Happening Brussels Roller Parade All brakes off!

Tested for you: The Brussels Roller Parade. On skates through Brussels. Your reporter on site was left with a pounding heart, a worn-out skate brake and, yes, a good feeling. Friday, July 4, 2003. The Brussels Roller Parade couldn't start any more Belgian. All day long, the heavens had poured a 'national downpour' over Brussels. Cancellation or, after all, put on those skates? '80% chance of a dry evening and otherwise we pray it doesn't rain,' says organizer Carl de Montcharline on the phone. His prayers have an effect. Apart from a heavy shower 4 minutes before departure, the evening remains dry. REPORTER ON SITE It's my 1st time. I'm not a super skater. On flat ground, yes. But not on the obstacle course that is Brussels. Curious, I watch the skaters trickle in at the heart of the Ter Kameren Bos (Bois de la Cambre). Many twenty-somethings (m/f), a couple of show vendors, but I also see a lot of clumsy movements, many shiny new skates, but also strikingly many quads, those typical seventies roller skates with 2 x 2 wheels, you know. A few mothers with children too. And people with grey hair. Lovely are the police officers warming up for their own skate round. Rarely seen such hip officers. ATMOSPHERE A few whistles later, the crowd starts moving. Out of the forest. Although everyone is riding in front of everyone's wheels and making speed isn't really possible, the atmosphere is excellent. It's been a long time since I've seen so much social contact between strangers. For the pep along the way or, as he himself puts it, 'the tonus', the animator on duty takes care of it. He didn't want to give his name. I'd spontaneously call him 'Satine' or something. You can spot him right away. Red quad skates, tight trousers, black afro haircut and a lot of showmanship. He's been on skates for 21 years, he says. And it shows. Especially when braking, because for that he developed his own technique. Out of necessity. 'No brake on my skates, it hinders dancing.' DOWNHILL On the way. Onto Franklin Rooseveltlaan (Franklin Roosevelt Avenue). It's special, though, to see that normally so busy avenue now free of cars for a moment. That also applies to all the major streets we drive through that evening. Especially Wetstraat (Rue de la Loi), Elsensesteenweg (Chaussée d'Ixelles), Jacqmainlaan (Jacqmain Avenue) and the tunnels on the small ring road make an impression, without traffic like this. These tunnels are a story in themselves, by the way. At the first tunnel, a small one, on Louizalaan (Avenue Louise), all hands immediately go up in the air. That means stopping. Horror. The first descent. About half of the skaters whiz down the hill without batting an eyelid. The rest brake frantically. Some hold on to the edge of the tunnel for a moment longer. I am one of them. A little later, the whoosh feeling takes hold of me and I let myself be pulled down the hill. Great! Immediately the tone is set for the next tunnels. Although... We hadn't had the tunnel at Hallepoort (Porte de Hal) yet. It quickly turns out that it's a bit steeper than my courage allows. Even when I stay on the brake, I slide downwards and feel my speed increase. A professional braker - one of the escorts - takes care of me and lets me slide down on his shoulder. The ambulance that drives down the hill next to us - and the story my escort tells in the meantime, about a girl who gashed her whole chin open here a week earlier - makes me conclude that this whole Roller Parade isn't always and for everyone equally safe. TERRACES AND LIGHTS 10:30 PM and halfway. And that means: taking a breather at the Sint Gorikshallen (Halles Saint-Géry), where the roller procession slaloms over the cobblestones and between the terrace chairs. Immediately after the break follows the hardest part: the slope between Nieuwstraat (Rue Neuve) and Kruidtuin (Botanique). Around me, panting and puffing resounds. This is clearly the 'opper-col' (top pass) in skateland. Together with the first drops of sweat, darkness also falls. This is called nightskating. Lights go on on the helmets of the Red Cross workers and blue and red wheel lights appear under the hippest feet. Brussels by night. And you can see that too. The number of supporters decreases, but those who are still there react twice as enthusiastically. This is especially noticeable in and around Matongé. Cheers echo from open windows and here and there a cheerleader-like dance can be seen. When we arrive at Ter Kamerenbos (Bois de la Cambre) a quarter of an hour before midnight, we have covered about 20km. In just under 3 hours. Not exactly an average speed to be proud of. But that's not what this is about. The Roller Parade is not a sport, but an atmosphere. PRACTICAL Brussels Roller Parade: every Friday evening in July and August. Starts at 9 PM in Ter Kamerenbos (Bois de la Cambre). In case of heavy rain, the Parade is cancelled. The tour is supervised by police and experienced staff from the organization. The streets the Parade passes through are temporarily closed to all traffic each time. To participate, you don't have to be an advanced skater. It is important, however, that you are self-assured enough on your skates, that you can brake well and are not afraid of a climb or descent. Info: http://www.belgiumrollers.com THE ROLLER PARADE FRAMED • Special: the feeling of experiencing Brussels' main traffic arteries without car traffic • Annoying: the honking of impatient drivers • Riskiest point: the tunnel at Hallepoort (Porte de Hal). A descent that requires a good dose of composure. • Most skate-friendly point: Adolphe Maxlaan (Adolphe Max Avenue) and Jacqmainlaan (Jacqmain Avenue). They have the softest asphalt • Most difficult point: small ring road between Regierplein (Place Royale) and Kruidtuin (Botanique). Climbing! • Most troublesome: 'Hell is other people,' said Sartre. In such a large group, you constantly have to watch out that no one falls in front, behind, or next to you, slows down, or suddenly shoots out • Nicest: The other skaters and the supporters. The atmosphere on and around the Roller Parade is remarkably jovial, positive, and social