200 inline skaters in the city

Two hours through the city on wheels HASSELT - Around two hundred inline skaters rolled through the city yesterday evening. Their ride started at the Dusartplein and went via the Kunstlaan, the Kroonwinningstraat, the Kiezelstraat to Godsheide and back via the Slachthuiskaai. The skaters were accompanied by 12 specially trained roller cops, officers with wheels on their feet. The two-hour roller parade will take place every Monday through the city until the end of August. Provided it is dry. Last Monday the ride was rained out, but an outspoken skater managed to persuade the police chief to organize an escort after all. Among the skaters, we also noticed a stubbornly old-fashioned roller skater performing all kinds of tricks. P. 11. HASSELT Last Monday, skating through the city was rained out, but yesterday the weather was good enough for the skaters. Around 200 of them moved through Hasselt in a column. Agile children and trendy youngsters, but also dads, fit athletic men, and even Stéphan, a stubbornly old-fashioned roller skater. Guy Vandereycken was already at the Dusartplein last Monday as well. The 54-year-old Hasselt resident did not stay home for a bit of rain. “There were at least 30 of us and the event was apparently canceled. So we called the police. We want to set off, we said. The commissioner then came down here and ultimately managed to arrange for us to skate with an escort,” says Vandereycken. He has been inline skating for 4 years. “I got these skates for my 50th birthday,” he explains. He got the hang of rolling right away, as you don't need to explain much about gliding to a former ice hockey player. What is the difference between ice skating and inline skating? “Stopping, that doesn't go so well with inline skating.” Stef Peeters brought his son Dries (10) and nephew Bram (9). He is on skates himself too. Who is best at home? “Dad is a little bit better,” Dries admits somewhat reluctantly. “Faster, he means,” his dad explains. Who started skating first, dad or the kids? “Actually the kids,” says Stef. It's not the first time they skate in the city center either. “Every now and then we skate from Sint-Lambrechts-Herk to the Sint-Katarina neighborhood.” Roller cops The skaters cover a 19-kilometer route under police escort. The officers themselves are on wheels too. “15 officers completed the training course,” says Jo Vanrintel, who despite being on vacation is happily guiding the skaters. “And every week there will be 12 of us.” The officers received special lessons for this. “We trained officers in Mons, Namur, and Brussels, and the Hasselt team was the best,” says Laurent Winnock from organizer Belgium Rollers. “When they fell, they got right back up.” Katleen Telemans from the youth police knows all about falling. She landed on her tailbone, and she wasn't the only one. “Three of us have already had to go to the doctor, but I wouldn't have wanted to miss this for the world.” Inline skates have five wheels neatly lined up. We had forgotten — until we saw Stéphan from Wavre — but those old-fashioned roller skates also have five wheels. Four to ride on and one to stop. Stéphan merrily performs all kinds of tricks and spins on his 15-year-old roller skates. He wants nothing to do with inline skates. “I'd fall over on those,” he says. Roller Parade, every dry summer Monday at 9 p.m. in Hasselt. Gathering from 8 p.m. at the Dusartplein. Free. More info: www.belgiumrollers.com