1. The quest for the perfect format: Creativity vs. system

Dissatisfied with the current state of affairs, we started the PK-CRE project and traveled across Europe during this summer’s jams to explore competition formats that better highlight parkour’s unique skills and appeal to both athletes and audiences. 

The interviews and discussions we had revealed a fundamental tension between objective, systematic judging (like that of FIG) and formats that prioritize creativity, freedom, and fun.

The FIG influence: Almost all athletes and organizers we spoke to noted that FIG’s rigid, points-based system has a significant impact on the sport. While it provides a clear, objective framework, it often stifles creativity. Hannes, an organizer of the WCPF, observed that because of FIG’s influence, “many of the pros are doing super long runs”, focusing on connecting high-value tricks rather than creating a cohesive, meaningful line. Athletes like Max and Ward feel that their style, which may not align with FIG’s checklist of moves, gets unfairly punished. Elis, a top-tier athlete, finds it “so unmotivated” to see competitors “forcing” moves they don’t enjoy just to score points, noting “it’s [got] no soul in it”.

A call for “Free” and “Fun” formats: In contrast, younger athletes like Su from Japan expressed a strong preference for competitions that are “fun” and “free,” without the strict rules seen in his home country. This sentiment was echoed by TJ, who championed jam-style qualifiers because they offer a “broader view of [the athletes] and what they can do in a space” instead of a single, high-pressure run. The WCPF qualifiers adopted this jam format, which was well-received.

Pushing the mind, not just the body: A profound insight, captured by KRAP team member Marco De Rosso in his logbook, came from TJ. He suggested that the future of parkour competitions lies in pushing the limits of the human mind, not just the body. This means valuing innovation and new “hows” and “whys” of movement over simply adding more twists to existing tricks. TJ stated, “Your mind is so much more powerful… your body can only do so much, but what if you could just visualize every axis at the same time”.

2. Innovative format ideas: The mobility surfaced several creative competition formats:

The “Wall battle” & “Box battle”: Created by Elis, these formats challenge athletes on specific setups with a focus on fun and variety, making even top athletes attempt moves outside their comfort zone.

Audience-based judging: The KRAP team reflected on their own “Gaso è Tutto” (The Hype is Everything) contest, where the winner is determined by audience noise level. This embraces the subjective and performative aspects of the sport.

[add KNUCKLE HUCK]

Athlete’s Choice: Elis mentioned a format where each competitor sets a challenge for everyone else, and the winner is the one who completes the most challenges, testing their all-around ability.

Ultimately, the consensus is not about finding a single “universal format,” which may not exist , but about building a diverse circuit of events that celebrates the many facets of parkour.

3. Beyond the podium: Building a sustainable athlete career

A core objective of the PK-CRE project is to understand how to make the careers of emerging parkour athletes sustainable. The current landscape presents significant financial challenges, with most athletes competing out of passion rather than for a viable income.

Main Points:

The financial reality: Professional athlete Ward stated bluntly, “at the moment, there’s nothing sustainable about it”. He explained that even with team support from Nozaru, he has to work side jobs to make ends meet, and that “competition has never actually given me anything yet”. This is a common experience; most athletes pay for their own travel and expenses, a stark contrast to the support seen in more established sports.

The organizer’s burden: The financial strain extends to organizers. Oskar and Hannes of WCPF revealed they took significant personal financial risks, initially paying for eight top athletes to attend out of their own pockets to establish the event’s credibility. They described a “hustle” to find sponsors, starting with friends, family, and local businesses.

An innovative prize money model: A key takeaway, highlighted by KRAP member Valentino in his logbook, was WCPF’s prize money structure. Instead of a winner-takes-all approach, the prize money for the top five finalists was “divided upon their score, not on their placement”. This meant that fourth and fifth place still received meaningful compensation, rewarding their effort and reducing the financial risk of competing. Hannes explained the philosophy: “if you’re fifth in the world, you’re good… you should get something for it”.

The value of visibility: While direct earnings are scarce, competitions provide crucial visibility that can lead to other opportunities. For athletes like Kaito and Tomoya, performing well at an international event helps them maintain relationships with their sponsors. For youth, competing alongside their idols provides immense motivation and helps build a path in the sport.

The project concluded that for parkour competitions to support sustainable careers, a shift is needed towards models with higher and more equitably distributed prize money, and a stronger network that can attract significant sponsorships.

4. The art of organized chaos: Safety and course design

Ensuring athlete safety is a primary goal for any competition, and the PK-CRE project aimed to develop better guidelines and practices. Discussions with athletes and organizers revealed that safety is intricately linked to course design, judging criteria, and the mindset of the competitors.

