TARGET 120822

Mount Mitte's
Parkour Course


The course

You have probably seen videos of people jumping from high walls, over fences, and around obstacles that would stop the normal person. That activity is called "parkour".

Formally defined, parkour is "a holistic method of physical training that uses the body's natural movements to get from point A to point B in the most efficient way possible, depending on what movement is deemed most suitable to use the objects in the path with a focus on maintaining as much momentum as possible while still remaining safe."

In plainer words, it is coming to obstacles that would stop you and using them as tools to get you where you want to go - or more metaphorically, using any stumbling block you encounter as a stepping stone.

The central teaching of parkour is that every obstacle that would stop you in life has two things hidden within it:
    1) a lesson for how to get past it and
    2) energy that you can use to go farther and faster once you do.


As such, parkour is often more mental than physical.

Although it can be practiced anywhere, it is usually practiced more in cities, since that is where obstacles are more densly packed. However, most city dwellers don't like people using their rooftops as springboards or jumping over their walls, so finding places to train and practice becomes a common obstacle of its own.

A park in the center of Berlin realized that that obstacle was actually an opportunity to build a much-needed and also quite profitable attraction - a parkour course.

The parkour course
The parkour courses

There are actually six separate courses built into this facility, rated from beginner to expert levels.

The nerve tickler
The "Nerve tickler" for young and old.

Parcours "Brocken" is the easiest course, and is for everyone below a body circumfrence of 51 inches (130 cm). Its highest point is only 3 meters (9 ft 10 in.) off the ground. It is ideal for children and beginners, and its obstacles are designed to teach people how to deal with the more difficult obstacles they will meet on the higher courses.

A little harder
A little harder and more daring

Parcours "Zugspitze" is the next harder experience. Its highest point is 8 meters (26 feet) off the ground. Children are also allowed on this level with supervision. This is a participant's first taste of real parkour. And yes, those are common backyard swings that the person is expected to use as stepping stones.

A little harder and more daring
The wonderful tipping barrels.

Parcours "MountMitte-Skywalk" is 13 Meters (42 feet) off the ground at its highest point. It is considered a true parkour experience. And yes, those barrels are pivoted in the middle so they tip over as you step on them.

A little harder still
And then you go higher

Parcours "Kilimandjaro" is the highest of the "smaller" courses. On this course, you find a "trapeze walk", "barrel walk" and a "surfboard walk".

And a little harder still
And a little harder, still

Parcours "Matterhorn" - well, don't venture here until you are ready.

The top course.
The hardest of them all
The top course

Parcours "Everest" is the "king of the mountain" discipline. No one younger than 16 years old is allowed here, no matter their ability. It's height of 13 meters (42 ft. 7 in.) is scary enough for most people. This one is considered an "extreme sport". And yes, those are Volkswagens (what else- this is Germany!) that must be crawled over, under, into and out of through doors and front and rear window openings in order to get to the next part of the course. And yes, those platforms that must be walked across are pivoted in the middle and spin underneath you as you step on them.

NOTE: I translated much of this information from the original German text, from one of the only two sources I have been able to find for information on this target. Everything depicted and all the text is accurate but the pictures may not exactly match the exact course listed with them. The source pages were vague in this respect, so I just did the research as thoroughly as I could and hope for the best match possible.

FEEDBACK MAP

Feedback map

If you got impressions for which this feedback is insufficient, more information,
pictures and videos can be found at the following web sites:

All the features at Mount Mitte (in English)
The parkour course at Mount Mitte (in German)
Wimipedia - information on parkour


Many thanks to Ray McClure for this target.