Liège | Mixed success but incident-free route for the first of the “Belgium rollers” About a hundred skaters for a long silent stroll

They were about a hundred on Thursday around 9 p.m., scraping Place Saint-Lambert with their skates: not enough to make this Liège outing the biggest roller gathering of all time, but enough to organize a nice stroll to the Pont de Fragnée and even make people want to extend it until the end of the holidays. As in six other cities in the country, the same event will be held one evening a week for skaters, enthuses Carl de Moncharline, initiator of the “Belgium rollers”. As a traditional meeting point for inline skaters and skateboarders, Place Saint-Lambert did not depart from its habits by welcoming this hundred or so skaters on Thursday. Anticipating an unusual crowd, it had even dressed up: kiosks and marquees in the colors of a French... mineral water brand, a refreshment stall sponsored by an iced tea manufacturer, energy drinks distributed to the participants. But also techno tunes, skate, helmet, and knee pad rentals, a loudspeaker to announce the departure, and Carl de Moncharline glued to his walkie-talkie. It’s a big organization, he sighs. It was important to give people a new space of expression allowing them to discover this sport. Disappointed by the low number, the small number of participants compared to the Brussels strolls that gather several thousand skaters on fine evenings? For a first time in Liège, it’s not bad at all. It takes time for the concept to be integrated by provincial cities; we’ll see in a few weeks... The police, for their part, came in numbers: about twenty officers, most on motorcycles, a few on bicycles. We will be present along the entire route, reassures one of them, mentioning quite a few intersections to secure, including underpasses and highway exits. At 9 p.m. sharp, the procession sets off. The most skilled lead the way, rolling comfortably, with the route cleared by the motorcyclists. Too bad it’s not like this every day, says one of the skaters, gliding toward Place de la République Française. It’s a compromise between walking, which is too slow for my taste, and driving, which is far too stressful. He is tailed by a knee-high skater. It’s Cédric, 9 years old to be precise. My parents are ahead, he squawks, swinging his arms to keep his balance. I’ve never done such a long stroll; I was told I could stop whenever I wanted and that someone would bring me back to Place Saint-Lambert to wait for my parents. Next appointment next Thursday. •