Main Points:

Course design is crucial: A well-designed course is the first line of defense. Miranda praised the WCPF setup because of its well-measured connections that provide space without being too far apart. In contrast, athletes criticized some FIG courses for offering limited, high-risk options—”it’s either too low or too high”. A good course should offer a variety of heights and obstacles, allowing athletes to choose challenges appropriate to their skill level and reducing the pressure to attempt overly dangerous moves. The combination of obstacles, like a bar next to a wall, was cited as a feature that sparks unique and safer creative possibilities.

[ add something on course interaction with the surrounding environment like santorini ??? // they’re also more interesting than the artificial obstacles in terms of show]

Equipment and surfaces: The quality of mats and flooring is a major safety concern. Athletes noted that while WCPF used grass, which is better than concrete , some FIG events have provided dangerously inadequate mats. The ideal surface would offer shock absorption for high-impact moves without removing all consequences, similar to a modern playground floor.

The impact of judging on risk-taking: How a run is judged directly influences the risks an athlete will take. Hannes expressed concern after seeing two injuries at WCPF. He suggested making execution worth more than difficulty to discourage athletes from attempting moves beyond their capabilities. Similarly, the strict landing rules in FIG can be counterproductive. Max and Ward argued that penalizing a controlled hand touch or a roll after a big move discourages safe bailout techniques. They proposed that judging should differentiate between an intentional, safe roll and an uncontrolled fall.

[fabio’s proposal to disqualify a run after a fail?]

The organizer’s role: Hannes demonstrated a proactive approach to safety by pausing the competition to speak directly with the athletes, reminding them that “it’s more important that everyone’s safe” and to only attempt what they are 100% sure of. This highlights the importance of fostering a culture of safety over a win-at-all-costs mentality.

5. From niche jam to mainstream spectacle: Sponsors & audience engagement

A major challenge identified by the PK-CRE project is the difficulty in attracting sponsors and engaging a wider audience beyond the core parkour community. The mobility explored strategies to transform parkour competitions into compelling shows that are financially sustainable.

Main Points:

The “show” element is key: Several participants, including Valentino and Davide from the KRAP team, emphasized that a successful competition must be an entertaining show. TJ stressed the importance of a good MC to maintain crowd energy and create hype. He praised KRAP’s “Gaso è Tutto” format, where audience reaction determines the winner, as a perfect example of prioritizing showmanship.

The challenge of attracting an audience: Many parkour events struggle with being too isolated. A criticism of the WCPF event was that it felt like it was “made for us” (the parkour community), with little to no external audience. While FIG events have their flaws, their large scale and integration into festivals like FISE Montpellier mean they can attract thousands of spectators who don’t need to understand parkour to be impressed.

Sponsorship is a hustle: Organizers Oskar and Hannes detailed the immense difficulty of securing funding. Their first year involved a “hustle,” relying on contacts from family, friends, and their local community to gather the necessary prize money and resources. This grassroots approach is common but not scalable for creating a major international circuit.

The path forward: Integration: The most promising strategy to emerge was the idea of integrating parkour competitions into larger, pre-existing events. As Ward and Max discussed, holding competitions within urban sports festivals, music festivals, or city-wide events brings a built-in audience and makes the sport more attractive to potential sponsors. This approach leverages the “pulling power” of an established event to showcase parkour to a new, broader demographic. This was a key actionable idea noted in the KRAP logbooks.

6. Widening the circle: Inclusivity and community growth

Promoting an inclusive and strong community is essential for the long-term health of parkour, with a particular focus on increasing female participation. The discussions highlighted both the challenges and potential solutions for making the sport more welcoming to all.

Main Points:

The female athlete drop-off: A recurring theme was the sharp decline in female participation during adolescence. Miranda, one of Sweden’s top female athletes, explained that while many young girls start parkour, they often quit when they reach puberty. The mixed-gender training environment can become intimidating as boys’ physical abilities rapidly advance. She noted, “for some people it’s too much,” as they begin to compare themselves and feel shy.

Proposed solutions for inclusivity:

Girls-only groups: The most widely supported solution was the creation of dedicated girls-only training groups and workshops. Miranda argued this is “the one and only” way to create a brave and supportive environment where girls can progress at their own pace without the pressure of comparing themselves to boys.

Increased visibility: Young athletes Isa and Johanna pointed out that event organizers often neglect to feature female athletes on social media, posting “always the same men and boys”. They believe that more online visibility is crucial to inspire the next generation, as social media is “how you reach young girls”.

Female coaches: The discussion with Max and Ward led to the “quick fix” idea of investing in more female parkour coaches, which could create more relatable role models and a more welcoming environment.

The power of community jams: Beyond gender, the importance of community-focused events was stressed. Elis’s father explained that their jams are not for profit but to “keep them passionate about it,” providing a space for young athletes to connect, train together, and feel part of something bigger. This sentiment was shared by the young athlete Su, who cherished making “so many friends all over the world” at competitions. These events are vital for nurturing the grassroots of the sport and ensuring its future.

Coordinator: KRAP ASD – Italy
Partners:
WCPF
Nozaru

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