Salto, Flow and Drive: the first parkour competitions are held in Minsk

Parkour competitions were organized for the first time in the capital, the correspondent of the Minsk-Novosti agency reports.

The initiative of the competition belongs to the athletes themselves, who voiced the proposal in the youth reception. The organizer was the Minsk City Organization of the NGO “BRSM” with the support of the Minsk City Executive Committee and together with the 3 Motion team.

- Today, the Minsk City Organization BRSM unites more than 150 thousand bright and initiative children. Our main task is to give everyone the opportunity to realize their potential. In the youth reception room, we consider a variety of ideas: from the development of the student squad movement to large-scale club parties. Today’s competitions are also held thanks to this initiative, said Alexey Pikus, First Secretary of the Minsk City Committee of BRSM. They are also dedicated to the birthday of BRSM. The holiday turned out to be really driving: we held the action “Welcome to the Youth Union”, where more than a thousand children simultaneously received smart tickets, organized a large student disco, and the bright finale was participation in the Minsk Half Marathon and parkour competitions.

Competitions are held in the discipline of Free Run. Athletes need to demonstrate speed, agility, creativity and professionalism in overcoming an obstacle course in a limited time. Evaluates the performances of a professional jury. Judges pay attention to the smoothness of the ligaments, the complexity and purity of the elements.

Participants compete in two categories - MID for beginners and PRO for experienced athletes from 14 to 31 years.

- Today, athletes compete in the “freeran” category – this is a spectacular direction where basic parkour is combined with complex acrobatics. As a judge, I am responsible for the “floo” block – smoothness and rhythm. I assess how continuous the movement is, whether there are unnecessary steps or stops between the elements, commented judge Stanislav Lis. It is great that with the support of BRSM such tournaments are held. In Minsk, excellent conditions have been created for parkour: there are halls, experienced coaches, and a growing community. Such tournaments are an important step towards the freerand being included in the official register of sports in Belarus.

In addition to the sports component, the organizers prepared a rich entertainment program for spectators and fans. Throughout the day, the atmosphere on the court is supported by the DJ. The program also includes interactive contests and prize draws. Participation in the tournament is free, and to register, athletes had to run an online form and have an identity document with them.

- I’ve been in parkour for almost four years, I came from Mogilev to this competition. Yesterday I helped the guys build a spot and at the same time looked at the lines. Prepared a class program with a front flip from the trapezoid and tricks from the inclined wall. The day before, I hurt my knee a little, so I will act on my health, but I will not leave the spectators without bright elements for sure! – said Daniil Novik, a participant of the competition. First of all, I came for the atmosphere, good emotions and the opportunity to hang out with like-minded people.

For the convenience of athletes divided into pairs. Each in turn shows a program consisting of different acrobatic tricks. The winner is determined by the majority of the judges and proceeds to the next round.

- The speech was as nervous as possible. The mistake and the fall at the very beginning knocked down the mood: tried to catch the rhythm and keep the “floo”, but to the end of the excitement just flew out of my head the planned bunch, shared emotions Roman Gormash. - Thank God I moved on. By the next exit, I will completely change the tactics and trajectory on the spot. I’m going to rebuild the program right before the start and hopefully win.

Photo by Diana Shabala