Rollerskates, skateboards and kickboards Swoosh, gliding!

Zone02/ leaves no one unprepared for the Brussels roller parade. Starting July 5th, you can strap on your wheels every Friday evening and skate away the stress of the past week. But we are not leaving skateboard and kickboard enthusiasts out in the cold this summer either. Especially now that Grimbergen airport is opening its doors to skaters of all kinds soon. Here are the best wheels and hippest clothes to get you started. DON'T GO DOWNTOWN, GO FREESTYLE ★★★★ Under this motto, Freestyle successfully established itself on Georges Henrilaan. This all-round shop, with its wide range, is the natural habitat of the Brussels rollerblader. Both 'inline' skaters (thrilled by speed) and 'aggressive' skaters (who prefer defying gravity) get their money's worth here. Not to mention the more calm 'fitness' skaters. Freestyle has a pair of skates in store for every variant: Salomon, Fila, Razor, USD, Roces... all brands are represented. The owners are enthusiastic practitioners themselves, so rookies can count on skilled advice. And while you're there, grab some safe gear right away. Those who want to skate the roller parade but don't feel like investing can also rent wheels here. In addition, you'll find streetwear, skateboards, and kickboards at Freestyle. For those who have been living under a rock: the kickboard is a 3-wheeled scooter mutation. Definitely no stranger to the street scene and a hip alternative if you want to avoid urban traffic jams. As for skateboards, contrary to the Freestyle philosophy, we decided to head down to the specialty shops in downtown Brussels after all. Freestyle, Georges Henrilaan 508, 1200 Sint-Lambertus-Woluwe, 02/732.33.80, www.chez.com/freestyleweb RADICAL! ★★★★ Ride all Day is, as the name suggests, the skate shop of a die-hard fan. Yves Tchao once ranked third in the world and now pours his passion into his specialized skateboard shop. No rollerblades in sight, but an enormous variety of decks, trucks, and wheels: a magnet for skaters from all over the country. Prices in this shop are deliberately kept as low as possible. Everything is focused on quality and functionality, so don't start hunting for the latest fashion trends at RAD. This shop is so popular that the skate scene regularly moves to the small square in front of the store. Few clothes (for girls, absolutely none), no blades, but the absolute top if you are looking for a skateboard. Ride All Day, Sint-Jansstraat 37-39, 1000 Brussel, 02/512.89.22 SIX SHOP ★★★ A skate shop with less radical vibes. This store doesn't have the charisma of RAD, but it is quite worthy. The owners are not practitioners themselves, a small detail that sometimes rubs skaters the wrong way. But fear not, Six Shop managed to recruit a former employee of Yves Tchao for professional advice. Here too, the testosterone level is high: clothing and shoes strictly for men, but a broad selection. Six Shop, Kiekenmarkt, 44, 1000 Brussel, 02/223.33.63 TWIN ★★★★ Twin calls itself 'the ultimate fun shop', but as far as we're concerned, that's an understatement. Unbelievable what they sell: skateboards, surfboards, snowboards, dirtboards, snakeboards, kickboards, longboards, bodyboards, rollerblades... With or without an engine. And of course specialized clothing and protective gear for every discipline. Flashy shirts and bermudas, T-shirts, beachwear, and sneakers for men and women. At the back of the warehouse, there's a mini-ramp where daredevils can try their luck. It looks fairly run-down (you basically need a death wish to step onto it), but it's the thought that counts. Good luck! Twin, Alsembergsesteenweg 414b, 1180 Brussel, 02/346.97.98 QUÉ MAS? ★★★★ If you don't want to show up 'underdressed' at the roller parade, you can get a new look at Que Mas?. Forget the wheels for a moment; here you'll find colorful bermudas, T-shirts, and tops, as well as slightly more 'dressed up' outfits. This stylish streetwear store, located near the Matonge district, aims to reflect a mix of many styles and cultures, just like the streetscape. For ladies and gentlemen: Geda, Epure, Ben Sherman, G-Star, and not to forget the new Antwerp label Lacie. Shoes from Adidas, Puma, Clarks, and Asics. And of course original bags from Freitag. Que Mas? guarantees shopping pleasure with plenty of attention to music and interior design. Que Mas, Ernest Solvaystraat 19, 1050 Elsene, 02/503.17.78 WITH A TOUCH OF DESIGN ★★★★ Pax, just a stone's throw from Que Mas?, is the result of a cross-pollination between design and streetwear. This shop didn't target very young hip-hoppers, but 'urban twenty- and thirty-somethings'. Here too you'll find skate and surf outfits, but different brands than at Que Mas?: Box Fresh, Pornstar, Lois, Lady Soul, and Sessun. Prices are remarkably low compared to other stores. At Pax, you can buy not just clothes, but practically everything you see. Tables, armchairs, and lamps; the shop has a conscious vision on design. It's a pleasant place to be, with a solid drum 'n' bass tune, atmospheric lighting from an army of design lamps, and a lazy sofa that you could carry away right then and there if you wished. Pax, Vredestraat 8, 1050 Brussel, 02/502.52.31, www.pax.be