Check out our TshirtsTempest Freerunners Succeed at Red Bull Art of Motion ‘Natural’
You’ve contemplated leaping between buildings. You’ve vaulted over park benches. You’ve flipped off walls. But have you ever taken the principles of parkour and freerunning out of the urban jungle?
Recently, two Tempest athletes had the chance to refine and redefine their skills out in the natural world during the Red Bull Art of Motion Natural competition. Held in Lavertezzo, Switzerland, a beautiful vista in the Verzasca River was the arena for a tournament challenging some of the world’s top freerunners. Cory DeMeyers and Josh Yadon were invited to make the almost 6,000 mile journey to represent Tempest in the competition.
According to Red Bull, the Verzasca River is the perfect place for a showdown like this, “with its rocks, canyons and craters – a playground the concrete artists haven’t dreamt off but also a whole new challenge.”
– Cory DeMeyers (far right) prepares for the Red Bull Art of Motion Natural competition. Photo: Courtesy of Red Bull -
“This competition was way different then most. The location didn’t allow you to do the normal movement that you typically train,” said Yadon.
“If you did want to do a certain move, big or small, you had to find a place to do it, and no matter where it was on the course, you took the chance of hurting yourself or twisting an ankle because the ground was really uneven. You had to treat every move as if you were doing it to a precision.”
At the end of the day, each of the 18 competitors did incredibly. With only 90 seconds to show off their best after only two short days to prepare, the level of skill and athleticism was impressive. And to top it off, Tempest’s freerunners placed in the top spots at the competition, with Cory DeMeyers coming in at fifth place and Josh Yadon making the podium in third place.
– The winners of Red Bull Art of Motion Natural, including Josh Yadon (right on podium). Photo: Courtesy of Red Bull -
“I was really surprised that I got third because all the athletes were amazing and had amazing runs,” said Yadon.