Hi there

just wondering if anyone has any funny stories or odd experiences whilst taking part in the paris roller - is there hassle from teenage gangs ? is it difficult if you dont speak French ?!

thanks

duv

Hassle from teenage gangs ?

Errr... Sometimes I guess, like everywhere... No gun fights if that's what you're thinking about

Paris is quite a calm city even if there are obviously some "sensitive" blocks...

But for skating the last 3 years in Paris and its suburbs, I never have any problem.

I don't understand your second question... What's difficult if you don't speak french ? Skating ? If that's the point, I don't think it's a problem,you can easily find someone who can speak a little english.

Ask for more informations if you need so

i think people from foreign countries have read some strange and false things about france during last months because of events in suburbs in november and because of students demonstrating in march but what you have seen on TV or in newspapers is NOT really the truth ! even when these events were taking place, we didn't cancel the friday's ride and there was not any problem for us to skate

thanks
how many people actually turn up - ive read between 15, 000 - 30,000 but be good to get an official figure

What do you mean by "turn up" ? How many people are roller skating in Paris ?

If that's your question, I don't know the number... But I can tell you that the Friday Night is about 5000 to 10000 people, depends of weather and animations... I think the record is about more than 20000...

Hi, Duv !

It would help our understanding if you explained a bit more what you're after... Your subject title "Magazine feature, research" suggests you're a writer/columnist and looking for info about the FNF to write about it ? Forgive me, but the questions you ask lead me to wonder if you're not looking for some juicy stories to write about in a, uh, sensationistically manner...

Or are you a roller skater looking for info about how to participate yourself ?

the "official" record was 28'000 as long as I remember, but we also did 40'000 at a Paris-Versailles (which is not a friday's night ride but a special event we also organised)
in winter, when it's -10°C we sometimes are only 1000 or even less but around 10'000 or 15'000 in summer