/ From Rock Climbing to Skyscrapers: A Manifesto for Innovation in Sports

On World Intellectual Property Day, Alex Honnold’s leap reminds us that patents are not inert pieces of paper, but invisible harnesses that elevate human beings beyond their limits—from rock to skyscraper—turning feats like the ascent of Taipei 101 into a living manifesto of how IP transforms the impossible into everyday reality, inspiring athletes and fans alike.

Nicolás Pacheco
Associate Alessandri 

In a world where the “impossible” is consumed in 4K resolution and in real time, the image of Alex Honnold suspended hundreds of meters above the streets of Taiwan is not only a triumph of a superhuman spirit, but also a masterful display of intellectual property in action. Netflix’s live stream of his ascent of Taipei 101 was not simply a sporting event; it was a perfect choreography between the chemistry of high-friction polymers and the telecommunications engineering and coordination required to broadcast such a feat live. As millions of viewers held their breath in front of their screens, innovation—protected by patents for vulcanized rubber and cutting-edge streaming algorithms—acted as the only invisible “harness,” allowing man and technology to defy gravity and distance simultaneously.

Alex Honnold, the 40-year-old American climber who redefined the limits of the sport by practicing “free solo”—climbing without ropes or protection—has become a contemporary symbol of absolute control, mental discipline, and an almost philosophical relationship with risk. His solo ascent of “El Capitan”—a vertical wall over 900 meters high—immortalized in the documentary Free Solo, not only earned him worldwide recognition but also raised an uncomfortable question: How far can a human go when they eliminate every safety net?

Certainly, Honnold’s feat would not have been possible without the technology behind what climbers call “climbing shoes”: shoes designed with rubber soles and special grip for different types of surfaces. The genesis of “climbing shoes” is a story of rebellion against rigidity. Until the mid-20th century, climbing was synonymous with heavy boots with iron spikes that shattered the rock and numbed the feet. The true revolution began in the 1930s with French climber Pierre Allain, who, seeking lightness, adapted flexible rubber soles to canvas shoes, creating the legendary “PA“. However, the major breakthrough occurred in the 1980s with the arrival of high-friction rubber (the famous “Sticky Rubber”). This advancement transformed footwear from mere protection into a tool of surgical precision, allowing the human foot to become a claw capable of gripping ridges as thin as a penny.

While on the mountain we rely on cracks, ridges, and small natural crevices, the slippery glass of Taipei 101 poses a monumental challenge to the climber’s body and mind—and to their equipment: a pair of shoes.

And this is where innovation takes center stage, as Five Ten’s US 4,944,904 patent laid the groundwork so that today, athletes like Honnold can entrust their lives to a chemical formula that transforms rubber into a dynamic adhesive. It’s not just a shoe; it’s a patent that allows gravity to become a suggestion, not a law. Five Ten’s high-friction rubber formula, known as Stealth Rubber (developed by Charles Cole in the 1980s), not only revolutionized grip on smooth surfaces like the glass of Taipei 101 but also created a multi-million-dollar market in action sports. Adidas acquired Five Ten in 2011, integrating this technology into mountain bike shoes and expanding its patent protection, demonstrating how a patent turns innovation into lasting commercial value by strategically driving a wide range of sports.

Intellectual property doesn’t belong solely to laboratories or lawyers: it’s in every everyday object that amplifies our capabilities. From the shoe that supports us to the signal that connects us, protected innovation isn’t an abstract luxury, but an invisible infrastructure that redefines what’s possible. Honnold doesn’t climb alone: he climbs on decades of protected ideas that, like an intangible harness, support his every move.