Last night, the municipality inaugurated the last phase of extension of the Nîmes skate-park. A facility of 3,500 m2, one of the largest in France, capable of hosting major events and training more young practitioners in the face of the popular success of skateboarding but also of BMX and scooters.
In view of the large number of Nîmes elected officials present, the inauguration of this last phase of extension of the Nîmes skate-park was an important event. At the end of the 1990s, the practice of skateboarding began to become popular in Nîmes. The first practitioners practiced on street furniture in Place d’Assas or the Carré d’art. The wooden skate-park located on the Esplanade will not be a success and caused problems in the neighborhoods related to noise.
“At the beginning, we were not listened to, we were told we know better than you what is needed”, says Charles de Roy, one of the pioneers of Nîmes, who now gives lessons in the club “La Planche à roulette nîmoise” founded in 2003 which uses this equipment. The latter was able to find an attentive ear in the person of Jean-Paul Fournier who invested €450,000 on behalf of the City to inaugurate the Nîmes skate-park in 2007 behind the bowling alley. Follows the addition of a bowl (empty pool) six years later (€345,000).
“In 15 years, no one has ever broken a wrist”
Popular success is great and continues to increase over the years. Who has never had their eyes drawn, from their vehicle passing over the highway on the avenue du Languedoc, by the crowd present in large numbers. Up to 300 users counted on certain Sundays. A popular success which is explained by an attractive site, well positioned and a discipline better considered by some parents. “In 15 years, no one has ever broken a wrist or an ankle”assures Charles who does not mess with safety and warming up.
The arrival of skateboarding at the Tokyo Olympics (2021) has also contributed to creating additional enthusiasm. Especially since this sport will also be present in Paris in two years. And skateboarding is becoming more feminized. “Ten years ago there were three girls for 80 members, today we have around fifty out of 120”, welcomes Charles who gives advice to practitioners aged 5 to 57 years. The cohabitation between the club and those who came to take advantage of this self-service tool is going well, but the place was becoming too cramped.
So still with the Nîmes association, the City released an envelope of €412,000 for the creation of a flow park, operational since last week. This is a softer area than the ramps and bowl, offering new figures with interesting lengths for free length courses or slalom through the trees. The trees were precisely part of the priority of Stéphane Flandrin, seasoned skater and architect at Constructo Skatepark Architecture, who had already taken care of the first extensions. Three “small volcanoes” therefore surround the plane trees whose roots are contained in the ramps.
“To get better, you have to cross the Atlantic”
This also allows you to ride in the shade! An extension of 1,300 m2 for a total space of 3,500 m2 thus making Nîmes “one of the biggest skate parks in France”, rejoices Jean-Paul Fournier who cut the ribbon for this inauguration with great fanfare. Neophytes or seasoned will be able to indulge their passion whether in skating, BMX and scooter, more and more numerous. This is the case of Hugo, the king of the backflip (see video below): “It’s cool because there are good trajectories and modules that you don’t see everywhere, it’s going to be good. It’s quite nice! »
Works also including the creation of a 19 m2 room intended for the Nîmes skateboard. “We pushed for it because we only had a cupboard in the bowling alley and on Saturdays we dragged the equipment in a cart”continues Charles, happy with this complete equipment: “To get better, you have to cross the Atlantic. » Nîmes takes on an American accent, something to delight the Sports Assistant, Nicolas Rainville: “We are proud and happy to put such equipment at the service of the people of Nîmes. It is a high-flying tool that will allow why not to organize big competitions. »
In addition to perpetuating the Denim Cup, a stage of the Skateboarding World Cup, which will be back on August 27 and 28 for the 8th edition. From this Sunday the “Skate party” will take place. With this complete skate-park, Nîmes can dream of welcoming the best practitioners in the world but also training the future pros of the discipline. “In four, five years, we will be able to bring out young nuggets and train future champions”, assures Samy Idri, president of La Planche à roulette nîmes. And why take advantage of a second skate-park in the city, it is in any case something that would delight the architect Stéphane Flandrin. For Nicolas Rainville, we are not there yet but the door is not closed and if it has to be done “it will be north of Nîmes”. To be continued…
Corentin Corger
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