It’s the fastest growing sport in the UK, and K College at Brook Street in Tonbridge has hosted a trial for new equipment for Free Running or Parkour.

The sport originated in France, but has now grown in popularity across Europe, while in the UK it is the fastest growing activity.


One of the UK’s top performers, Daniel Ilabaca, spoke to more than a hundred fans at the campus, where many had registered to try out the newest equipment.

Brought to Tonbridge from Frankfurt in Germany, the bars and climbing frame were designed by Andreas Bast, 34, who says it tries to make the sport safer. He said: ‘We are trying to get the balance right between usability and health and safety. This is much safer with these mats than learning on rooftops.’


Daniel Ilabaca arrived at the Tonbridge campus from India where he was working on a Hollywood film. He said: ‘I never dreamt that I would have a career out of this, but it has just happened and naturally became a job.’ The 23 year old from Liverpool learned on roofs around his home.

The event, centred on K College’s MAC space, was organized by Freemove,a company that is trying to interest public authorities in buying this equipment.



Andreas Bast said: ‘Simple units start at £30,000 but then there is no limit to what I can design. This has developed out of the skate boarding, climbing walls designs, so people have a good idea of what they look like. The only major unit in the south east is at Newhaven in Sussex.’