Topic: PKUSA 09

[Mike "Pyro" Araujo]

"Earlier this Year I reached out Matthew L.W. of PKTX and told him about my Idea to Bring PKUSA back, and He shared my enthusiasm over the project. Over the last two or so years since the last one allot of regional "National" Jams have popped up. But the amount of them occurring every year, not to mention the ones in planing, and the typical traceurs budget don't add up, forcing people to make a choice, which Jam can they afford this year, if any? which have turned these regional "National" Jams into "State" jams. and it seems like the original point of having a national Jam is being lost, which was to have one central place were you could reunite with all of your traceur friends at least once a year to learn, socialize and grow. Now I'm not putting down State jams. quite the contrary, I think they have there purpose, and those that can afford to go to them should continue, but I'd like to bring back the old feeling of having one Central Jam, were if you could only save up enough money for one a year, like alot of us! that jam would be it without question! the one were you could see the most of your traceur friends and learn the most on a limited dime

So the idea is to Bring back the PKUSA, many traceurs first Jam, But to not pigeon hold it to just New York like the originals. I'd like it to be a rotating Jam that highlights a different scene every year, starting with Texas this year in June. It also shouldn't just be another mass gathering also. Since The Original PKUSA's basically set the Big Jam model in America,that others have built upon We aim for the New ones to redefine them, with actual workshops in different area's of PK designed to enhance your knowledge and improve your personal performance level. round table discussion of this years topics of interest as well as how to Improve the state of PK in the US or weather it even needs improvement, ( at night when were done training of course) Free instruction on the best ways to get started for those who feel they need it ( cause there's always allot of first timers at these events, and they should be encouraged) Injury management and prevention Sessions, possibly overseas guests (in the future that is, lol) food, Games (uh... but not competitive games right!, lol) and of course, JAMING!!!!!

This is the Overall Idea or goal we've been toying with for the last couple of months and plan on expanding, and I'd like to open it up to the community at large to get your opinion and see if it's something that were all interested in having, or should we just stick to the ever multiplying State jams?



To see how people are responding over on NA, click link: http://parkournorthamerica.com/plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?9690.last"

-Exo

[Shamas]

Bravo. I fully agree. Bring back the big one, and use the state jams as workshops.
Essentially, that'd be the best result in my opinion.

*EDIT
On the one hand I agree that it would be great, but it is not rational or realistic for the way the community is now.

[Zachary Cohn]

I still feel the same as I did when this was first brought up on NYPK -

Parkour now is very different than it was when PKUSA was first around. Back then, having a single national jam was great, because you'd still get barely 30 people. Now? How many people showed up to Colorado? 125? 150?

The need for a "single" National Jam isn't as big, because we can have multiple national jams that are just as big.

I do like the idea of having a more structured event, with workshops and classes and training sessions. This is an idea Jesse Danger, Tyson, a few others and I helped develop at PKNY last June. We held a night training session with several workshops focusing on different areas. I'd love to see more of this at every major national jam.

[Chris Kessler]

     I have one issue with a literal National jam. That is how unfair it is to the younger traceurs. I am 19 years old, by far not the youngest, but I am still on a  budget. There is no feasible way I could front the money to get to Texas, or even New York. Now think of all of those 15 year olds out there who would have to ask their parents to A: give them permission, B: pay for them, C: in a lot of cases GO with them.

     This is a huge majority of some of the most active practitioners out there. I'd love to fly/drive out to Texas to jam with some of the greats, but then again I am a sophomore in college and can't do that.

Have a "National" jam. It would be great. However, I doubt it will be easy to discern from the regular "Regional" National jams (Colorado, NY, (B)east Coast, etc.).

[KC Parsons]

If it's reasonably possible then by ALL MEANS I think it's a great idea. It would be A LOT of people like Zac said, so plans would have to adjust accordingly, but I think it would be a great experience.

[Rek]

     I have one issue with a literal National jam. That is how unfair it is to the younger traceurs. I am 19 years old, by far not the youngest, but I am still on a  budget. There is no feasible way I could front the money to get to Texas, or even New York.

