Lucas' Teck Deck Ollie Master

Benoit is practicing his ollie in preparation of next Eron's skateboarding class at Fair Oak skate park but Lucas stole the show with his infamous teck-deck ollie.

Benoit working on his ollie. Thanks for Eron for teaching him.

Woo, nice pop!

Benoit borrowed Tevo's scooter.

Ollie to back side board slide left handed!

Tevo's bunny hop.

Benoit at the 2007 Tim Brauch contest

Check Benoit's run at the 2007 Tim Brauch contest here

New sk8 photos

Benoit catching nice air at Scotts Valley.

More photos here

Visiting Diane at Palo Alto

Last week, Diane invited us for a dinner at her place in Palo Alto.
We started by paying a visit to the Palo Alto Junior museum. The kids loved it.
We went for little bit of skateboarding near her place.


Nice place to bring the kids and it's free.









I guess Lucas did not understand too well how the maching works. You are supposed to put some money, not take it.











Pinbal is fun.














Even more fun when you can play with your dad (photo Diane).













Lucas and Diane watching the bats.












The skatepark looks like Marseille skatepark but smaller.
It was fund until Benoit collides with another skater. Benoit was fine and not hurt but the big guy fell badly and was knocked out. He did recover after few minutes. I am so glad that Benoit is always wearing his paddings and helmet. May be we should do golfing instead.


Benoit dropping in.

Auvergne

We started the day by visiting my sister Veronique at Sermentizon. After a nice lunch we went to the Clermont-Ferrand skate park where Benoit did well (not like me). The day after we met my second sister Anne at Chas and stopped the Cournon skate park.



Sermentizon church















Benoit rolling in at Clermont Ferrand











Racing car at Cournon






























Florence skateboarding for the first time




























Benoit spine transfert at Cournon














Alex doing tyrolienne at Cournon

marseille-cassis

For our second day at Marseille, we decided to visit Cassis a small city near by Marseille. Benoit and Lucas enjoyed the beach as well as the food. The Calanques between Marseille and Cassis have some of the finest climbing limestone but since we did not have our climbing gears we decided to pass for this year.

After spending our morning at Cassis, we headed back to Marseille near the Prado, so the kids could play at the park. From there we walked to the skate park which was almost deserted, but Jean-Benoit was still there skating the big bowls. The sunset light was so amazing, no wonder why Cezanne spend quite a bit of time at Marseille.

I had to come back at Marseille to pick up my passport. That's when I shooted that windsurfing photo. It was a pity that I did not have my windsurfing gears since the wind, wave conditions were near perfect.




Marseille vieux-port (view from hotel)












Cassis beach.


















































































Marseille skatepark.












Jean-Benoit BS air.











Windsurfer at Prado beach.

Toulouse

I went to Toulouse to present my paper on space time coding for the ICASSP conference. Bea and Philippe took care of me during my stay.

Toulouse is called the pink city because of the color of the buildings and bridges.

Claire and our kids met me on Friday and we got to eat a nice paella from Bea. We also got rob :( our lugage from our car. That was too bad since we lost our passport as well.



















Toulouse down town.
















Kebab shop.






























Pablo.














Bea and Philippe.

Benoit skating at Scotts Valley

Benoit took a skateboard class at Dislocated skate shop with Eron.


Benoit dropping in the 6 foot bowl for the first time.


Back side kick turn in the medium bowl.

Fun spot

Benoit FS kick turn.














Just another day at Fun Spot Santa Cruz