I can pretty much say with certainty that the biggest stud in the Honnold family these days is Alex.
He's a rock climber.
A superstar rock climber.
Need proof? He's been on the cover of National Geographic:
He likes to climb without ropes.
Yup, he does this without ropes:
Quite the guy.
Brave? Or out of his mind? Depends on one's perspective I guess. (same with that Wallenda tightrope-walking guy)
But earlier in November, Alex lost one of his big sponsors who gave the following explanation for their decision:
“We concluded that these forms of the sport are pushing boundaries and taking the element of risk to a place where we as a company are no longer willing to go."
Read more:
And Alex responded:
If sponsors back away from risky behaviors, it may well slowly mold climbing into a safer, more sterile version of what it is today. But I tend to think that whether sponsors support such behavior or not shouldn’t really have any bearing on our motivations. I know that when I’m standing alone below a thousand-foot wall, looking up and considering a climb, my sponsors are the furthest thing from my mind. If I’m going to take risks they are going to be for myself — not for any company.
Read Alex's full response to the situation:
He does make some good points.
Have I ever met him? No.
Would I like to someday? Sure. He seems like a very cool guy.
I just would want to meet him on my turf.... not his.
Out for now.....
Matt