practice, same as any other skill or sport. He climbs on those holds (with rope) until they just don't feel slippery or make him shake. He spent ten years climbing in Yosemite before even starting this project, getting experience on the walls and that type of rock. If you spend enough time out of your comfort zone, you make a new comfort zone.

[@MeanGeneSanDiego]

El Cap is made of some of the finest Granite on the Planet.

[@oregondork]

Damn that reporter was trying to corner him and Alex responded perfectly. Props Alex!

[@musicaltheatergeek79]

How do you mean?

[@jessewaselenko]

Imagine how sick a far shot of his entire climb would be .

[@sixsigma7304]

Alex's next venture, free solo the dawn wall

[@sampsasipila7174]

He actually looks like Spock a lot!

[@guldukan]

Alex defied lot of odds however age and time is one no one can beat, I am following this guy for almost 7 years only few people knew him back then, I really pray and hope one day he gets bored and decides to quit

[@largeformatlandscape]

Most free soloists who die, die doing other stuff. The preternatural concentration it requires probably makes it a safer climb that roped.

[@MJMS88]

What's next ?Climb Mount Everest solo to the very top peak.

[@eligabb4423]

Her eyes is so pretty

[@Marauder1981]

are!

[@larjkok1184]

Are you joking?

[@choosenone2die]

take out the make up and the blue contact lens and see what happen ....

Eli Gabb are you kidding?? She has so much make up on in attempts to enhance her looks her still looks average af lol. Meanwhile, Alexs’ eyes are absolutely INCREDIBLE, they’re like these huge chocolate pools of magnetism 😍 and all natural too!

[@liina000]

Puppy eyes.

[@alanluscombe8a553]

Fairly certain this dude doesnt like constant interviews but hey, get in where you fit in.

[@coreyorr4206]

You can tell how annoyed and plain he is feeling right now. Being asked the same questions over and over Jesus. She is just full of energy and he is trying his best to keep going.

[@That_Idiot_Bass_Player]

dary

[@Heyemeyohsts]

I think the interviewer was selected from the SI high school contest

[@That_Idiot_Bass_Player]

Legen

[@Marauder1981]

Sitzen

[@downsjmmyjones101]

Don't wait for it

[@tinkywinky3680]

Guaranteed Mother Nature will prevail with this dude. Unfortunately....he seems like a pretty down to earth guy. EVERYONE makes a mistake at some point, just depends on what is at stake.

[@siuyuatwong5848]

Does anyone know where 4:31 is?

[@maulcs]

Taghia, Morocco

[@stephenmonash8245]

why not carry a parachute...that way you can climb solo more often

[@bobosynth6327]

look up Dean Potter freebasing. shits way more dangerous

[@breakrboy09]

On el cap the wall is at a slight angle that tapers off at the top more, if you were to fall you would have to get your body away, like skydiving. however when the wall is like a staircase you have a higher chance of hitting the wall and dying anyway

[@jm6022]

He should climb another time putting a Go Pro on himself, filming point of view...

[@bingsterc7621]

J.M. Chen - That would be cool but Alex won’t be up for that. For the most part he’s a reserved and private person.

[@DaDa-kx2fe]

@@bingsterc7621 true...its better like that..

[@MeanGeneSanDiego]

GoPro footage from the climbers perspective really don't look like much...just close up views of rock texture.

[@canary5555]

Free Han Solo:)

[@fractalnomics]

He's scared about the planet. I'm up on him on that one.

[@steve822009]

Lukas haas and Justin long had a baby...

[@Brandon-sb8li]

I wonder how many pull-ups he can do

[@bear101897]

more than most people.

[@rputran]

Where is Sanni? She is not be seen anywhere!

[@elmoblatch9787]

She was at the oscars.

[@MrKPaxX]

Mr Spoke

[@TheInnerParty]

Talk about "skin in the game"

[@user-vc5rp7nf8f]

he must be tired of all the redundant questions

[@kevinfragezeichen5517]

5:58 spoiler alert

[@uncle_saag]

Trip to pakistan? fuck that

[@edog5707]

Alex's next climb is sitting about 3 feet away from him ; )

[@magno5157]

Mr Spock

[@BretAllen1]

Lol, thought that as well. But he's much more like Capt. Kirk, free soloing El cap!

[@njyaj09]

yeah but can he climb the burj khalifa in dubai?

[@williamstarklauf6085]

El cap is taller

[@thetube4424]

you all missing the point

[@ch3xmix]

This interviewer is dressed like she's from the Hunger Games, LOL. Her make up and wardrobe are so gaudy

[@ginoreyes5787]

Free solo ? I have better name , big bola s

[@genevonderlinden1768]

This guy should quit while he is ahead.

[@GGININDER591]

The problem is he's not ahead. He's the only person in this game.

[@larjkok1184]

Harden up lady.

[@genevonderlinden1768]

Oggy Oggy lol it’s called brains.

[@bear101897]

This guy would rather die doing what he loves than die of old age.

[@thetoddsmith]

Pakistan??

[@FPFPV]

Yes? Home to some of the tallest mountains on Earth.

[@DaDa-kx2fe]

Himalayan Mountains...

[@albertanderson1474]

The sad part about this is that if he falls and dies people will say “at least he died doing what he loved” or “he had to be the most stupid man that ever lived making those kind of climbs without safety gear” Either way dead is dead. I hope he understands that the only reason people watch him when he climbs is because they are waiting to see him fall. The public has a morbid fascination with this man and he has knowingly created it

[@spacewombat4569]

I don’t watch him because I want to watch him fall, I watch him because I find it fascinating that it’s possible to master something this extreme to an extent that you can have complete confidence in yourself (If you watched the documentary you’d understand that Honnold never attempts anything without feeling totally confident beforehand, of course there are problems outside of climber control that arise but that’s the case for any challenge in life). I’d ask you to consider this, but lets face it you’re a guy in a SI youtube comment section telling other people they feel so it’s probably too much to ask for a rational response. :D

[@AveragePicker]

Yeah, no. He accomplished one of the greatest athletic feats in human history. It’s not morbid. It’s not hoping he falls. He and others like him embody a celebration of physical and mental achievement. If you want to see him fall that says more about you than anything else.

[@largeformatlandscape]

Try horse racing/jump, f1 motorsports, etc. So many sports have a worse track record than this. Don't forget, when they said "everyone who has done this has died" they all died doing something else

[@albertanderson1474]

Z K you don’t need to get antagonistic I’m simply stating my opinion just like you just stated yours What makes your response or your thinking on this matter any more rational than mine unless you personally know the man and are privy to information the rest of us guys in the KZbin comment section aren’t Next time you should address the comment directly without having to resort to personal cheap shots at people who have a right to say what they honestly are feeling. I believe my retort back to you sir or miss would be characterized as a rational response. :D

[@albertanderson1474]

Average Picker before you start judging READ MY COMMENT tell me where did you read that I wanted to see the man fall Stop twisting comments to make yourself seem so righteous and make me out to be some sort of bad guy. Read and understand the subject matter before making an irresponsible statement like the one you just did. It will help you in other areas of your life if you do. Rushing to judgement is not a good thing