Hi Ross, who are you? 

I am a traceur, a pilgrim, an adventurer, and a maker, among whatever else I think I am. I started Parkour in 2008 in Adelaide, South Australia, and have always been involved in my community since then. I love to travel and my approach to travel closely reflects my approach to Parkour.

Can you give us an insight into your parkour world?

From the start, I’ve been driven by a ‘be strong to be useful’ mindset. My interpretation of this is my training and it’s what makes me passionate about Parkour. When I train, I start with the purpose what I’m doing, and then from that work out what it is that I’m doing.

I like to have fun, and the most fun I have is in the exhilaration of an occasional spirit-challenge. Things that force me to dig deep and push hard and conquer demons. Epic battles of the internal titans etc. etc. But that kind of training has to be in balance with more chilled out, play-like stuff.

What values would you like to pass on to others?

I think there is a lot of meaning in the pursuit of being strong to be useful. If there is one thing I’d like people to explore and understand, it’s that. But its up to individual people to look into it and own it for themselves.

Apart from that, be passionate. Be vivacious in whatever it is you do. Bring your own life into the world.

PARKOUR SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Tell us your perspective on “risk” in parkour?

Risk management is one of the most widely relevant and pragmatically applicable skills that is developed in Parkour. It is among the biggest benefits of training Parkour, and it is inherent in our practice and our culture.

When learning to move in an environment where recklessness brings pain, people quickly begin to identify the sweet spot between enough and too much. With training we develop a fine sense of assessing every risk by its potential consequences and the likelihood of suffering them, and making rational decisions on what to do about it.

Any interesting/crazy stories you would like to share from your adventures?

One of my proudest moments in my training was when I found a hiker injured from a huge fall in the remote mountains of Scotland’s Isle of Skye. With no phone reception, and no other way of getting help, I had to run through very difficult bog for an hour and a half to alert the mountain rescue team and help save the guy. If it weren’t for the training I have done, he might have lost his life. For me, there’s no better validation of my training.

Since Australia is notorious for having deadly wildlife, have you ever found yourself in a dangerous situation?

Honestly, I have not! The scariest run in with wildlife I’ve had was in Japan, when I was woken in the forest by a family of wild boar passing only metres away, silhouetted against the full moon.  But even then, nothing happened.

Thank you Ross for your time, we can say that you are the freest person I’ve ever met. Keep sharing and stay in motion for a long time!

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Ross Mcgachey
TRACEUR