We have a new Carhartt WIP website for customers in the US and Canada. Now offering domestic shipping and returns. Check it out.
The 5th King Of Wood has been so far the best of the series, some said it was because of the presence of the best European skaters from Czech Republic to Portugal, some thought it was because of the great atmosphere provided by Chloé Bernard and his crew of organizers/ DJs /cooks / nurses… But for me the bowl session was the big highlight of the contest. It really had something of the great times of the Bowlrider Contests in Marseilles back then. Imagine the final with Guillaume Mocquin, David Martelleur, Samuel Partaix, Ferit Batir, Julien Benoliel and Sébastien Daurel all skating fullspeed at the same time in this newly extended bowl. One pair of eyes was not enough to follow the action, and judging has probably been a tough nut to crack. Bottom of the line is: The extension is rad with the vert section nicely marked in green, the deathbox is well hidden (a good trap when you first drop in!), the pool coping (done by our friend Axel “Pudi” Goerger) is simply perfect, and the crowd was going crazy acclaiming each trick, slam or collision. Guillaume and Sébastien left the best impression to the judges and finished 1st and 2nd and Ferit got 3rd place.
After this crazy chaos evening session the street contest was much more quiet (which made the judges more happy). Again the skaters reached an amazing level in all possible styles of skating: switch wallride (Pete Ruikka); huge frontside flip on the double-set (Ante); long flying flips (Phil Zwijsen); blunts and wallies (Sam Partaix) and the most amazing tech run I ever saw done by Arnost Ceral. The Judges agreed with me and made him the winner, Sam Partaix didn’t get tired from the bowl sessions and shredded to 2nd place. The young talented local Adrien Bullard got the 3rd place.
Unusual for a contest happening after 1995, the music played was mainly heavy metal and provided by the famous Austrian DJ duo: MC Muki and DJ Ferit. (supported by Christian Vankelst, Fred Demard and Cooliau-D himself).
Thanks to the King Of Wood crew for this special weekend and thanks to all the skateboarders, media, audience who came and everyone else involved. See you next year!!! -Bertrand Trichet
Video by Tacky