FIELD
on a routine trip to Nice and awoke to find
themselves guests of honor in a rural
Spanish chicken farming community.
BALLS AND CHAINS
Don't make it hard on yourself-travel light.
A few pairs of underwear, socks, several T-
shirts, two pairs of jeans, some shorts, and
an occasional trip to the laundrymat are all
you need, believe me. Your board, pads,
camera and walkman take up the remainder
of luggage space real quick. Remember, you
always come home with more luggage than
you left with, so plan for that. Also, take a
jacket for inclement weather (inevitable)
and/or something for those occasions when
you might need some flash to gain
entrance to nighttime locales. Keep
superfluous items such as extra
cassettes, mags, books, shoes,
toiletries, inflatable dolls, etc. to a
minimum-you'll be glad you did.
Okay, it's time to turn you loose.
You're as ready as you'll ever be.
especially if you dig out the
September '87 issue and read my
"European Primer." Now have a look
at some spots from my files and see what's
in store for you. Bon Voyage.
MADRID
Call or drop by Sessions skate shop in
Madrid. Owner Francisco Burgos will be
more than happy to give you the lowdown
on what's up skate-wise in Madrid.
Skate the killer reservoir area at the local
skatepark, just on the outskirts of town. For
the princely sum of 65 pesetas (about 50
cents) you can use the facilities
at one of Madrid's largest sports
complexes, which includes the
skatepark and even a pool (the)
full kind). Go on a weekday and
have a blast. Go on a weekend and witness
a living, throbbing mass of robo-gremmies.
The pool and the half-pipe are gnarly, but
always good fun.
Feast at Cuchi's, the tastiest Mexican
restaurant in Madrid. A friendly staff and a
party atmosphere will instantly recharge any
run down batteries
Bust some grooves at Pacha, Arnie's, or
Joy, Madrid's most happening clubs. They
start to rule at two or three (in the a.m. kid-
dies) so show up at one for easy admittance
Sessions Skateboard Shop, Gabriel Lobo, 18
Metro: Cruz del Rayo
VIENNA
Call two Austro-Americans named Tom
and Bob who control the skate scene in this
city. Their non-profit skate shop and just-for-
fun attitudes are responsible for nurturing a
whole new generation of skaters in Vienna
Skate the 10' high, 16' wide halfpipe at the
local outdoor sports complex (call first to
check on weather conditions). Bob and Tom
are always up for a session, and don't forget
to ask Bob about his infamous Van Gogh
plant (during which he lost an ear).
Relax later at some of the best night spots
in Europe. Check out Soul Seduction, Take
5, Motto, P1, or U4-you won't be sorry.
Bob and Tom's Austrian Skateboard Club,
Langackergasse 33, 1190 Vienna
PARIS
Call Parisian Luc Barbier at Pacific Fun,
or drop by Hawaii Surf or Chatanooga, three
of the main skate shops in Paris. If you can't
be bothered with that, just head straight for
the Eiffel Tower (Trocadero) and ask any of
the locals what's going down. If you're lucky,
the basins beneath the Tower will be empty
and you'll be sessioning "tout de suite."
Skate at the Porte du Choisy halfpipe or
go for a late evening session at the wave in
front of St. Eustache church in Les Halles.
Bardwalk
ST
Fountainbleu, forty-five minutes by train,
boasts an excellent halfpipe, as does
Bourges, site of the French summer camp.
Eat at Taco Loco-good Mexican food with
low prices (a rarity in Paris).
Party at Les Bains, a.k.a. Bains Douche,
the city's trendiest disco. On any night one
can glimpse an array of artists, actors,
models, rock stars, athletes and whoever else
manages to get in (which is no easy task).
Pacific Fun-Rue Olivier Serres
Taco Loco-Rue J.P. Timbaud
Clockwise from Top Left: A
down the line look at the
cozy halfpipe chute at La
Rampa park in Lima, Peru.
Parisian freeformer Jean Marc
Valssette takes an encore
before the palatial Paris
Opera House.
A lone rock and roller works
out at the council skate
facility on the Gold Coast of
Queensland, Australia.
Adam Crisp kicks out of a
wooden barrel at Kawana
Waters ramp park,
Queensland, Oz
The exotic hardwood halfpipe
at La Rampa in Lima.
Kevin Staab finds room for an
Andrecht stall at the Mega
Free demo in Paris.
Spread: Sydney harbor aglow.