If your on a budget then it seems your having some type of income, especially if your willing to make it to regional jams.  I really don't think the ppl that are hosting this are saying "ONLY GO TO THIS JAM AND NO OTHERS CAUSE THIS IS PKUSA"  Their merely wanting ppl to make an effort to make something like this possible, a jam where everyone can rendezvous, and its imaged kind of like the olympics(without competition of course)  A place where people from all over the country can gather together who share similar interests and change the meeting location every time its thrown  I'm willing to support something like this and still attend other regional jams.

One way to help people who may not have the funds is to maybe list housing arrangements.  Thats always the big issue.  I live in AZ so I won't need to get a plan ticket which because of the economy drop are going to at least start out at $200.00.  All i can say to that is save, and economic spending.  Locations and prices of hotels near the areas we will be jamming and also if any local traceurs are willing to lodge people.    that'd be nice.    The Topic as already been started on the time of the event so that way you can start your planning/saving methods.

http://www.americanparkour.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,159/topic,14144.0/

[Matthew Lee Willis]

Chris Kessler, please please please support your local communities and have great jams locally.  Obviously these OUT of state jams are geared toward people that can afford the ticket or transport. 

Best ways to cut cost if you want to come.  Caravan, for you it will roughly be 1,300 miles there.  Then another 1,300 back.  So that comes out to 2,600, miles and at 20 miles to the gallon you got 130 gallons of gas.  Seeing as it will be summer, gas could cost about $260.

The trip is going to take 20 hours to drive and 20 hours back.  Including food for 5 people $100 if your eating cheap and piging out at the Texas Houses for free .  For a very rough estimate your looking at $75 round trip per person.  Now, if you start saving now, I think you could make that...Though, you always have to find a person that is will to give up their car...if its a rental your looking at tacing on another $40 each for everyone.

Lodging is free, come stay with us...We want to see as many people out as possible.  Best of luck to everyone in their own regional jams and best of luck to anyone planning on driving or flying.

p.s. - This is the route we took when 8 of us pilled in a Van to check out PK GEN in Ohio   About the same mileage as well. 

[Chris Kessler]

Haha, I realize how ignorant I was being. The amount of people who CAN go is probably staggering. More power to you, guys. I think it'd be great, not to mention it may attract out-of-country practitioners as well.

[Tory Mitchell]

I am very new to parkour, as i just recently got into it a few months ago.  However, sadly, my friends and I here in chicago, well Evanston, a suburb of chicago became interested right as the snow and cold began to make trying to do parkour impossible.  I have been trying to get in the best shape possible, but have had complications with health, school etc.  So my question is could I still come and have fun even if I am maybe not in top shape and have not been doing parkour long in general.  I am incredibly interested, and am dying for it to finally get warm on a consistant basis so I may increase my training time.  Also, I don't do martial arts or gymnastics, just never was my thing, so pretty much starting from scratch but in pretty good shape I would say.  Overall I'm wondering if its worth it, or is this more of a thing for more experiences traceurs?

[Zachary Cohn]

Jams are great things for everyone to come to. You probably learn even MORE as a newbie than you would as an experienced person.

Also, check out http://www.chicagoparkour.net/

[Shamas]

Jams are great things for everyone to come to. You probably learn even MORE as a newbie than you would as an experienced person.

Also, check out http://www.chicagoparkour.net/

sad but true....its very likely

[Tory Mitchell]

Awesome, thanks guys.  Me, Tory, and my friends Aidan, and maybe Chris are for sure going to try and make it out there.  Hope to see and meet some of y'all there!

[Matthew Lee Willis]

This is shaping up to be a really great jam.  Texas Parkour really prides itself on workshops for all levels.  We will also be doing some great jamming all over Austin for those that are just coming to jam.

We'll get more out there about lodging soon.

[Cody Beltramo]

I figured I'd try to make it to at least one Texas jam, I might have to try for this one.  I think that's the same weekend the Chicago jam typically is, so that'll probably be my deciding factor.