“He’d fly through the air with the greatest of ease.” While the song might refer to The Trapeze Man, this inspiring parkourist needs no net and no trapeze. Ronnie Shalvis is a professional free runner and parkourist. He has an amazing outlook on life and how he incorporates his love for his sport into his life. He has performed his craft at various conventions as well as made several videos, some of which include popular icons from gaming and comic culture.
GameSkinny got the chance to catch up to Ronnie and ask a few questions. From the beginnings of his career and love for parkour and free running to advice for beginners, we got an amazing look at the mind of this athlete.
How old were you when you first started learning parkour, and what inspired your first attempts?
Ronnie Shalvis (RS): I was 15 years old. I was inspired by online parkour videos I saw of David Belle the founder of parkour. Also being a fan of Jackie Chan and Spider-Man also inspired me to want to learn that type of movement.
What inspired you to take it to the professional level?
RS: After about 4 years of doing parkour, I felt I had progressed to a point that I could start doing it professionally. I also loved it so much that there isn’t anything else I would rather be doing.
See the complete interview at GameSkinny.com.