11th annual parkour festival takes over Rosslyn park

A parkour athlete jumps off an obstacle at the “Beast Coast” parkour festival in Rosslyn, Virginia, on Saturday. The festival is one of the largest in the world, said Mark Toorock, founder of D.C.-based American Parkour. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart)

Parkour athletes at Gateway Park in Rosslyn. Event runs through May 30th. Beginner class Sunday at 10 a.m.
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewart海角社区app)

A parkour athlete shows off his skills. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart)

Parkour Festival Gateway Park Rosslyn runs through May 30th. Parkour is based on French Special Ops training.
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewart海角社区app)

Another parkour athlete shows off his skills. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart)

A parkour athlete jumps off an obstacle at the "Beast Coast" parkour festival in Rosslyn, Va., on Saturday. The festival is one of the largest in the world, said Mark Toorock, founder of D.C.-based American Parkour. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart) — Another parkour athlete jumps off an obstacle at the “Beast Coast” parkour festival in Rosslyn, Virginia. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart)

Defying gravity at American Parkour Festival in Rosslyn at Gateway Park. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart)

More than 450 athletes at Gateway Park in Rosslyn for 11th annual Parkour Festival.
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewart海角社区app)

More than 450 parkour聽athletes at Gateway Park in Rosslyn for 11th annual Parkour Festival. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart)

Isaiah Rios from Buffalo has been doing Parkour 4 1/2 yrs. He says it's the best thing that was ever invented.
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewart海角社区app)

Isaiah Rios, from Buffalo, New York, has been doing Parkour聽for聽4 1/2 years. He says it’s the best thing that was ever invented. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart)

Founder of American Parkour, Mark Toorock, kicked off 11th annual #Parkour Festival. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart)

Gateway Park in Rosslyn turned into one big jungle gym. Annual Parkour Festival taking place.
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewart海角社区app)

Gateway Park in Rosslyn turned into one big jungle gym for the annual Parkour Festival. (海角社区app/Kathy Stewart)

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ROSSLYN, Va. 鈥� Gateway Park in Rosslyn, Virginia, temporarily turned into a giant playground for adults Saturday.

This weekend鈥檚 parkour festival, called 鈥淏east Coast,鈥� is one of the largest in the world, said Mark Toorock, founder of D.C.-based American Parkour.

鈥淲hat we have done with ‘Beast Coast’ is build a 20,000-square-foot jungle gym for adults,鈥� Toorock said.

It is the 11th year for the festival, which runs through Monday. Events offered include a beginner’s course at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Parkour athletes move quickly through an area, negotiating obstacles by going over or under them 鈥� running, jumping, vaulting, swinging and or climbing. Parkour movements originally developed from military obstacle course training.

Lizzie Fournet of Midlothian, Virginia, was at the festival Saturday with her 15-year-old son, who is a parkour athlete. This was his third year participating in the festival.

鈥淚 love watching all the people,” she said. “The skills they have are amazing.”

Fournet explained how she describes parkour to her friends.

鈥淚 tell them [parkour is] like in the movies, the bad guys running away from the good guys, and they鈥檙e running over railings and jumping across rooftops,” she said. “That鈥檚 what this is.鈥�

Isaiah Rios of Buffalo, New York, was at Saturday鈥檚 event too. He has been doing parkour for 4 1/2 years.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 the greatest thing that鈥檚 been created ever,鈥� Rios said.