Climbing the citadel... And descending it

NAMUR • Unprecedented roller parade On the occasion of the National Day, the roller parade chose a truly perilous route, on the slopes of the citadel. FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE. Blaring music. Bright colors. Place de l'Ange, like every rainless Thursday, donned its roller parade attire. From 7:00 p.m., the most eager participants arrived at the start, more determined than ever. Destination: citadel! The start approaches. The crowd stirs. Shouts and laughter ring out. Then, a whistle blows: everyone is off. The convoy sets off through the streets of Namur. A few sponsors are left alone on a deserted square. The party moves on, bringing with it the music, bright colors, shouts, and laughter. Fear of the citadel? "It's historic," rejoices Corinne Matthieu, who came with her two children, Manon and Maxime. "We've been taking part in the roller parade for three years, but we've never climbed the citadel. Being able to skate in the street is already a rare treat, but on the slopes of the citadel, it will be even better. The speed is exhilarating." Enthusiasm was widespread. Mind you, without genuine keenness, it was better to abstain. Indeed, that is what many did. Under 400 participants might have been a disappointment, were it not well known how daunting the route was. At the end of the climb, fatigue set in among the skaters. "Usually, there are between 1,000 and 1,500 of us in Namur," guarantees Brussels organizer Carl De Moncharline. "We knew turnout would be lower today because the citadel is intimidating." Yet the route planned by the police accommodated the less experienced skaters. It was via Salzinnes, as smoothly as possible, that the citadel was climbed, then descended. At only 16 kilometers long, the route was shorter than on other Thursdays (running until mid-September). Short, but intense! After a loop through the streets, from the lower town to the Pont des Ardennes via the railway station, the skaters rolled toward the Grognon, then toward Salzinnes. Avenue de Marlagne served as an elevator. At the esplanade, the break was more than welcome. Namur in the top 3 "No, it wasn't too hard," reassures Morgan Gilain, from Erpent, a little out of breath all the same. "It's rather the descent that worries me. Braking on roller skates is always tough." Yet Morgan and her friends have been joining the roller parade for two years. "It's true we're used to it," adds Roland Aublain, from Namur, "but today, we achieved something unprecedented. It was less difficult than we thought. The atmosphere carries us through." Just as they set off on the descent, a few raindrops raised concern among the organizers, security services, and participants. False alarm. So it was with broad smiles that the convoy set off again. The descent went off without a hitch, despite the falling dusk. At the finish line, it is 10:30 p.m. Place de l'Ange suddenly comes alive. The bustle is short-lived. Some tell each other: see you next Thursday! Others prepare to kick off a night of partying a little further away. Among the most seasoned, some were disappointed. "It was too short for my liking," admits Fred Danen, from Liège, with twenty years of roller skating under his belt. "They didn't let us loose enough. But the atmosphere was great and the opportunity exceptional." Once again, the Namur roller parade won everyone over. Benjamin MORIAMÉ THE SPLITS His joy: putting on a show Enthusiasts who don't own roller skates may have had the chance to meet Issam Ben Alaya, who rents out the precious wheeled footwear. But his joy is taking part and putting on a show. "The descent was excellent." All along the route, he treated his Namur audience to a few pirouettes, of which the splits was by no means the least impressive. ORGANIZATION Preventing falls above all Organizer Carl De Moncharline and physician Erard de Hemricourt form a tight-knit duo. That unity did not falter on Thursday evening. Cooperation between emergency services and the organizers ensured swift responses at all times. In the end, it is prevention above all that deserves praise, as only two or three minor falls were reported. Supervision put to the test Police officers, first aiders, staff members, doctor, and organizer were on high alert Thursday, especially during the descent. IT WAS almost a test for the entire organization, security, and emergency services. The choice of route demanded heightened vigilance from everyone. "We required children to wear the necessary protective gear," explains organizer Carl De Moncharline. "It was strongly recommended for adults as well. We clearly warned that this route was not intended for beginners. Only experienced participants were allowed." First and foremost, the police had carried out a reconnaissance run with part of the roller parade team. That is how the route was designed. Strategic points, mainly sloping turns, were scrupulously marked on the map and communicated to the medical team. "Wherever there is a particular hazard," assures Erard de Hemricourt, the parade doctor, "we can intervene within 15 seconds. Everywhere else, we can be on the scene within a minute, because we are all on roller skates, mobile, and on hand. The Red Cross is always right by our side." Of course, winding and hilly routes present heightened risks. "The most frequent," warns the doctor, "are wrist, elbow, and knee injuries, not to mention road rash and bruising." As for the police, the primary concern was vehicle traffic. "There are about ten of us," tallies Jean-Marie Hansen. "Add to that four mountain bikes, two motorcycles, and four cars. Our role is to secure intersections and block traffic. It's a job we enjoy. The team is well-oiled, and camaraderie is the order of the day." After the police, the "staffers" take over at intersections. Numbering 30 on Thursday, they are all volunteers, doing it for pleasure. "Our reward is the participants' smiles," says Alain Borgnet, who heads the Namur branch. "On top of traffic duties, we watch out for beginners, injured participants, and dangerous behavior. Sometimes, we have to escort participants into the safety car." Backed by a well-designed security system, the perilous citadel roller parade will remain a flawless experience, potentially to be repeated. Two or three falls and a few bruises and scrapes later, everyone had forgotten how vital vigilant supervision truly was. B.Mo. FRENCH ROLLER POLICE In Paris, it's all year round On the occasion of the Belgian National Day, Parisian roller-police came to observe their Belgian colleagues at work. The head of the Paris roller-skating unit, Gérard Lucero (right), regularly comes to provide training to the Namur squad. "The Namur police officers did a very good job tonight. The organization was spotless. In Paris, we do this all year round."