What glides sometimes slips

What glides sometimes slips. It's the law of the genre. And every genre has its codes, its principles. There's no escaping it. That's how it is. It's physical. Take rollerblading. And their fascinating ability to draw tightrope walker's lines, curves even, according to their wanderings. For the condition of the man on wheels is hardly more enviable than that of the void-tickler. Whether he stays in line, sways his arms loosely like an inspector, or slaloms without getting his brushes tangled, everything glides for him in the best of all possible worlds. But let a pebble appear on the path, the asphalt suddenly soften, the gravel get into the interstices of his train and, bang, it's a fall. The statue denying its pedestal. Pride returning to the locker room. Goodbye pleasure, showing off, freedom. It's time for the bites of sport, the bruises of the body: a simple hematoma, a short scratch, a nasty gash, or even a burn, a crack, a fracture... Who says that protection rhymes with summer? (V.B.) Belgium Rollers organizes "glides" on dedicated routes (almost) every summer evening, in eight cities across the country. Ghent, on June 30, and Namur, on July 1, join Brussels, which has been active since June 4. Before that, Mons, Huy, Ostend, Koksijde. Web http://www.belgiumrollers.com