Aquaman star Jason Momoa He brings excitement to the screen, but finds his own nature through friendship, sports and the intricacies of rock climbing, which he has been involved in for nearly 30 years.
Now, he’s teamed up with his best friend, legendary climber Chris Sharma, To make or to create Boardingthe first-ever rock climbing competition series premieres on HBO Max on Thursday, January 12.
The eight episodes feature climbers from all walks of life sent around the world to truly amazing locations to endure a rigorous series of mental and physical challenges, including some of the most harrowing ascents.
A series of thrills, redemption and community, these climbers are put to the ultimate test to be crowned the best amateur climber in the world – and win a sponsorship from Activewear prAna and a cash prize of $100,000.
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In addition to being a superstar and superhero, Momoa is an avid rock climber who created the show where the mainstream audience is given a front row seat inside this unique, life-altering endeavor.
The series also focuses on his lifelong friendship with Sharma, as well as the lives of a diverse group of amateur climbers, who by watching the series, you are sure to eventually fall in love with.
“This is my passion. It’s what I’ve been doing since I was 14,” Momoa exclusively tells Parade.com. “Nothing like this series has ever been made. I think our sport is so complex and diverse, and there are so many different approaches to this community, I can’t wait.” To share it with the world.”
Read on to find out why Momoa and Sharma want to bring climbing into the mainstream and why they are so passionate about this competitive sport.
Jason Momoa: i totally agree,
Chris Sharma: This is a great way to look at it.
What was the most exciting part of the show for you?
Jason Momoa: Well, I’m excited to show this to the world. I’ve never seen competition like this on our sport before. Obviously, this is Chris’ way of life and lifestyle. I think even if you are good on the rock, you will not be good on the single freestyle, and if you are good on the deep water single, you will not be good on the multiple courts.
There’s such a diverse side to this show – it’s very hard to make something like that, so I’m really proud of it. I’m also proud of our participants and the fact that you really get to see what our community is all about. It is unlike most of the competition’s offerings.
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Chris Sharma: We’re seeing this huge boom in climbing right now. He’s at the Olympics. And to do a real rock climbing competition is to do something that has never been done before. Most or all competitions usually take place on an artificial wall.
What we really wanted to do was show climb and all its splendor in these amazing locations. One of the other things that hasn’t been done before is to show how men and women can climb on the same level, which when it comes to most competitions, especially in the Olympics, are clearly separate. In this competition, they are together. I think it’s really special that way.
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A bird’s-eye view of Deco Rider hanging on a cliff wall On the HBO Max series “The Climb”
HBO Max
Besides the climbing aspect of the show, it is also about overcoming fear and climbers bonding with each other. Can you talk about how the series is about so much more than just the climb itself?
Jason Momoa: I think that’s what I was talking about when I mentioned our community. It’s hard to be competitive when you’re indoors on a fake artificial wall because that’s just one move. But when you’re out and about and you add all the fear and all the things you’re going through, the anxiety of just stepping out of your comfort zone, even if you’re a rock, to do several pitches and you can be 300 feet off the deck and be in a wild place that you haven’t climbed from Before. It’s scary when you’re going through it all. This is why we love this sport, but it is nevertheless quite challenging.
I think the level of support that you see when our community comes together makes it less of a competition against each other, and so you can see these people are really supportive of what they’re doing, what they’re going through with their lives, and what they put up. This is why we love climbing. The series also puts you outside in our beautiful world, experiencing, being there, seeing how amazing this world is and being with Mother Nature. There are a lot of things you go through while climbing. So, it’s about more than just the actual act of climbing.
Chris Sharma: I agree. I think our competitors have this opportunity to really experience what it’s like to dive into the world of climbing, but also to share that world of ours with the rest of the world.
This is one of the things that makes the climb so rich and incredible; It’s much more than just getting to the top of the wall. It’s all these different experiences. It’s about traveling and learning about foreign cultures, it’s about the relationships and bonds you make with your partners. It really is that lifestyle. Jason and I have been climbing for about 30 years, and it’s incredible places that take you outside and inside.
Contestants Sitting In The Woods In Jason Momoa’s HBO Max Series “The Climb”
Jose Matos / HBO Max
Jason, how has climbing and the series changed you physically and emotionally?
Jason Momoa: I wouldn’t say the show changed me, both physically and emotionally. It is the achievement of a goal that I wanted to achieve with my best friend. This is my passion; This is my art form. Storytelling is an art form, so you combine storytelling, which is my specialty, with my passion for climbing. It’s an achievement to be able to make this series that people are going to watch in a couple of days.
I love highlighting it. Listen, I’m not going to be the greatest climber, because the greatest climber is my best friend. I show all the different aspects of our sport around the world and I think it’s very important. It’s great that now that dream we had is coming to fruition.
Climbing obviously had a huge impact on you.
Jason Momoa: It changed my life from the start climbing. This is what I rely on for guidance and humility. This is my style of how I move with this world. It’s my favorite thing to teach. This is probably the only thing I use can Know. It gives me a great connection with my kids and other communities. I just love being outdoors and I love doing that movement, I love moving on a rock like that, it makes me feel beautiful.
Having a minimalist style or whatever, everything gets really big. Maybe in my line of work, it’s just putting on a backpack, getting out and being with the wild, being out in the woods and climbing on some rocks, and simply moving around and being in nature. It’s my meditation, it’s my love.
Climbing is on a lot of people’s bucket lists. Do you hope that people who watch the series will be inspired to get started? What’s on your bucket lists?
Jason Momoa: I think this will inspire people. It will show that there are different types of people and ages on our show. I feel like if you’re just doing indoor climbing, if it’s in a local community, maybe it gets you outside more. Maybe you will go to a place you have never been. That’s what it’s all about, traveling as Chris was talking, traveling and seeing other cultures and getting out more. The biggest thing is to go to our beautiful world and this extraordinary stadium and share it with others.
As far as it’s on my bucket list, I’m living all my dreams right now so I’d be greedy to order more.
Megan Martin and Chris Sharma, co-hosts of HBO Max series “The Climb”
Jose de Matos / HBO Max
And for you, Chris?
Chris Sharma: One of the things that many people don’t realize about climbing is that anyone can do it on their own level. The essence of climbing is trying something, pushing yourself to your limits, trying something you probably don’t know if you can do or not. Then through this process, you discover that you are capable of it.
It is truly a magical process to achieve your goals and conquer your fears. I believe whatever body type, whatever age, whatever gender, you can do it on your level. It’s something for anyone to try. So, I hope more people will be inspired to give it a try after watching this show.
I think one of the cool things this show has focused on is amateur climbers. It wasn’t just about catching the best climbers in the world, but it was about showing the world that these are ordinary people, like all of you, and everyone is really capable of doing it. I think a lot of times people think it’s off limits, but we’re here to say it’s not.
Boarding Debuts on HBO Max on Thursday, January 12 with episodes 1 through 3. Episodes 4 through 6 will be available on January 19 and episodes 7 and 8 will be available on January 26.
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