Free running fans at the Royal National Theatre on London’s South Bank on March 20th were lucky enough to witness the world’s most talented free runners competing at the top of their game in Red Bull’s Art of Motion free running competition.
Tim Shieff from the UK put on a dramatic and entrancing display of free running which had the crowd of 8,000 going wild and it proved too good for the rest of the field as he took the honour of winning the prestigious competition in this free flowing art form.
Red Bull Art of Motion was a one-off event that saw 25 of the world’s best free runners leap and flip their way across the multi-leveled building as they went head-to-head in the first competition of its kind in the United Kingdom.
Not only were fans treated to some of the most talented free runners in the world twisting, flipping and jumping down the specially designed, heart stopping course; they also got to witness YouTube sensation Danny MacAskill, traverse the same course on his street trials bike. Trials legend MacAskill, has gained notoriety for his incredible stunts and he definitely didn’t disappoint fans last night with yet another stunning display of skill.
The dramatic outdoor spectacular saw Tim Shieff, Ryan Doyle and 10 other athletes push their bodies to the limit and reach the final at the National Theatre. A panel of four judges, who are among the world’s best known exponents of parkour, decided that Tim Shieff was the best athlete on the night. The competitors were judged on their creativity, execution, flow, and technical difficulty.
UK Red Bull Art of Motion Champion 2011, Tim Shieff said after his victory: “I feel ecstatic to have won the first Red Bull Art of Motion competition to be held in the UK, I’ve competed at similar events in other countries and the London crowd finally helped me to win on home turf.”
Free running is a form of urban acrobatics, in which athletes perform tricks using the obstacles in the environment around them. Incorporating elements of parkour, the free runners will pull off gymnastic moves, such as flips and spins, as they navigate their way across a designated course, which will offer them plenty of opportunity to attempt heart-stopping stunts.
During the first round of the competition, each of the competitors has 80 seconds to freestyle across the course, showing-off on and utilising several different obstacles and features.
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