'The pain was unbearable': 3 hours hanging from a 24-storey Vancouver skyscraper was a 'battle of willpower'
Steve makes a revelation about his quiet but heroic struggle for his team on Canada’s Ultimate Challenge
Look up, way, way up. Yes, those are Canada's Ultimate Challenge participants hanging off the top of a 24-storey Vancouver skyscraper.
The show's challenge team was looking for an epic stunt that would showcase the city's spectacular views. "The idea of someone hanging off a single rope, over one of the most beautiful cities in the country is thrilling," says senior challenge producer Cory Bell. "The hope was to have the challenge progressively get harder over time while still giving players some choice and strategy on how to succeed. Hanging off a single rope felt daunting, yet perfectly simple."
This challenge was intricate and it took Bell and his team four days to build and secure the structure safely to the edge of the building. "We explored many different ways of hanging the rope. Ultimately it came down to structurally what was possible while still making the player dangling off the edge the hero shot of the challenge. Certain structures obstruct camera angles or don't allow clean shots of players' faces. There are countless elements to consider."
Watch | Producer Liz Cyrus walks us through the solo sky hang challenge.
The challenge itself was simple, the player who stays up the longest wins. "When I saw what we were going to be doing, I was in complete disbelief. It seemed almost unreal — something I'd never imagine myself willingly doing", said Team Yellow's Ene, "so, despite every nerve in my body telling me to back out, I put my personal feelings aside and committed to giving it my all."
Team Blue's Tulio had already tried skydiving and had zero fear of heights while Team Red's Santina had a similar experience when she competed on Big Brother: "I once held on for nearly four hours in a similar competition. That gave me a strong sense of confidence." Team Orange's Willow, meanwhile, was looking for an exciting adrenaline rush.
Team Green's Steve was reluctant but had an unusual plan. "I was wearing a vest and crossed my arms," he remembered, "I realized that I could use my vest to grip like it was a lapel in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu." He elected to hang beneath the rope like a sloth while the other players rested on top of it.
His team captain Ashlyn had some concerns. "You're doing all of us. So make sure that while you're doing you, that you take everything we're saying into account," she warned. Would this decision turn out like Adam's pole hang in Season 2?
Watch | Adam pole hang, Canada's Ultimate Challenge Season 2
And with that, they all headed up for the best — but most terrifying — view ever.
"Walking across that narrow, two-foot plank felt like stepping into thin air," remembers Ene. "Every step I took, I could feel the instability beneath me, as if at any moment, I could lose my balance and fall."
It wasn't just a physical challenge but an emotional and psychological one too.
"At first, I didn't think the rope was thick enough to balance on," said Steve who revealed that he felt "instant regret once I realized that I could've rested on top of the rope for the first hour."
The other four players lounged atop the rope enjoying the views — and maybe even a nap. "While I was in the air, I felt cool, calm, and completely in control," said Santina. Tulio even broke into his go-to karaoke song, Mr. Brightside by The Killers. When other players joined in, it was a heart-swelling moment of togetherness.
And while Steve sang along, he was quiet about his suffering. "My forearms and calves were getting tight and lactic acid setting within 15 minutes of hanging upside down," he confessed afterwards. After one entire hour, the other players also had to finally move their bodies under the rope, finally putting them on equal ground (so to speak).
"I didn't think Steve was going to last 10 minutes," said Ashlyn on the ground. "We're now an hour deep and Steve is smiling."
But things finally got serious when, 90 minutes later, they had to shift to one arm. "The pain was almost unbearable. My grip was slipping, my muscles were burning, and every second felt like an eternity. It wasn't just a battle of strength; it was a battle of willpower," remembers Ene. Santina, then Willow and Ene let go when the pressure became too much, leaving Tulio and Steve.
Watch | Steve's strategy on the solo sky hang challenge
At the three-hour mark, Tulio made a deal that Team Blue would keep Steve's Team Green safe from the elimination round if he let go first. With that, this long battle was finally over.
And while Tulio won, everyone had big respect for Steve for his Herculean effort. "It was nothing short of phenomenal, and it just goes to show how unpredictable these challenges can be," said Ene. "People will surprise you, and in that moment, Steve absolutely did."
It all came together to create captivating television says Bell: "The players lasted even longer than we expected, which was great! This cast always gave it their all which made every challenge even more exciting."
"I had a lot of pressure on me," Steve says, "I could not let my team down." Literally.
Watch the full video on Canada's Ultimate Challenge, now streaming free on CBC Gem.
