The last weekend of May 2009 was the Paris World Slalom Championship (PSWC), which sounds like it was not only a great success but also a real eye opening event. Skaters from all over the world came to the Trocedero in Paris to compete and, more than likely, to watch the infamous Kim Sung Jin (or KSJ as he's more popularly referred to).
So it seems only right that this month we take a look at slalom: that weird ritual that some skaters do where they spin round and weave through plastic cones! I'm not going to try to explain moves like Volte (my personal nemesis that I'm only just starting to get right), Nelson, X, Crazy or even the Sewing Machine; instead watch these videos and appreciate the grace, as well as the skill, involved in being a world class skater.
PSWC Finals
Here are the videos, courtesy of 4 Wheel Freestyle, of the mens finals of the PSWC 2009. Watch, in particular, KSJ in his second run (about 4:30 into the first clip): how one moment he's spinning round on a heel wheel, the next he's on his toe wheel.
Just so you know the final results (more results can be found on Roller En Ligne along with, what I think are, full results on the World Slalom Series website):
- Kim Sung Jin
- Martin Sloboda
- Terence Chueng
- Xuan Le
- Tiziano Ferrari
Apparently there was an incredibly tough semi-final with KSJ, Xuan Le, Igor Cherementieff and Rudy Op't Veld; the latter two getting knocked out. Sounds like Igor was doing a lot of stuff to help with the competition itself, so he wasn't on top form after running around.
From reading Naomi's comments on Serpentine Road, it sounds like the judging wasn't quite like it has been in previous competitions. It seems this one placed a little more on the flow of the slalomer, rather than the difficulty of their tricks alone. For me this makes things more interesting because, if you've watched any of the videos of recent competitions, the slalomers are tending towards heel tricks: technically difficult, yes, but so boring to watch.
KSJ
Kim Sung Jim is amazing. This video shows just how good, especially with the camera work adding to the spins.
Via sputnikwave on YouTube.
Along with Igor Cherementieff, KSJ has his own Seba skates. Unless Seba have found a way to distill talent into their skates I suspect you're going to have to put in a lot of practice to be as good as these guys!
The Judges
Just so you know who a couple of the judges at PSWC 2009, here are some videos:
Apache 2.1 by Pierre Kunneman.
Via slalomroller.
Naomi Does London by Naomi Grigg.
Via skatesonhaight.
Other great videos
If there's one video that really makes me want to get out and slalom it's this one: Project 2: Road to Rouen. The choreography and the music give it an energy I've not really seen, and the shot from underneath, where they're slaloming on glass, gives a completely different perspective on what's going on.
Via coinprod on YouTube.
For a moment, stop looking at what the slalomer is doing; instead look at their shape and silhouette. One of the most beautiful slalom videos, although the cones aren't used so it's more freestyle, is this one: Le Passage. The slalomer is Xuan Le, normally an incredibly graceful and rhythmic slalomer, who looks like he had a bad day in the PSWC finals.
Via telemakopatinador.
Sleepless is another well shot video, with some great spots in Helsinki found by the Finnish Freestyle Slalom Skaters (FFSS). One thing I like about their videos is that you see them improving, with each one getting better and better.
Via excimer78.
And what do slalom skaters do when they've had a few beers?
Via SlalomSkater.
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