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THIRD ANNUAL
SWISS OPEN
Wake up! 10 'til 6 (a.m.). I can't move. Got to,
though, 'cuz I promised. Throw on some clothes,
put some stuff in a bag. Write her a note, leave.
Wheels meet pavement and head for the Metro,
breaking the pre-dawn quiet. "Reprinez votre
billet" and enter the Underground. An old man
hurries by in a bid to make the next train. Put
my skate down and push. I made it-he didn't.
Nine Metro stops to Havre Laumartin, then
commuter train to Gare D'Lyon. Meet Pierre
Andre, buy a ticket and find a seat. The train goes
365 miles per. Kind of fast. 11:30 a.m.-Geneva,
Switzerland. Pass customs, change money and
collect some street skating. Board bus #4 to "An-
cien Palais des Expositions." An indoor ramp!
Thank you, God.
ya
Scene #1 German skater exiting the ramp
in an ambulance, stage left. Diagnosis: fractured
collarbone. Question: is skating merely a
sublimated symptom of a death wish? Some think
so, others don't care. "C'est la vie."
Recipe pour streetstyle a la Suisse: In an
enclosed environment add: 2 jump ramps (pour
pouvoir sauter en l'air), 1 iron bar (pour glisser).
1 Mercedes 280 SE (Le Mercedes etait comple-
ment detruit.).
Now sprinkle in 30 odd (in more ways than one)
skaters from at least 6 countries and let it cook.
Add a pinch of overworked contest director and
half a dozen worried judges. Bring to a boil. Voila!
Streetstyle a la Suisse."
Streetstyle: "The Contest"
It starts. 36 skaters, two runs each. One decade
and two presidents later, it's over. What I mean
to say is, it was long. Results later, but for now.
"O.K. folks, step right up and get a look at the
daring young men on the wooden half-sphere.
risking life and limb for a mere thrill and nothing
more."
Q: "Why are the Germans ripping so hard?"
A: "I don't know, I was asking you."
Especially worthy of mention is the German
who skates with no pads and does one-footed
Andrechts (back foot off). See this guy before it's
too late.
Q: "Why no pads?"
A: "I couldn't afford them and by the time I sav
ed enough money I didn't need them
anymore
Meanwhile, Swiss skatehoarders are seeking
autographs while Swiss TV. captures all the ac-
tion for future viewing by the masses. The TV
session is the rippingest. Judo-kicks, channel
plants, Miller flips, Madonna air, F.F. lien to tail,
one-foot layback air to invert, and that's a wrap.
Take five and then the contest starts. All contests
well, it's like, contest means rules. Rules
don't apply in skating because there aren't any.
None are needed. And so it should be.
are.
Nevertheless, skaters will compete. Some of
them won, some of them didn't, but all had fun
and that's what it's all about.
Going home:
More 365 mph trains. A large and boisterous
train party begins soon after departure. Once bar
access is denied, the fete is brought under con-
trol, just as we are politely asked to mellow out
or leave the train, a harsh thing indeed at 365
miles per. Survival potential: zero.
11:26 p.m. Arrive at Gare D'Lyon. Soon after
to the Metro in Anatole, France. Put my board
down and skate home. Wheels meet pavement
once again. Breaking the late night silence of the
Paris suburbs, and so it goes. Skate ou creve
PATRI
10 10
SUISSE
DIG THAN
GAUS
f
postcard Trappes
SWITZERLAND
STREETSTYLE
Billy Runaway
Genève
RESULTS
RAMP JAM
A
1. M. Kiebel
1. Marcus Kiebel (Germany)
2. Pierre Andre (France)
3. Ralph Volet (Switzerland)
4. Thomas Keller (Germany)
5. Martin Wagner (Germany)
6. Kevin Tallon (Switzerland)
7. Jean-Luc Sehnes (France)
2. M. Bauer
3. C. Betella
4. T. Keller
5. R. Nogt
B
3. M. Bonassi
Top: A profile of Martin Wagner during the
streetstyle event. Above: Fourth place
streetstylist, Thomas Keller in a well-
controlled slide 'n roll. Left: Freestyle ace
Pierre Andre got second place in the
streetstyle event.
1. P. Haubargar
2. W. Markus
4. N. Malinowski
5. "Mounoun
5. "Wancta"
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