Posted
by Joel Mathis
April 8, 2007 at 11 a.m.
Parkour
In a much less tongue-in-cheek notation from Time Magazine...[Pretty cool story in the latest issue about "parkour"][1] - described as a "a jaw-dropping hybrid of gymnastics and cross-country running that is equal parts Spider-Man whimsy and hard-core stamina ... (an) exhilarating new breed of steeplechase--horse-free and adaptable to any setting."Here's a good primer:Apparently this is all the rage on college campuses. But a Google search didn't tell me if there are any active parkour athletes at KU or Haskell. If there are, though, it'd be a cool story for L.com or the Journal-World.So I'm putting out the call: Any traceurs out there in Lawrence? Let me know -- I'd like to hear from you. [1]: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1607235,00.html
Comments
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leslie (Leslie vonHolten) says…
Turns out my son is an impressive parkour-er. That's why it takes us 2 hours to walk down Mass St. You should see him today--the little bastard's so hopped on Easter candy, he's taking the sport to a whole new level.
monkeywrench (Tim vonHolten) says…
http://youtube.com/watch?v=01du2W6VJis
thetomdotdot (anonymous) says…
I'm chaining mine down to the couch for the next 12 years. And no you tube. That oughtta do it.
lazz (anonymous) says…
It's looks to me like something also called "free running," invented, I think, by a Parisian named Sebastien Foucan (sp?), and used extensively in the latest Bond pic, casino royale. Utterly dreadful movie (and whoever assured me it was faithful to Fleming's novel ---- ergh ... no, not even close ...) ... but the significant exception was the special effects/action riffs, notably what was advertised as "free running," featuring its inventor. The opening segment and a couple of others were absolutely stunning. If you're interested, definitely check it out ... and just FF through the movie until you start seeing people running and jumping in this style ... there's also a rollover stunt in the Aston Martin that was utterly awesome ...
it was also my impression that "free running" big in Europe, but not here yet ...
frankdormat (Frank Dorsey) says…
You have to watch the French film Banlieue 13 (District B13). It's got some great parkour stuff. It's also a pretty fun movie, sort of a French Escape from New York. There are also a couple of documentaries you can find over at IMDB.
frankdormat (Frank Dorsey) says…
I just realized that YouTube link above has the best parkour bits from District B13. You should still check out the movie.
mitzibel (Misty Nuckolls) says…
It's dance!! Oh, how cool! My monkey-husband would enjoy this, and I'd enjoy the Vallium I'd have to eat to watch and not have a nervous breakdown about him tearing a ligament ;)
OtherJoel (anonymous) says…
I see the attraction, but my knees started to hurt just thinking about it.
I'm old.
oilrag (anonymous) says…
This is all old news. 5-7 year ago you could buy shoes made specifically for this at Footlocker.
rpk (Robert Kerley) says…
I've never met any of these fellows, but here you go:
http://z13.invisionfree.com/Midwest_F...
http://www.americanparkour.com/smf/in...
Joel (Joel Mathis) says…
RPK: You are now my favorite commenter.
Sorry Dotdot. Ya gotta put out.
thetomdotdot (anonymous) says…
But I'm cuter.
You'll come back. You always do.
fhl (anonymous) says…
A few months ago in the parking lot behind Quentin's after closing, my brother attempted an intermediate parkour stunt known as a backflip by using a curb to propel himself into the air in a reverse rotational motion. Unfortunately he landed in the middle of his face and noone ever made a movie about him.
rpk (Robert Kerley) says…
I'll comment more often then... are you taking it up? I'll expect a video of _you_ soon!