1. What do you wear for training?
A. My parkour outfit that shows my personal style and some make up. I want to look fabulous.
B. The clothes and shoes that everyone says is the best for parkour
C. Sports top, t-shirt, gym trousers and trainers. Jacket and scarf if it's cold.
D. My freerunning crew shirt and custom coloured parkour trainers.

2.How do you warm up?
A. By saying hi to everyone and having a little flirt with all the cute guys. By the time I've said hi to everyone, warm ups are over.
B. The most experienced person there is helping me go through some exercises.
C. I do a jog and have a routine that warms up the major muscle groups through the full range of motion.
D. I'm warmed up already from the walk from the station.

3. There is a gap that you have to get across. What do you do?
A. Get the hottest guy to hold my hand and help me over. I can probably do it if I try but I like him helping me.
B. Think for 15 minutes about whether I can do it and take many practise jumps before deciding that today is just not my day, but I'll be back.
C. I've done this 1000 times and I'll do it with perfect form.
D. I'm not sure but I'll figure it out the second before I jump. Perhaps in mid-air. I freestyle that way.

4. There is something that is beyond your comfort level. How do you deal with it?
A. Pull the guy that I like away from whatever he's doing and get him to show it to me. I just wanted to see it, not try it, hot stuff.
B. I don't want to risk serious injury. I'll do something at a lower level many times first.
C. I've broken mental blocks before and I'll do it 3 times before I can say that I've done it.
D. Gather a big crowd around to watch me do it and then go as hard and fast as I can.

Photo by Sola

5. What is your favourite move?
A. I can't remember. But it's all movement anyway, hee hee.
B. Thief and lazy vaults. I'm working on my saut du chat and getting stronger with quadrepedal movements.
C. I've got favourites but I am ambidexterous and will use my skills to the occassion.
D. I'm developing a signature move that will be premiering on youtube soon.

6. After training, what do you do?
A. I've had a few guys offer to train me later this week. I'm joining some boys for smoothies now and I've got their MSN contacts so we'll be chatting tonight.
B. There are a few classes and jams scheduled later this week, I think I'll go to those. Now I need to rest my aching body.
C. I'll be heading home to condition more and think about what muscle groups and techniques I need to work on.
D. Time to go home and review the highlights from today's video footage. I also have to update my Facebook Fan page and Myspace.

7. How do people react to you at training spots?
A. Boys show off in front of me and check to see if I'm paying attention to them.
B. People come over a lot to offer me help, sometimes they come over so often I wish that they'd leave me alone.
C. Sometimes I train alone or some friends come over to practise together.
D. Everyone's looking at me to see what I'm going to do.

 

8. How did you start?
A. It sounded fun so I gave it a try.
B. My boyfriend/ girlfriend was doing it so I came along.
C. I watched David Belle's Speed Air Man and knew that was what I wanted to do.
D. Jump London! Boom!

9. How do you react when a guy says that women can't do parkour?
A. He's just jealous because he's feeling left out from all the attention I've been giving his friend.
B. That's hurtful but he was the only one who said it, everyone else has been really helpful.
C. He doesn't know what he's talking about.
D. I don't need haters in my crew.

 

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Mostly (A)s
"Legally Blonde"
Your friends associate your name and "Paris" with "Hilton" instead of "Parkour" but you like how impressed people are when you say that you do parkour. Besides, you look fabulous and you enjoy all the attention that comes with being the only girl amongst many hot guys. Like Elle, you've got brains but your beauty and fun loving nature mean that people don't take you seriously.

Mostly (B)s
"Ugly Betty"
You're a little bit doubtful about your own abilities but you like the freedom and strength of parkour. You're willing to put in the effort to improve but really, don't want to get seriously hurt. Like Ugly Betty you have lots going for you but just need the confidence to do it. Luckily for you, your lovable nature means that lots of people are willing to help.

Mostly (C)s
"Wonder Woman"
You've seen and done it all and you are a strong fearless woman. Gender is just an excuse and weakness is just a matter of the mind, after all if anyone put in half the effort you have, they could do it too. Wonder Woman is the only Amazon in a Man's World which can get a little lonely sometimes. Even goddesses have to come down to earth sometimes.

Mostly (D)s
"Fly girl"
Parkour and free running is the latest and coolest craze! Being the star of your youtube channel is great and free running as a career is something that you can see in your future. J-Lo got her step into super-stardom from the Fly Girl dance troupe, but aside from fame and the legions of facebook fans what does parkour mean to you?

Combination of A, B, C and D
"All of the above"

We've all done things that are inconsistent with stereotypes. For example, I know that I like to express my style through what I wear but I don't consider myself vain. Makeup also makes me look better and less like a wet dishrag. Also if I haven't seen friends in a while I will go over to catch up on news. But to someone who does not know me it would appear that all I do is chat instead of train. It's common as a woman in a male-dominated field like parkour to be generalized into stereotypes. Being generalized when you know that you're an individual with a unique personality isn't fun. Stereotypes are fast and easy to make but moving beyond stereotypes takes time and effort.

Hope that you enjoyed this quiz. What did you think about it? Was it too cliched? Do you have a stereotype you want to share?

You can discuss it on this Forum Thread.