When thinking about their first trip to California, most people are flooded with memories of family vacations and Disneyland.
At the age of fifteen my first California experience consisted of parties, famous skate spots, and being a designated driver strapped with nothing but a learners permit. Instead of staying in hotels I was treated to the accommodations of the SDSF mansion, and even got to experience their house warming event…
Quentin Mandron and Stéphane Mosselmans are two strong characters.
That’s why we thought that for once, it would make sense to let them take care of the editorial piece to present their shared profile, filmed in multiple skate parks throughout France and Belgium by Samuel “Bodchoy” Courdent, and edited somewhere between France and Ireland. Enjoy !
Stéphane Mosselmans by Quentin Mandron:
I could talk about Mossel’s skating but it makes no sense, that’s something you have to watch by yourself, and Stephane doesn’t like reading nice stuff about him…
I could talk about the day I met him and Gregory Defreyne and how they filled my eyes with dreams, or about sessions in the street of Brussels, or about the night when it becomes pure poetry. Actually, I’ve only one thing to say…
Go fuck yourselves ! Viva el Norte, viva Brussels and viva Stephane Mosselmans ! Bicky, drugs ans Mos and roll !!!
Quentin Mandron by Stéphane Mosselmans :
Five or six years ago, I met Quentin Mandron. It was in Lyon. And it is one of the reasons why I really love him : because he’s from Lyon.
And also because he does some long, looooonnnnng backside royale, kinda like Shima. Long story short : if you don’t like that guy you suck ! I for myself do love him, and I am really glad to share a profile with him. Quentin, if you read this : Merliche !
Essai3 is a buddy’s video even if some people say it’s not because there is more footages of some skaters than others. But it’s always the same thing. We can’t satisfy everybody.
Anyway the video brought out in october 2005, basically i filmed in the north of France, Paris, Nice and through the Talk Shit Tour’s Road Trip (Essen, Praha, Bratislava, budapest, Zagreb, Italy, Nice). I hope you ll enjoy it.
Thank you to all my friend who filmed with me for this video.
Rollerblading is an individual sport. The paradox is, we really get to enjoy it the most when practiced collectively, as a group…
I have been claiming my love for the North for a few years now, and trying to get friends from all around the country to come and visit. No matter what, I always know it’s going to be a great time there. We’ll get a session going, and then we will most probably head to one of our favorite food place right before crashing some party, but one thing is certain, we are going to have lots of fun. Friends. Friends make everything more enjoyable, they make even the shitty moments worth it, like spending hours stuck on the freeway thanks to exploding wheels. I wouldn’t have enough kind words to thank them; they know who they are anyway. But thank you guys for giving me a place to crash, thanks for the road trips all around the place, thanks for all the laughs of course, and thanks for being there and being who you are. True happiness can only be reached when shared.
Edit : Samuel “Bodchoy” Courdent.
Bande son : Goodbye stranger - Supertramp.
I just dropped Clement Boucau at the airport this morning, and now I am supposed to write this little presentation for the short edit we made for the Franco Shade / Nobody Cares video contest…
Well, there’s not much to say about this funny little character. He’s actually really shy, and his english is not that good, so that could have made the 10 days he spent in San Diego kind of complicated. But the happy smile he carries on his face, and his “baboon on acid” gimmicks made his stay really easy, and his presence here well accepted.
He came to California with a busted knee, so we didn’t get to skate that much during his stay, but between all the burgers at Carl’s Jr, the chill sessions at the beach, and the touristic visits downtown, he still managed to skate Poway and Escondido’s parks, shot a few clips on real street spots, and competed at the AIL contest last week-end at Woodward West, getting props from legends like Jon Julio or Robert Guerrero for his skating. All this mixed with countless, endless laughs…
Well, these were good times after all, and these 10 days went by way too fast. Clement is somebody you really enjoy having around you. He’ll bring a smile on your face, and his stylish skating is certainly worth watching. Hope you enjoy this little section flimed and edited for you and the Franco Shade guys by Samuel “Bodchoy” Courdent !
Rollerblading is a wonderful physical activity (call it a sport if you will). The act of rolling in itself can bring you through a lot of different sensations: pain and pleasure, frustration and satisfaction, physical achievement, and eventually, FUN.
Rollerblading, when you stick with it, can also become a real lifestyle. Through the road trips you take, the friends you meet, the experiences you make, you will eventually change. It will influence the decisions you make, and the way you perceive life.
Rollerblading can also transform into a raw emotion. Be it a jaw dropping reaction when you witness a crazy trick first hand, or simply being struck by the perfection of a trick when performed in an outstanding way, you can be marked for life by moments of incredible beauty.
For instance, I think no one that was present that day will ever forget Mathieu Heinemann skating with the rain at the last 100 Contest in Cergy. I’m glad we can try to share it with you, though, with the images collected through the lens of our video camera. To me, the act of rolling can sometimes become the art of rolling. I hope you feel the same way after watching this.
I’ll just quote my friend Samuel “Bodchoy” Courdent to conclude: “it’s an edit that makes you appreciate rollerblading”. I think you can trust him, since he’s the one who filmed and edited this visual gift for you.
Check the report (photos + text) of the LST California tour 2008 (english + french language).
Report (photos + textes) du LST California tour 2008 (en francais & anglais).
