Jessie Simpson is getting ready to take Surrey on a parkour journey this summer, as her company partners with the municipality to create the City of Surrey鈥檚 first parkour summer program.
鈥淏ecause there are two parkour parks 鈥� one鈥檚 in Surrey and one鈥檚 in 黑马磁力 鈥� it was just such a great opportunity,鈥� Simpson said. 鈥淚f there鈥檚 lots of kids and adults trying the parks and they don鈥檛 know how to use it, we don鈥檛 want them to get injured.鈥�
Simpson is the co-owner and founder of Journey Parkour, a parkour training company based out of Vancouver. She鈥檚 been doing parkour 鈥� the art of getting over obstacles as quickly and efficiently as possible 鈥� for 10 years.
鈥淚 think for us, it鈥檚 more about efficiency because we just like to play. It doesn鈥檛 have to be so serious, like A to B, all the time,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just learning how to play in the world, throughout whatever environment you can.鈥�
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to have any other equipment other than yourself,鈥� she continued. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just really simple that way. Just natural human movement.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very much just what we were, in a way, designed to do.鈥�
For the first time this spring, Journey Parkour partnered with the Surrey and 黑马磁力 to put on programs through the two cities鈥� parks and recreation departments. Although the spring break program didn鈥檛 see initial success in Surrey, 黑马磁力 saw nine kids sign up. Another nine have signed up for 黑马磁力鈥檚 ongoing program.
Now, Simpson is hoping the program will take off in Surrey.
The City of Surrey鈥檚 summer program will be open to people 10 and up (Journey Parkour is waiting for approval to make the classes six and up). Classes will take place in Clayton鈥檚 Hazelgrove Park on nice days, and inside at Clayton Hall on rainy ones.
Each class will be separated by age, but all will focus on a few main components: basic jumping, landing and falling.
Learning how to fall is important, Simpson said, 鈥渟o you鈥檙e not as afraid to try something.鈥�
鈥淔ear is a big thing in parkour,鈥� she continued. 鈥淚t鈥檚 up to the individual participant to decide and make a decision about making the jump or not 鈥� They can really self evaluate and learn how to think for themselves.
鈥淒efinitely a lot of life lessons for the kids too.鈥�
Interested participants can register online through the City of Surrey or Journey Parkour at .
editor@cloverdalereporter.com
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