Now that it is all said and done, and the FISE has come and gone, it somehow feels weird going back to reality. Not that it isn’t enjoyable to finally have a decent night of sleep and forget about extreme sports a little, but it simply feels strange getting out of that unmistakable atmosphere. When every day is rhythmed by double backflips, crazy stories and drunken antics, the start of another week suddenly feels a bit empty and dull.
Words: Freddy White
Photography: Dominik Wagner (until noted otherwise)
The last two days at FISE saw the pros take over the slopestyle course and battle for top honors, big checks and a paid trip to China for the World Series’ next stop. Dave Lang came back strong with his final attempt after bailing hard on his first two runs, and earned himself a spot on the podium as well as a plane ticket to Chengdu. This year’s suprise Joe Atkinson took second with yet another incredible run, and French newcomer Nicolas Servy took the lead right away with some of the most controlled flips we have seen all week on the course!
Meanwhile, bladers also took contol of the streets of Montpellier, and battled in a high energy rail contest right after the pro finals, which in the end the FISE security guards won with a whole lot of pepper spray. Organized by the local JFC collective, the ESA street contest saw the bladers’ revenge on Sunday afternoon, and Nick Lomax‘s victory on the local spots hours only after he won the FISE spine ramp competition. Seems like there isn’t much this guy can skate, innit.
In the end, it was another year of smooth sailing and hard skating, extreme sports rivalry and late night camaraderie, sober talks and drunken rants… You might hate it for what it is sometimes, but always come to miss it when it is over. The FISE is often the catalyst for many extreme behaviors, extreme people and extreme moments. “This is nothing out of the ordinary“, you think… Until you come back to reality and realize how extreme it all was, indeed.
Photo: Adrien Anne
Photo: Adrien Anne
Photo: Adrien Anne
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