One small step for a man - one giant leap for a clothes store

May 20 2005 By Roisin Gad El Rab, Chester Chronicle

CLAMBERING over buildings and leaping across rooftops, some of the country's greatest freerunners startled passers-by as they hit Chester at the weekend.

In the city to promote the opening of White Stuff - the clothing store which sponsors them - Team Traceur (TT) took advantage of the city's architecture with their unique skills.

Freerunning, or Parkour, originally from France, is an extreme sport, which involves using the urban landscape as a gymnasium, using strength, precision jumps, discipline and balance to move between structures.

White Stuff, which opened on St Werburgh Street on Saturday, recently agreed clothing sponsorship for the team of five freerunners.

The team: Dane Grant (DC), 28, of South Africa, Nick Steer (RIP), 19, of Teddington, London, Luke Marley, 19, ofEssexandChris Rowat(Blane),19,of Leicester, have all featured in recent Channel 4 documentary Jump Britain, which focused on the growth of the sport.

Parkour is not a competitive sport and requires very little kit - just a pair of trainers, loose fitting trousers and participants can practice anywhere.

White Stuff already sponsor a number of UK sportsmen and women. The TT Team are an exciting new addition to their sponsorship programme, reflecting the company's growing number of stores in cities.

roisin.gadelrab@cheshirenews.co.uk