• Nearly 3,500 people were expected Wednesday, August 18 afternoon, on presentation of the health pass.

  • 36 skaters from around the world competed in 5-minute head-to-head sessions, in the eighths, quarters, semi-finals and finals.

  • The skatepark created for the occasion recreates 7 iconic Parisian skate spots, including the late Bercy steps.

A skate spot in line with the Eiffel Tower. On the occasion of the Red Bull Paris Conquest tournament, the Trocadéro gardens are in turmoil. 36 participants follow one another on Wednesday afternoon, in front of nearly 3,500 people. They have 5 minutes to give it their all, in the toughest face-to-face sessions. The sound of the boards plastered on the floor of the ephemeral skatepark echoes the loudspeakers pouring out bass from the biggest hits of the 1990s.

As on a journey through time, some stars of the competition such as the American TJ Rogers have opted for marcel and loose jeans, while the new generations wear slim jeans and branded sweatshirts.

Essential accessory: the cap, screwed (or not) upside down on the skull.

But it is not the dress style that marks the spectators.

Here, we come for the show, the tricks and the atmosphere.

In short, skateboarding, the real thing.

The one we practice for fun and with friends, like Sildi and Wayne, Albanian and Sri Lankan high school students educated in Paris.

The first got his board signed, already well under way by the falls.

He who used to watch skateboarders since childhood has come a long way.

"What I like is the risk-taking, the adrenaline as soon as you launch a tricks"

Beside, Enzo is enjoying the event on his own: “I came to discover and have fun.

»What does he like about skateboarding?

"The risk-taking, the adrenaline as soon as you launch a tricks *.

»His board remained at the hotel, there was a problem with the wheels.

As soon as he has it repaired, head to the Parisian museums.

“It's for studies.

»Skateboarding, of course.

It's time for confrontation

Near the stage, Matteo accompanied by his elders Yohan and Tom comments on each figure, more involved than ever.

The first two got up at 4 am to leave Reims.

"As soon as we arrived, we skated", launches Matteo, says "the kid".

“On the French side, I am more Aurélien Giraud than Vincent Milou,” adds Tom, who has followed the Olympics closely.

"The key is to combine image, atmosphere and music"

Internationally, Brazilian Tiago Lemos is expected.

“A living god”, for Matteo, who has been skating for fifteen years.

Their favorite figure?

Switchflips.

The three friends are familiar with the 7 Parisian spots recreated for the occasion, they who do not hesitate to film their exploits in motion to broadcast them on Instagram.

“The key is to combine image, atmosphere and music,” Tom sums up expertly.

Some competitors seem to take pleasure in tackling their best tricks after the gong marking the end of the matches.

Maybe a way to say that skateboarding is more than competition.

On the women's side, it is the Brazilian Leticia Bufoni who flies over the event.

Leticia Bufoni and Trevor McClung wins in the finals

For Luana, Brazilian living in Montreuil, the coronation of Leticia Bufoni in the final is not a surprise.

She, who uses skateboarding as a "means of locomotion" alongside her husband Bruno, has seen the evolution of the gaze focused on the discipline.

“Today people pay more attention to skateboarding.

For the men's final, the American Trevor McClung wins, to the chagrin of the Snowy fans gathered in a corner of the skatepark.

While waiting for the awards ceremony, budding skaters do not hesitate to put a few tricks behind the stage.

The time of half a second, for some.

* A tricks means a skate figure

  • Red Bull

  • Skateboard

  • Skateboard

  • Paris