The math professor who invented Silicon Valley’s favorite sport
My exchange with John Gill, the father of modern bouldering
Hallways had to be invented. Before the 16th century, multi-room buildings were arrayed without corridors, such that each room simply opened to the next.
Some features of the modern world are so ubiquitous, so commonplace, that it is particularly surprising and illustrative to realize what creativity and ingenuity went into bringing them about.
If you’ve ever been to a rock climbing gym even casually in the last 30 years, you will have encountered a category of climbing called bouldering. For climbers today, bouldering is like hallways. It’s obvious and it’s always been there. It is the most common and popular form of climbing. It’s all the technique and athleticism of rock climbing, but low enough to the ground that it’s safe to fall on pads; no ropes, harnesses, or other special gear is required. It’s the sport of choice for many of my ambitious tech founder clients, and no wonder: what better, faster way to nourish your builder’s mindset than to concentrate all your creative and phys…
