PART 1 / THE HISTORY OF ROLLER SKATING FOR FLANEURZ​

PART 1 / THE HISTORY OF ROLLER SKATING FOR FLANEURZ

The Flaneurz brand comes from a dream: to combine urban mobility and style.

Some of you may be wondering how this passion for roller skating was born for each member of the Team.

 

/THE 80s-90s

The 80s and 90s are a symbol of freedom and innovation with the advent of the internet. It is also a high point of roller culture..

Florian / Co-founder :

Born during the golden age of quad roller skating, Florian, co-founder of Flaneurz, is more comfortable on skates than on foot. He is the originator of the project and takes care of the financial and administrative aspects..

Florian has been skating since a young age. As a teenager, he goes to La Défense, Trocadéro, or Balard to do ramp skating. Roller skating is a means of expression that he identifies with: “It’s as much my passion as it is a way for me to get around.” For 8 years, he travels the world (America, India…): “I have traveled to over 45 countries with my skates. I have observed the cultures, the styles, and the ways of moving around.” Strolling in his sneakers, fixed to roller plates, is a way to stand out abroad. This characteristic setup of French quads shaped his childhood. In New York, some people ask him where his skates come from: “They wanted the same ones. So I started making pairs for others.”.

Convinced of the international potential, he co-founded Flaneurz in December 2014.

Walid / Co-founder

Walid has excelled in several roller disciplines before joining this entrepreneurial adventure. He is the technical manager and in charge of the production des paires.

At 8 years old, Walid sees his neighbor doing tricks on quad rollers. Finding this practice original, he creates his own pair of mounted ones. By the end of the 80s, he acquires Hawaï Tribu quad rollers. He starts to slalom between bottles or marked points on the ground and discovers jumping. In the 90s, he frequents the Trocadéro and begins competing. At the same time, he becomes an international judge. (Lausanne Urban Contest).  

Walid's skating is a mix of jumping, slalom, street, ramp, and roller derby: “I am always curious to try new disciplines to improve my skating.”.

In 2002, he created the website RollerFR.net, a reference for urban skating: “We were innovative before YouTube or Facebook. We were a social network for skating.” After the end of RollerFR.net, he resumed RollerQuad.net to promote French quad culture. Its evolution in the world of roller skating has led to the co-creation of Flaneurz.

Arnaud / Co-founder

Engineer of Arts and Crafts, Arnaud enjoys imagining innovative objects. At the origin of the conceptualization of the first product, he develops collections, capsules, and limited editions in partnership with prestigious brands..

The practice of roller skating is synonymous with pleasure for Arnaud. At 3 years old, he is already strolling with his first quads during family outings. As if his path is already laid out, he does his third-year internship in the “shop” of Taïg Khris. At 15, inline skating is at its peak, and he acquires aggressive skates. As he grows up, he continues to practice skating in skate parks: “I am proud to say that I can do a front flip more easily than a back flip.” His best memory on quad skates is a weekend in Barcelona: “Visiting a city on skates is exceptional! You discover the city differently and enjoy wandering around in a completely random way.” He dreams of visiting New York on Flaneurz and discovering the American “way of life,” including Venice Beach..

/THE 2000s

 

In the early 2000s, inline skating was at its peak. 

  

Laurie / Digital Marketing and Customer Relations 

Former inline skating champion, Laurie discovered the joys of quad skating by joining the Team. Her role: to provide you with a unique experience before, during, and after acquiring your pair..

Born in the mid-90s, Laurie started inline skating at the age of 8 in the club Les Sauterelles (La Rochelle) : “ I refused to do quad skating. For me, this activity was not from my generation. I also skated outside of practice with mes Heelys “. Laurie participates in the slalom acrobatic roller skating course. After winning several titles in national competitions, Laurie stopped roller skating in 2009 due to injuries.  “ I discovered Flaneurz on Welcome To The Jungle. J’ai tweeted the members of the Team with a video of my competitions to support my application. I joined the team in March 2018. ”

Johanna / Communication Manager

Guardian of the Flaneurz image and the happiness of the Clique, Johanna's arrival brings a fashion-forward and trendy vision to the project.

In May 2015, Johanna discovers Flaneurz on Kickstarter thanks to her father, a former member of La Main Jaune. She sees it as an opportunity to combine her passion for lifestyle with an innovative project: “ Quad skating was becoming more and more popular in fashion magazines in the clips “. The beginning of her adventure in 2016 is marked by the launch of the website. The first pair of Flaneurz sold on the e-shop is for her father. She gives him a Adidas Top Ten Iconic in memory of its Adidas Americana.

She participates in various Flaneurz events on her "scooter": one foot clipped in and the other without a rolling part for more stability! Her best memory on roller skates is during the Skate Love Barcelona in 2016: “We visited Barcelona in Flaneurz with the Team. We covered miles on our quads. I discovered roller skating and the city in a different way!”

Mathieu / Event Planning

In collaboration with Johanna, Mathieu is developing the event aspect of Flaneurz. He is the one who organizes the roller parties in collaboration with venues or companies..

Mathieu tries quad roller skating in the early 2000s. Then, he discovers the joys of sliding sports on ice and snow.: “ I have always done a lot of ice skating with friends. At the same time, there was skiing. After several years in the club, I took the first tests to become an instructor at theESF “Moreover, he finds similarities with the roller universe: “The innovative aspect is present in all three sports. There is a diversity and inventiveness in the disciplines that I love!”.

Upon his arrival in the Clique in June 2018, Mathieu puts on a pair of quads Concorde Atlantique. “ I loved the concept of organizing a roller party on a boat. I rolled in and fell several times. The cobblestone streets were not easy. Now, I am reconciled with quads.” Mathieu aims to have the same skill on roller skates as he does on skis..

The Team has diverse and varied origins. We share a passion for sliding and the desire to go further. Follow the adventures of the community on social media. (Facebook, Instagram et LinkedIn) or via our newsletter.