By Alen Chang
TAIPEI — As of the publication of this article, Alex Hannond was most of the way up the Taipei 101, showing — so far at least — that patience is a virtue. On Saturday, the original day for the climb, persistent rainfall and unstable wind conditions in Xinyi District (信義區) prompted organizers of the free climbing challenge at Taipei 101 to postpone the event, citing elevated safety risks after a joint assessment conducted with technical advisors and production partners, including Netflix.
Organizers announced that the climb has been rescheduled for Sunday morning (January 25), after on-site monitoring showed that wind variability and moisture levels exceeded acceptable safety thresholds for an exposed ascent. While spectators had begun gathering near the site early Saturday morning, officials said the conditions made it impractical to proceed as planned.
Despite initial disappointment among onlookers, the decision drew broad support online shortly after it was announced.
Public Reaction Emphasizes Risk Awareness
Within hours, social media users responded to the delay with comments emphasizing caution and respect for environmental conditions.
“Safety comes first,” one user wrote.
“Nature sets the schedule,” another commented.
Others noted that postponement demonstrated sound judgment rather than hesitation.
Local extreme sports professionals also weighed in, noting that experienced climbers routinely delay attempts when external variables such as wind shear and surface moisture introduce uncontrollable risk. According to several experts, choosing not to proceed under marginal conditions is consistent with best practices in high-risk climbing disciplines, where timing and environmental stability are critical factors.
Organizers reiterated that the decision was based solely on safety considerations and said updated weather assessments will be conducted before the rescheduled attempt.
