 |
|
|
|
|
|
In the Shadow of the Tower
Inline Street Finals Recap
By Mike Opalek
I never would have imagined there were so many rollerblading fans in Paris, but it felt like half the city turned up for the street finals. The French love their countrymen, so Stephane Alfano and Steven Aleil were especially popular but the crowds also went crazy for the girls and pretty much anybody who rocked.
Before the street comp, Fallon Heffernan popped her shoulder out of the socket twice. It looked like she wasn’t going to do much after a cautious first run. Fabiola on the other hand, did a solid run with a 540 over the box and a smooth soul down the double barrel rail that put her in first after the first run. Katie Ketchum, Martina Svobodova and Jenna Downing all put together good lines, but after Fallon’s explosive second run, it was clear that she was going to take the women’s street.
In the men’s street event, Chris Haffey was the man to beat and there were a few people eying him to take his spot. Berlin’s winner Nicolas Schopfer didn’t skate as well as he should have. He did beat Oli but that’s not saying much since Oli showed up late and only took one run without a warm up.
What it really came down to were the top five. Steven Aleil was impressive with a backside unity and a disaster topsoul to place 5th. Geneva’s Switzerland’s Stephan De Freitas threw a kind grind down the square rail along with an alley oop acid soul for a 4th place. Mathias Silhan had one of the best switch ups of the day. Backslide to alley oop porn star, along with a disaster royale and a stylish 540.It was good enough for 3rd place.
So Haffey and Chaz Sands would battle it out. Too bad for Chris, Chaz was on his game. I mean, don’t get me wrong; his run was sick:, ill 900 to start it off, true mizou down the rail, alley oop acid along a ledge, disaster soul on the ledge box. In his second run, he did try to a disaster alley oop soul down the ledge box but came up short.
It was all Chaz today:.900 over the box, 450 royale down the square rail, fast plant soul to alley oop soul down the shotgun rail, all done with style and precision. It was much better to see live than to read about, so make sure to come for the World Championships in Dallas October 27-29.
So there you have it, folks, I have a date with a beautiful Swedish girl for dinner. If we’re lucky, we’ll get a rude waiter and we’ll get to watch Fabiola kickbox his ass again!
»»View the official results from this contest
