dailyloe.com – In a recent podcast episode, renowned rock climber Alex Honnold spoke about being portrayed as a villain in HBO’s docuseries ‘The Dark Wizard’. This four-part series examines the life of Dean Potter, a notable extreme climber and BASE jumper, who passed away in a BASE jumping accident in 2015. The series addresses the intense rivalry between Honnold and Potter that began in the early 2000s.
The rivalry escalated in 2008 when Honnold became the first individual to free solo climb Half Dome without safety gear. In footage from ‘The Dark Wizard’, Potter expressed mixed feelings about Honnold’s ascent, saying, “I had mixed feelings when Alex came around… Alex has been real competitive with me.” Potter indicated his frustration, noting Honnold’s youth and competitiveness.
By 2012, Honnold had achieved significant milestones that Potter had aimed for, including a free solo ascent of the West Face of El Capitan. Honnold remarked on the year, stating, “2012 is a big f–king year, because I basically did everything that Dean had ever done or wanted to do, and generally in better style.” This statement highlights the level of competition between the two climbers.
In his podcast, Climbing Gold, Honnold reflected on the portrayal of himself in ‘The Dark Wizard’. He found it intriguing to be depicted as a villain for the first time, noting, “We did, like, 12 hours of interview, and they basically took all the most extreme stuff and turned it into, like, ‘Extremely competitive! Hates Dean!’” Honnold described this characterization as “slightly annoying.”
Despite the rivalry, Honnold acknowledged his admiration for Potter, calling him his “childhood hero.” The complexity of their relationship, marked by competition and respect, is a central theme in the docuseries.
