This story is held mainly in our hearts, but here's something to give you an idea of what we were doing last fall...

Beginning the first week of November, 2002, we built the best and most unique skate park in Haute Garonne, in a small town called Saint Lys. Here is a story told with images.

This town had an adjutant mayor with a simple commitment to doing something for its significant BMX rider population.

We worked closely with the riders and built a park to their specifications, modifying our EXTRAVAGANZA modules (click here to see what we mean by extravaganza) and we added a new trick ramp. We organized young helpers from Saint-Lys in an apprenticeship to module building.

TLT (Tele Toulouse) was there, as was the mayor and a couple of hundred of the best and most dedicated riders, skateboarders and inline skaters from the region. A 45-minute super extreme sports show was broadcast and we got to tell all our friends, on this show, why we were leaving them.

It was a bitter sweet time. The best we could have hoped for. This was our last chapter in France. If you ever visit our skate park in Michigan someday, we can sit down and drink a cup of coffee and talk about it....