Impossible to Rollerblade in the Rain

HUY • Roller and cycle parade canceled this Saturday The point ● The roller and cycle parade scheduled for this Saturday in the streets of Huy has been canceled due to uncertain weather conditions. Explanations from its organizer. ● In Tihange, the new roller skating rink on Rue des Messes has just been inaugurated. ● Portrait of some young people from the region who are passionate about roller skating. IN BRIEF The City of Huy not responsible Naturally, since the organizers of the roller and cycle parade (the Belgium rollers company from Brussels) were absent, it was the municipal authorities of Huy who had to bear the disappointment and sometimes the discontent of the participants. When, in the late afternoon, the mayor of Huy received a phone call from the organizer Carl de Moncharline announcing that it was canceled, she could only comply with his decision. The City had absolutely nothing to do with the organization of the event, its intervention being limited to providing the necessary infrastructure and personnel. Mayor Anne-Marie Lizin was obviously disappointed but quickly consoled herself by learning that it was only postponed. Impossible to rollerblade in the rain Saturday afternoon, the organizers of the roller and cycle parade chose to postpone it. A decision made for the well-being of all participants. THIS year, 2004, the City of Huy dedicated it to roller skating. Because in addition to being trendy, its inventor was from Huy. Jean-Joseph Merlin, this somewhat extravagant musician and inventor who lived for some time in Huy before leaving for London where, to move more easily, he imagined the roller skate. This is how the idea of honoring his descendant germinated in the minds of the municipal authorities. And as an opening to the festivities, a 20-kilometer roller and cycle parade through the streets of Huy. An extraordinary event expected to bring much joy. A large number of people from Huy, young and old, should have gathered this Saturday at the end of the day on the Grand'Place if this much-anticipated parade had not been canceled that same afternoon, a few hours before the start. While this decision may have surprised, or even annoyed, more than one person, it was by no means a whim. On the contrary, it was very well-founded. The organizer, Carl de Moncharline, explains why he made this choice. An explanation that is moreover necessary in the eyes of some participants who could not start even though the sky showed no sign of weakness. [Photo caption] This mother, with her rollerblades in hand, and her two children on their bikes discovering that the roller parade is canceled. “It’s really disappointing” Many people had not heard the radio announcements and had come to the Grand'Place with their rollerblades and bicycles. A concept that, apparently, greatly appeals to families. Everyone, young and old, was particularly disappointed to learn that the parade was canceled. While some took it with a smile, others, however, were not at all amused. “It's really disappointing. We were really looking forward to participating,” says a woman from Ampsin. And a father added: “It’s not normal to cancel at the last minute. And to think that I had friends come from far away especially for the parade. A few drops of rain aren't going to kill us.” Visibly angry, this gentleman then resigned himself to doing the route with his wife and two children. ◇ Carl de Moncharline, you are the organizer of the roller and cycle parade. Why did you make such a decision? ◆ We rely on the army's weather wing to decide whether a parade will take place or not. But these are, of course, only probabilities. That said, when the risks of rain are higher than 50%, we automatically cancel because there’s no question of letting people go who could find themselves stuck mid-route in the rain. Not only is it absolutely not pleasant for the participants, but it’s also impossible to rollerblade when the road surface is wet, as the wheels no longer grip the ground. Furthermore, it's very bad for the ball bearings, which can simply break. And it doesn't have to rain heavily; brief showers are enough to spoil everything. Canceling is also important from a safety perspective. Falls happen even when weather conditions are optimal, often between 40 and 50, so imagine what it could be like in the rain. That’s why we choose to cancel when the weather is unstable. ◇ And when do you make your decision? ◆ We wait until 3 PM before making an announcement. If we decide to cancel, we have set up three different channels to inform participants. Either by subscribing to the newsletter (www.belgiumrollers.com), or by dialing the special number on the first page of the site, or by listening to the information bulletin broadcast between 4 PM and 5 PM on Pure FM. ◇ Have you ever been wrong? ◆ Yes, it happens, but it's quite rare. Last week, the