It’s a serious sport!

27th December 2007

FLIPPING and jumping off walls may be considered by some as a rather strange hobby, but members of the Weston Free Runners consider it a serious sport.

The club was set up by 17 year olds Adam Chandler and Ben Slater from Worle after they saw a video on popular internet site YouTube, of professionals showing off their skills.

Free running involves athletes carrying out death-defying stunts over buildings and other obstacles and these were featured in the latest James Bond film Casino Royale.

Adam, of Taunton Road, said: “When I saw the video I wanted to learn the moves straight away. Our club now gives other people the chance to learn the skills.

“When we meet up we teach each other anything new we have discovered as well as doing fitness work to improve strength and stamina, which is really important. We normally meet at the Italian Gardens and then go off in groups to train.”

Adam and Ben, of Lyddon Road, now want to increase awareness of free running by holding after-school classes at Worle Community School.

Ben said: “We do consider this a serious sport and hope to make a career out of it, but we also want to teach the skills to younger kids.

“We would like to expand our club to cover more areas of Weston and we would welcome anyone who wanted to find out a bit more about it. You don’t have to be a teenager to take part so age shouldn’t put people off.”

Adam said: “I love free running. It allows you to escape from any worries you may have and it provides complete mental relief from anything else that’s going on around you.”

THE FACTS:
• Name of club: Weston Free Runners.
• Founded: September 2007.
• Who the club caters for: Anyone who wants to take part in an active hobby. Current members have backgrounds in sports such as martial arts, skateboarding and gymnastics.
• Meeting place and time: Saturday and Sunday mornings at the Italian Gardens in Weston.
•  Who to contact for more details: Adam Chandler at
free-runner-2008@hotmail.co.uk