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BUSINESS PEOPLE meet: Hardkore Parkour 'why play the video game? be the video game' Name of business: Hardkore Parkour, aka "HKPK" Address: 3680 N. Fifth St., Las Vegas Phone: 637-4575 Email: Info@HKPKLV.com Website: www.HKPKLV.com Hours of operation: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Owned and operated by: CEO Jeff Jay; Vice President Emma Byers; and Marketing Chief Rich Hopkins In business since: June 2012 Describe your business. We specialize in parkour (negotiating obstacles using only your body, momentum and surroundings) and freerunning and offer a multitude of activities, challenges and classes. We also offer a Ninja Warrior course, martial arts, tumbling, acrobatics, a foam pit, monkey bars, trampoline walls, stunt training, aerial training, velocity jumping stilts and dozens of modular obstacles that can be configured in hundreds of ways. We are currently building a separate Kid Zone for 2- to 6-year0olds. All the elements will be heavily padded. Who are your customers? Men and women, teens and adults. We have some world-class athletes training here from various shows in town. Starting in July, we will be training Las Vegas Law Enforcement Academy candidates in disarming techniques, pursuit drills and physical training. We have had "America's Got Talent" members in the gym twice this year and are very excited to have Cirque du Soleil come in to host auditions. What makes your business unique? Our mission statement says it all: "Inspiring and challenging EVERYONE to overcome life's obstacles." HKPK is centered on building a community of respectful and talented kids. At 20,000 square feet, we are the largest parkour facility in the United States. What do you tell people just beginning parkour or freerunning? It is not as easy as it looks. A lot of people make the mistake of what we call "Huck and Chuck," meaning trying something without progression or training. Just because you have talent in one physical discipline, that doesn't necessarily mean you have it in parkour. Take a few lessons instead to learn the safety aspects and improve your skill level. | 2 2 J U LY 2 0 1 3 20130722_VI05_F.indd 5 | flipping out: Destiny Matthews, 16, has fun while exercising on a tumble track at the Hardkore Parkour gym, 3680 N. 5th St. What is the biggest challenge for beginners? Safety, safety, safety. Learning proper techniques and knowing your limits. Do trainees lose weight? We say parkour is "fitness made fun." One of our members, a 17-year-old, was 320 pounds when he joined. After six months, he now weighs 260 pounds. People just have fun doing this. They don't even realize they are exercising. What is your business philosophy? Getting over obstacles in the gym is the small message. I cannot tell you how many times I have helped with homework and had the chance to mentor some of these young people. The bigger message is finish what you start. Start college; finish college. Be tenacious. We encourage kids by telling them, "Why play the video game? Be the video game!" What's the most important part of your job? Safety always comes first. Whether I am building an element or our staff is talking about scheduling classes. Also, customer service and making sure that our members are happy and photos by STEVE MARCUS have a great experience here. What is the hardest part about doing business in Las Vegas? HKPK is self-funded. Any businessperson will tell you that that is hard in itself. Also, building a community of parkour athletes where none existed before. What is the best part about doing business in Las Vegas? The diverse groups of people that Las Vegas offers. And having so many talented people here. The tax benefits also are helpful. What obstacles has your business overcome? I thought it would be the climate, but not so much. As a full-time design engineer and inventor, marketing has been my own personal challenge. I enjoy designing and building new challenges. But trying to figure out the most cost-effective marketing strategy is our biggest hurdle. How can Nevada improve its business climate? It's hard to say. I would imagine everyone would say lower taxes, better and less expensive insurance. Maybe have incentives for companies, like ours, that have goals to help kids be active and fight childhood obesity, diabetes and A.D.D. What have you learned from the recession? Discretionary funds in families are a precious commodity. R.O.C., or "return on community," has been a benefit. Because we have focused on having a family-friendly, safe, fun environment, we have seen parents agree that having their kids enjoy physical fun is worth spending time and money on. 5 7/18/13 2:08:37 PM