weather wing advised us to cancel the parade planned in Brussels, but not a single drop fell during the period when the circuit should have taken place. People complained, which is normal, but we don't want to take any risks. ◇ Do you cancel parades often? ◆ Regularly, yes. Probably one out of two. It doesn't depend on us, but on the weather. While last year we completed almost all our parades without interruption, this year we haven't managed to do a single one in its entirety yet. ◇ Have you set another date for the parade in Huy? ◆ Yes, it's scheduled for July 13th. ◇ What will you do if the weather wing predicts rain again on July 13th? ◆ Well, unfortunately, it will be canceled again. As part of the roller skating bicentennial organized by the City of Huy, three parade dates are planned. So dates can be set as many times as necessary. Interview by Jessica DEFGNÉE The long-awaited track On Sunday, the new roller skating track on Rue des Messes in Tihange was inaugurated. Young people from the region had been waiting a long time for this track. The LEAST one can say is that young people in the region are particularly delighted that the year 2004 has been dedicated to roller skating. What could be more normal, after all, since this year marks its bicentennial. Which, ultimately, shouldn't change anything for 12 to 15-year-olds with many other things on their minds than historical facts. Unless, as part of this great event in Huy, what they had been hoping for a long time has finally come true. Sunday in the late afternoon, the new roller skating track on Rue des Messes in Tihange was inaugurated. Initially set up several years ago at the fire station, the track was subsequently transferred. But it was completely dismantled three years ago for safety reasons, as the surface was damaged. “A quote had been drawn up at the time, but the city could not afford such an expense. This year, the budget has been released. The surface has been completely redone for an investment exceeding €3,000,” explains Jean-Marie Vanebempt, head of the city of Huy's play areas. And no sooner had the roller skating track been reinstalled than it was already colonized by a whole host of young people from the region. On Sunday, during the inauguration, they were there. Not because they had been asked to be present, but because they had been going there for several days already. And given how it started, they are certainly not ready to leave it. “We had been waiting for this moment for a long time. We even wrote letters and signed petitions to say that we wanted our roller skating track back,” several young people emphasized. This track consists of a large ramp and several small modules. It is accessible at any time of day completely free of charge, as it is outdoors. All young people from the neighborhood, from Huy, as well as from neighboring municipalities are welcome there. J.D. Bought with his savings Gauthier Lambermont is 13 years old. He lives in Tihange, not far from the track, and goes to school at Sainte-Marie in Huy. He also knew the track. “Everything was moved because of some young people who enjoyed demolishing the ramps. So we had to wait a very long time for the track to be redone.” He had discovered it with his childhood friend, and since then, they haven't left it. To be able to afford professional rollerblades, he had to save for several months. And now that he has them, he can't do without them. But he knows he still needs to protect himself; it's already the second time he's broken the same wrist! Following in his brother's footsteps Jérémie Houet is Gauthier's childhood friend. He is 12 years old and goes to school at Saint-Quirin in Huy. He also lives in Tihange. He became interested in rollerblading around the age of 5 or 6 because his older brother used to do it with his friends. He then caught the bug, and today he can't get rid of it. With his friend Gauthier, they go rollerblading as often as they can. “Now that it's the holidays, we'll be on the track very often.” Like his friends, Jérémie intended to participate in the roller parade. He was very disappointed when he learned it was canceled but definitely plans to participate when it eventually takes place. The perfect opportunity Gilles Vitry is 15 years old. He lives in Jehay and is enrolled at the Athénée of Huy. Rollerblading and he have a long history. He always had rollerblades but bought more high-performance ones. He learned that the track was reopened, so he didn't hesitate for a second to go and test it. “I used to go there before it was renovated, but it was dangerous, so I stopped and went to do it in the street.” Because what he prefers above all is what is called “street” skating: rollerblading on stairs or ramps, for example. “We go to the bowling alley or the Quadrilatère, but we always get kicked out.” So the development of this new track was the perfect opportunity.