Mind the gap at Rennes sur Roulettes (France)

Do you know the “Mind the Gap”? A launch ramp, a gap to cross in doing the biggest trick, a rail to grind. It was the formula proposed by Sven Boekhorst at Rennes sur Roulettes in mid-Mai. Back on the competition…

Par alfathor
Publié le 16 mai 2012 - Mis à jour le 2 novembre 2020 - 4540 Lectures - 0 commentaire(s)

Hey Ho, let’s go!

Sven Boekhorst moved his modules to Rennes in order to make the show with a “Mind the gap”. If you have ever been in London, you must have heard or seen the expression in the metro. By the way, the logo of the Mind the Gap is none other than a distorted metro station sign.

The concept

In this precise case, it is a simple and efficient concept of competition where each skater must do the biggest tricks on a line of modules.

The skater starts from a huge quarter-pipe culminating at 3 meters high to jump above a 3m-gap thanks to another ramp and do the most impressive trick as possible, and then goes on with a table topped by rails to finally reach another quarter-pipe, which enables to turn back and pass an ultimate slide.

Contrarily to a contest in a skatepark where the public cannot always see what the skater does, nor understand exactly what the skater is supposed to do, this concept insists on the spectacular dimension of aggressive skating. No frills, you get to the heart of the matter, it is easily understandable and dynamic with dazzling big rotations.

The competition

They are a dozen skaters on the area on Saturday afternoon. The qualification phases already show a good overall level. There is no “beginner” like you can often find on skatepark competitions. There is a large public to see the skaters flying in the air.

Romain Godenaire seems to be in peak form for a great weekend. With his powerful, aerial and efficient style, he passes big rotations with good landings which make the difference, particularly his much talked-about corkscrew 720 to which he owes his first place! He establishes himself in front of clean and smooth Maxime Genoud. Taylor Latouche takes the 3^rd place. Dutch Dick Heerkens is at the foot of the podium. Warren Digne had a huge blister at the malleolus the whole weekend and finally got in charge of the mic for the finals. Still he ends up at the 5^th place.

Epilogue

The contest ends up with a gap session above the public, to finish with a flourish. A good skating weekend in Rennes, we had a good time. Thanks to Sven and the skaters, still and always very approachable.