29.ott.2011 FALLON HEFFERNAN INTERVIEW
Fx: You recently went on a trip to Europe for some events. Where did you go?
Fallon: I flew into Barcelona from San Francisco, California and spent a couple days on the beach there and then took a train to Montpellier, France. I stayed there all week and competed in the FISE event. Two days after the contest, I flew to Manchester, England and stayed with fellow Fenfanix rider Rob Pruett all week and competed at the Chaz Sands Invitational in Liverpool. After that, I flew to New York City for a day and then went home.
FX: How was France and the FISE?
Fallon: It was a lot of fun, but unfortunately it rained almost all week. The only sunny day was the day after the FISE was over. It was bad luck, but I got a glimpse of how big the FISE really is just by being there and I’d really like to go back again.
FX: What was special or different about the FISE compared to other events?
Fallon: Everything really! It was very well run and accommodating. It reminded me of the X-Games when in-line was in it. There were so many people in the crowd, it was amazing. Another rollerblader, Preccy Verdier and the other people working the event were very nice and helpful. Everything was professional and the crowds were enormous. The French people really love extreme sports and that was awesome to be a part of.
FX: How did you and the other girls skate in the contest?
Fallon: I wasn’t too happy with the way I skated. I was exhausted from being there all week from 8 in the morning until night time just waiting for the rain so we could practice, and it just never happened for us. We had to compete with no practice. But I landed a few good tricks and had a good time and still placed 2nd! I just wish I could’ve been more impressive. The French girls were amazing. Amandine skated really big and placed 3rd and Manon, the winner, did a really nice smooth beautiful line with the most tricks out of everyone. Her skating reminded me of Coco’s skating. Nice smooth, consistent, and elegant. She really deserved the win and made us female in-line skaters look skilled. Another amazing girl who is one of my new favorite skaters was Mathilde Monneran. She skated really boosty with the best style I’ve really ever seen from a girl. Unfortunately, she got hurt right before the contest and couldn’t compete. But I can’t wait to see more of her cause she has really gotten good!
FX: What did you think of the in-line scene in France?
Fallon: I absolutely love it. The men and women are so good and have big fluid style. They continue to progress our sport so much. And they are like a family to each other and very welcoming to us American skaters. Everyone made me feel at home in France and they amazed me with their skating.
FX: After the FISE, you went to the Chaz Sands Invitational. What did you do all week in England leading up to the event?
Fallon: I flew into Manchester and Rob Pruett picked me up from the airport and took me to his place in a town called Wigan, which is about 30 minutes from Liverpool. It is a small town, so I took a train into Liverpool pretty much every day and met up with Mery Munoz from Spain, Chaz, Rosie O’donogue, and some other people. We all did some tourism and some skating at Rampworx Skatepark. It was a super relaxed week of just preparing for the contest.
FX: How was the turn out at the contest?
Fallon: As always, there were tons of people at the Chaz Sands Inviational. And Chaz Sands and Rampworx put together the nicest athlete’s lounge there really is in the world right now for bladers. The contest was all run smoothly and on time. And the energy was super high among all the bladers.
FX: How was the skating in the female contest?
Fallon: It was really good. Rosie O’Donogue and Mery Munoz were really awesome and gave me a run for my money. They are both really amazing stylish skaters. Everyone is going to see alot more of these girls in the future. I ended up skating really well and it was the first time I was truly happy with how I performed in a contest in years. I skated the entire time in both prelims and finals and landed a lot more tricks than I was landing in practice. Rosie got 2nd with a bunch of technical stylish tricks. And Mery did a few really technical grinds and a big disaster topsoul on the A-Frame. It was a lot of fun.
FX: How was the skating in the pro contest?
Fallon: Absolutely incredible. That was the best pro contest I have seen in forever. Everyone was going absolutely nuts! Particularly Julien Cudot, Maxime Genoud, Franky Morales, and Elliot Stevens. Those were by far my top 4 favorite skaters of the contest. They did some stunts I’ve never seen before.. The energy was so hype and everyone had a blast. For 2011, I think that the Chaz Sands Invitational and the Panhandle Pow-Wow were the 2 most exciting WRS events with the craziest skating.
FX: What did you think of Rampworx Skatepark?
Fallon: It is a rollerbladers bliss. Everything is so diverse and built so beautifully. I could skate there for my entire life without getting bored. And Paul and the other people running Rampworx are some of the nicest and coolest people I’ve ever met.
FX: How was the after party at the Chaz Sands Invitational?
Fallon: It was a blast. In the years in the past, everyone has seemed to just scatter to different clubs all over Liverpool. This year it seems like everyone showed up to the official after-party spot and stayed there. All of the pros from every team, ams, and girls were there it seems like…and it was a blast hanging with my good friend Jenna Downing there! I really missed her. She looks great and is healing up fast. We all had good times drinking fruity fun drinks out of coconuts and pineapples. It was at a Hawaiian style club. Everyone was just so positive and happy. It was great!
FX: Alright, anything else you’d like to add?
Fallon: I had an amazing time at these events and traveling around Europe. Big Thank You’s to my sponsors Fenfanix, USD Skates, 50/50 frames, and Crap Bearings.
Fallon Heffernan
