First-hand account of the second Brussels Roller Parade, a week after a first edition that gathered 2,500 skaters, with a reaction from organiser Carl De Moncharline.
Article text · translation
Tonight the second Roller Parade rolls through Brussels
BRUSSELS — Tonight, for the second Friday in a row, the 'Roller Parade' rolls through Brussels. Last week 2,500 skaters already did it. Our Man On Wheels was there and it must be said: the event went smoothly.
With its weekly roller parade, immodest Brussels did not want to lag behind those other big cities (Berlin, Paris, New York, London, Barcelona…) where skate events have been held for longer. Cancelling the first planned parade two weeks ago avoided turning the skate event into a sliding-and-tumbling event (although in the end not a drop of rain fell). But last week the time had come.
The website was not exactly encouraging: don't attempt it if you are a beginner, wear protective gear and - for heaven's sake - know how to brake. Isn't Brussels built on a number of hills? Gulp.
And as an amateur, wouldn't I make a fool of myself among the other participants? They were probably not taking part out of interest in nocturnal Brussels and its sights, but to skate hard and unhindered where no skater has skated before, namely across the avenues and boulevards of Brussels. Yes, skating still has something pioneering about it.
Cops
But it all turned out fine. Escorted by cops on skates (very nice!), we didn't meet many cobblestones (the wonderfully smooth asphalt of the Boulevard Anspach!), the pace was very moderate and the participants were not all ice-hockey players: mostly people in their twenties and thirties, but also 'older youngsters', children (in buggies too: progress!) and even dogs (no, not on skates, but on a leash). Plus many supporters (500) on scooters, skateboards and bicycles.
I saw a few go down on the descents (coming down the Mont des Arts or the Botanique is an art, but if you can't brake, don't be afraid and just glide down: those descents don't last), yet in the end only 25 people were patched up by the Red Cross: exactly 1%.
Organiser Carl De Moncharling was just as delighted as the bystanders (the detour through the Matonge district had a Tour de France feel): 'The high turnout and the enthusiasm made it clear that skating Belgium had long been waiting for an event like this.'
Skaters gather every Friday (until 30/8) in dry weather around 9 pm on Place Poelaert for a free three-hour ride via the Bois de la Cambre to the Halles Saint-Géry (in the heart of Brussels). www.brusselsrollers.com
De Morgen, juin 2002 · texte Koen Driessens · photo Belga