Sports & Recreation

Comments (0) Best Place to Practice Parkour (Sorta Legally) - 2008

The Bunkers in the Presidio

In the unofficial sport of parkour, there are no teams or regulations, just acrobatically inclined individuals traveling a short distance in a straight line — the more wall-scaling and rooftop leaping, the better. For the traceurs who use public stairways, ledges, and lampposts in their quest for a mind-over-matter outlook and killer calves, the world is their practice gym. Problem is, a lot of the world is private property. While some have negotiated unofficial practicing rights with nightwatchmen, those concerned with the letter of the law favor the bunkers in the Presidio, a veritable jackpot of ladders, rails, and concrete surfaces of enough heights and angles to confound a Cubist. Beginners practice running up short, sloped inclines, while experts can perfect their "kong vaults" and "cat balances" over waist-high ledges and second-story rails. And just about anyone can find two walls placed just far enough apart for precision jumps that make you feel like James Bond. One warning: Although park officials haven't banned parkour, they do officially discourage anything potentially dangerous. But such is the dilemma of the sport that lives free of corporate sponsorship and health insurance.

Download our Free Best Of App

My Voice Nation Help
0 comments
Sort: Newest | Oldest

Search Best Of Awards

Best of Award Graphics

©2013 SF Weekly, LP, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places San Francisco / Bay Area

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city