Urban body artists fly through Santorini.

A victory by Pavels Petkuns of Latvia concluded the Red Bull Art of Motion of Freerunners in Firostefani on the Greek island of Santorini. Yoann Leroux of France and Gaetan Bouillet of Belgium finished in second and third.

At the Red Bull Art of Motion on the Greek island of Santorini, the world’s best urban artists attempted to blend art and sports together in the unique ambience of the immaculate white city perched on the rocky cliffs. Rooftops, domes, terraces and swimming pools were all part of the 200-meter long course with a height differential of 50 meters that the athletes had to master within a two-minute time limit.

Competition, results, wins and victories are not the words that are usually heard when Freerunners congregate. Instead they tend to talk about pleasure, elegance, fluidity and efficiency. Even though the “Traceurs” prefer sometimes not to view themselves as pure athletes, their performances are nevertheless bursting with world class athleticism. They leap from rooftop to rooftop, scamper up trees, balance themselves on exposed obstacles in urban jungles while all the while completing series of daring flips, spins and flick-flacks.

Pavels Petkuns, a 20-year-old from Latvia, completed his run through the unique greek parkour with the most spectacular, elegant and fluid style – and ended up finishing the final run with a stylish dive into the swimming pool.

Red Bull Art of Motion was first introduced as a competition in 2007 and it has since turned into the state-of-the-art event in the Free Running community.

In 2011 Tim Shieff (UK) won the first competition in London. At the end of July, Jason Paul (GER) took the top honors from a jury in a competition in front of Japan’s tallest building in Yokohama. The world-famous stuntman and Free Runner Ryan Doyle (UK) was victorious at the competition in Sao Paulo (BRA). Marcus Gustafsson (SWE) won the competition in Detroit (USA).

Final Result Santorini 2011:

1. Pavel Petkuns (LAT)
2. Yoann Leroux (FRA)
3. Gaetan Bouillet (BEL)
4. Jason Paul (GER)
5. Paulo Tavares (SUI)
6. Marcus Gustafsson (SWE)
7. Kie Willis (UK)
8. Pip Andersen (UK)
9. Sergio Cora (ESP)
10. Luis Alkmin (POR)
11. Christian Harmat (SUI)
12. Pablo Lopez (ESP)
13. Tunc Leech Uysaler (AUT)
14. Aral Roca Gomez (ESP)
15. Zaza Markhulia (GRE)

„Mini Sickest Trick“: Paulo Tavares (SUI)

Pictures: (c) Samo Vidic, (c) Daniel Grund/Red Bull Content Pool