Moving like a human spider monkey through the halls of Aspen High School, freshman Arturo Gil leaps head-first toward a huge set of glass windows.
The 14-year-old 'free runner' is calm under pressure.
He does a mid-air cartwheel, turns perpendicular to the ground and uses his arms to pop-flip off the window - landing solidly on his feet.
His frosh friends, Brogan Butler and Trevor Rittenhouse, follow and stick it.
The move is called a 'wall spin' and the window these friends are bouncing off like modern day ninjas reads "Seniors '09."
Symbolically or unassuming, the gesture is letting the upperclassmen and the community know that the sport of free running is up-and-coming in Aspen.
THE ORIGIN
Free running is a sport that was started in France a decade ago. Its athletes are equal parts urban climber and street gymnast. Through Bond movies and shoe commercials, its popularity has spread across the globe and has recently reached the Aspen area via a YouTube video.
Immediately after viewing an online video clip of free running pioneer Sebastian Foucan, Butler, Gil and Rittenhouse decided to give it a try.
"We watched a video and we all wanted to do it," Gil said. "So, right away we went outside and started to practice."
Two years of bumps, bruises and improvement later, the three are freshmen at Aspen High. The trio has made an impact in the world of local free running by turning their athletic passion into an official school club they dubbed "Tekneek."
ORANGE SLICES
Angela Rittenhouse is Aspen's free-running version of a soccer mom.
According to school rules, an adult sponsor is required for a club to officially be a club. Because her son Trevor is obsessed with the sport, Rittenhouse, an Aspen School District administrative assistant, decided to take on the responsibilities.
"They're so into it and they wanted to get more people involved and that's why they started the club," she said. "I had to help."
In its short existence, the club has increased membership quickly.
Officially the club meets every Thursday after school. Informally the club practices everyday at various spots throughout the valley.
"Trevor eats and sleeps this," Rittenhouse said. "This is a huge focus for him, Brogan and Arturo. They're putting so much time into this. They wake up early on the weekends and go to parks to practice. They have a major passion for it."
Rittenhouse is working with school officials in an attempt to provide the club with an area where they can practice with mats.
"It is a little dangerous," she said about free running. "My oldest son learned the hard way at a playground. But if you learn it in a safe environment it's a lot better."
DOWNTOWN
Free running in downtown Aspen creates a rubbernecking scenario on steroids.
Everyone - mailmen, foreigners, locals, young and old - just stop and stare.
The Tekneek crew had a cheering crowd at the Rubey Park bus stop as they made an outdoor gymnasium of its surroundings. While the onlookers were amused, the security guard was not.
"You can't do this," said a tall, beefcake of an authority figure. "I'm in charge here. If he gets hurt, it's my ass."
The crew headed over to the corner on Galena Street and Durant Avenue, where they bounced off, twirled around and transitioned through a set of metal rails.
"Freestyle ... without the skateboards," said William Simmons, a roadie for the band Tech N9ne, who stopped unloading musical equipment into the Belly Up and watched in awe.
"You got to be athletic and have a lot of energy to do this kind of stuff. If I tried that I'd break some knees," he said. "If it gives them an activity to do, and it keeps them motivated, then I think it's awesome."
LOOKING GOOD
Just like in surfing, skiing and skateboarding, free running athletes put their own personal style into each maneuver.
"It's a way to express yourself," Brogan said. "As long as you can do it, it's good. But if you can do it with a unique style it's better."
He tried breaking down his crew's style.
"Trevor's style is like, really lazy. But lazy is really good. His back flips are just so slow," he said. "Arturo, whenever he lands he just stomps! He makes sure that he's good. I guess I'm like, I don't know, it's not like a permanent set of things. I try to vary it up."
USING IT ALL
Back at Aspen High, the Tekneek crew is all smiles as they race to the school's main entrance stairway - treating the structures along the way like an urban obstacle course.
Once atop the 20-foot concrete staircase, Gil performs a 'sit turn' on the railing - spinning his body such in a similar manner as a gymnast does on a horse.
Some of the club applauded while others tried mimicking the maneuver on a safer rail closer to the ground.
"It's so much fun doing this with your friends," Gil said. "You feel like a super hero."
KAI@ASPENDAILYNEWS.COM
