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Street workout: The sport that defies gravity debuts in Dubai
In a world that has seen sport and technology become increasingly intertwined, a new sport has emerged that goes against the grain - taking competitors back to basics.
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After several years of growth, ‘street workout’ hit Dubai’s sun-drenched South Ridge Park last Saturday as 22 athletes from 12 countries assembled to compete in the sport’s first World Cup qualifiers in the Middle East.
Street workout is a sport in which athletes support their own bodyweight with a series of complicated lifts and movements, known in more technical circles as calisthenics. These malleable men and women have developed new types of lifts and contort their bodies into positions that seem to defy gravity.
No analytical tools, no special equipment and certainly no apps - just supremely talented individuals, an impressive sound-system and a large blue frame on which athletes perform routines, usually to techno music.
This form of exercise has swiftly grown in popularity in recent years and in 2011, the World Street Workout and Calisthenics Federation (WSWCF) was established. Formal rules were introduced in order to create a competitive element to the sport, which is as enjoyable for spectators as it is competitiors, while an annual World Cup was created.
There is no question how serious the athletes are about this new sport. Roughly half of the field at the 2015 World Cup travelled to Dubai from GCC countries, but the rest made the pilgrimage from as far afield as USA, Ukraine and Chile to test themselves against the best.
A highly competitive day’s action in Dubai was also great entertainment for the crowds, as athletes with finely-tuned routines put on a show of mesmerising flips, twists and ‘statics’ – where breath-taking core strength is used to hold the body parallel from the ground.
On the surface, the sport seems to share many similarities with gymnastics, but WSWCF founder Maris Slezins insists it is a more spectator-friendly offering.
“Street workout is all about interaction, creativity and freestyle,” the bulky Latvian tells Sport360. “Therefore you can be a big guy who specializes in holds, a guy with great rhythm who has a more interactive, dance element to their performance or even a smaller guy with great speed and agility. They are not focused only on their routine, but on providing the crowd with some fun.”
Each competitor is given the stage for two rounds of two minutes and is judged by a panel of four experts in four categories: statics, dynamic moves, combinations and style. The latter is designed to incorporate the crowd into the event and in order to get top marks here, athletes must interact with spectators - something achieved through high-fives, dancing, posing and encouraging synchronised clapping and cheering.
Over the course of the day, athletes of varying shapes and sizes prioritised the four categories in a bid to be crowned Dubai champion, with Chilean Miguel Mayorga eventually taking the crown. However Slezins is keen to point out that his sport is about more than winning trophies – highlighting the appeal of the sort of health benefits that have helped make cross-fit a multi-billion dollar industry.
“Street workout gets rid of negative emotions and channels positivity,” he explains. “Love it, enjoy it, stay motivated and achieve your goals by believing in your dreams.”
Dubai’s version of the event is just one of the 22 qualifying stages around the globe. The top athlete from each stage proceeds to the grand final in Moscow in December to compete for the title of street workout world champion.
Whether Slezins' dream of the sport being part of the 2032 Olympics becomes a reality or not remains to be seen but, judging by its soaring popularity, street workout is certainly here to stay.
