Esk8 Weekend in Pornichet

Friday, we start with the woods

The first riders arrived at the shop in the early afternoon. The team welcomed everyone, adjusted the boards, checked the equipment, and answered questions from those who were new.

In the late afternoon, we headed to Bois-Joalland in Saint-Nazaire. The BMX track provided a good session, with well-designed bumps and a pleasant surface. The spot is locally known for its lines suitable for all levels: newcomers got their bearings on the lower bumps while more experienced riders linked jumps and more committed lines.

In the evening, we met at Camping Le Bel Air for dinner. Accommodation in mobile homes and meals on-site, in addition to the welcome at the shop during the day. Everything was designed to streamline logistics and allow riders to extend their conversations without worrying about transportation.

Saturday, the day we won't forget

The shop was busy all morning. New riders arrived, others came to try a second board or compare models. It was also the time when the team took the time to explain in detail the differences in board behavior and guide each person according to their riding profile.

We skated together to Up to Play, a few streets from the shop, for a high-speed indoor session. This indoor karting track was repurposed for the occasion as an esk8 track: smooth surface, banked turns, long straightaways. A rare playground that allowed us to push the boards safely away from urban constraints.

The highlight of the weekend was the evening aperitif. The esk8riders event was coupled with the GlissEvolution anniversary. The kite and wingfoil riders from the community joined us, creating a meeting point between the brand's board sports disciplines. Nearly 200 people were present, with a burger food truck and an atmosphere that lasted late into the night.

Sunday, mountain board to finish

In the morning, we left Camping Le Bel Air after returning the mobile home keys, then we headed to Rouans. The Loire-Atlantique Mountain Board Park was waiting for us, about 45 minutes from Pornichet.

The L.A. Mountainboard Park terrain impressed those who were discovering it: committed descents, pump tracks, jumps on the BoarderCross. The Diablo and Renegade were perfectly suited. Several riders who had stuck to their street boards ended up trying them too.

Lunch on-site brought everyone together around the barbecue. Yvan and Max took the opportunity to perform some demos on the park's most challenging modules, a concrete demonstration of the boards' potential in technical conditions. The weather conditions remained mild throughout the weekend, which allowed the program to be followed to the letter. The afternoon remained free, and everyone continued to ride at their own pace before heading home.

Weekend Conditions

Mild weather over the three days, clear sky on Saturday, slight ground humidity Friday morning in the forest. Three spots, three atmospheres, and three very different surfaces: exactly what you need to understand how a board reacts depending on the terrain.

At Bois-Joalland, the BMX track was dry in the early afternoon: rough asphalt in places, smoother sections elsewhere, and some dirt traces in the curves, typical of a well-used spot that mixes surfaces. The forest environment also provided welcome shade for the afternoon sessions.

Up to Play, being indoors, removed the weather variable from the equation: karting surface, consistent rolling surface from one lap to the next. A rare comfort to push without worrying about the outside.

The L.A. Mountain Board Park of Rouans was in very good condition, the modules recently maintained, dry grass between zones. Real test conditions to measure the behavior of the Diablo and Renegade on challenging terrain.

Ideal conditions for riding the boards without mechanical constraints, and especially for comparing: clean street, mixed forest, open terrain. Three interpretations of the same board in 72 hours.

Testing in real conditions

Several models were available for testing: Fusion, Diablo Bamboo, Diablo Carbon, Diablo Renegade, GTR2 Bamboo, and Stoke X. Everyone was able to ride the boards they were interested in, compare the sensations between a bamboo deck and a carbon deck, between street wheels and all-terrain wheels.

Riders mainly exchanged with each other during the weekend: sensations, settings, usage feedback. More than individual tests, it was the conversations that made the difference.

Beyond the friendly aspect, the weekend had a deliberately educational dimension. After these three days, everyone left with concrete information about their board, their own riding profile, and a better understanding of what suits them. Knowing what you like, what you're looking for, what you don't use: that's what allows you to make the right choices later, without guessing.

What we learned from the riders

What emerged from the discussions was, first and foremost, the pleasure of having been able to test the models in several conditions over the same weekend. Many riders primarily use their boards for street riding, and the format allowed everyone to broaden their horizons: trying terrains they don't necessarily frequent daily, feeling how a board behaves on other surfaces, and sometimes discovering a type of ride that resonates more than they thought.

Ultimately, there is no perfect board. There are preferences, uses, body types, and terrains ridden daily. Everyone builds their setup based on what they actually ride, and that's what makes the range so rich.

"Trust is precious, trusting customers enough to leave the stock open was appreciated. The boss participating, accessible, sharing his vision, that's great."

A weekend rider

"The seafront for riders not living on the coast, it's legendary."

Grégory Schneckenberger

To everyone who made this weekend happen

To all the riders who made the trip, some from very far away: thank you. The skill level, the exchanges, the good humor, you brought them, and that's what transforms a program into a weekend to remember.

A big thank you also to the GlissEvolution kite and wingfoil community who joined the Saturday evening aperitif. Seeing our worlds cross paths for an evening was precious.

Thanks to Camping Le Bel Air for the welcome, to Up to Play for lending the track, and to the Loire-Atlantique Mountain Board Park for hosting us on Sunday. Without these partners, the format of this weekend wouldn't work. And thanks to the entire esk8riders team for the organizational work, behind the scenes, from start to finish.

See you next year. We already have ideas for what's next, and many of them come from you.