The season is about to start in Europe, so here is a short article on the skullboard, a board I invented five years ago now.
Everything started when the access road to the Mont Blanc tunnel was closed after a fire put it out of use for several years. Longskate sessions were taking place due to the crowd of riders from throughout the world who live in Chamonix.
This was the Golden Age; Supaflex, SC8 Aluflex, Sector 9 were selling like hot cakes in the stores of Chamonix. A weather report broadcast on France 2 immortalised this slightly crazy time. The tournament was taking place the day after the route was covered with light blustery showers, which partially explains its incredible slides.
At that time I was living at the base of this route (right below turn 4), riding and preparing the winter snowboards. In the summer I sub-let my hut (a sort of mini-chalet, without foundations), to bodyboard in Indonesia!
So I naturally decided to hurtle down the route in the “prone” position.
My first skullboards were cannibalised from old snowboards, but the wobble caused by the excessive flexibility of the board prevented high speeds and precise control during curves.
I was looking for a braking system. My attempts to paste bits of tyre on the sole of my boots, my hands or my elbows had been fruitless. Quite a few DDE cones, as well as a few pairs of shoes and motorbike boots were sacrificed! Another time, I made my rider friends laugh when I decided to stick soup spoons, without the handle, onto my boots to brake! A bad idea, when I had to make an emergency stop to take off my boots while my big toe was burning!!!
Finally I discovered the braking system used on the current skullboard, and this was a revelation. I got my friends to check it out, and they confirmed how easy the skullboard was to handle along with its surprisingly effective braking system.
The choice of the name “skullboard” was an obvious one, as the board looked like a skeleton. The paradox is that the term “skeleton” had been adopted due to its tubular construction resembled the structure of a skeleton!
One anecdote, a bit off the subject but funny, is worth telling; my friend Jean-Pierre wanted me to borrow his char (a tricycle whose front wheel is controlled with both feet) to descend the route. He said: “There aren’t any brakes, but don’t worry - just hold this mini parachute (cobbled together using old umbrella material) – if you are going too fast, just release it and it will slow you down!” No sooner said than done, but impressed by its speed even before the first hairpin, I released the parachute when I was still going too slowly for it to open, and its strings got tangled in the axle of the rear wheels. So I had to descend the entire route, with its four hairpin turns.....with Jean-Pierre behind in his car – a bit worried, but dying with laughter….!
At the end of this great time, our descents were becoming less and less tolerated, with the route being used by vehicles working on the tunnel. My hut was a refuge for riders escaping the law! Once I passed in front of a police car – after they had rubbed their eyes, they spun round and chased after me, sirens blaring, when I was at the entrance to turn 4! A serious slide to stop, and then we had to look through the whole Dalloz (law reference book) to find the infraction closest to mine, which of course wasn’t listed! Finally I received a mild verbal reprimand (I even received a few compliments amidst the admonitions), and this was one of my last descents on this "open route!" The D173 in Annecy thus became my new spot for testing my boards, so I moved to Passy.
Barbaque came to see me from time to time with his toboggan and we once organised an autumn session from Col de la Forclaz to Martigny. Gilbert Genoux, alias Gigi, an experienced downhill roller, joined us at the tunnel on several occasions.
In spring 2003, at the invitation of Barbaque, a small group of longskaters from Chamonix and I met at the 7 Laux derby. I won the trial in the snowboard/streetluge category.
The following summer I took part in several free rides, as well as the world championship in Kaunertal, “sponsored” by Olivier WAGNER, the world streetluge champion. He presented me to the organisers, and I was authorised to descend headfast as a demonstration!
On this occasion I carried an onboard camera, which was projected on a large screen before all the best downhill riders in the world, and was generously applauded. I was really moved, especially as I turned 40 on that day!
Then I made a DVD containing a compilation of the first five skullboard videos and photos of Mark BUSCAIL, which I called “SKULLBOARDING TRUE STORIES” in homage to the film TRUE STORY by the group TALKING HEADS, released 20 years ago.
On my last trip to Indonesia, I got a sea urchin spine deep in my heel. Three months later it resulted in an infection which needed an operation and stopped me from snowboarding. I therefore decided to use this time to manufacture my first series of skullboards, to be sold the following season. Now there are 11 skullboarders (eight guys and three women) with the board. The women have turned out to be awesome competitors!
A second DVD was recorded, this time inspired by the VAN HALEN album “FAIR WARNING” and containing images from Fontainebleau and Mesnières filmed and edited by Philippe RULLEAU, as well as extracts from a road trip and a clip looking at the Chamonix years, which I mentioned above.
After the demos and free rides it was time to compete. The skullboarders were authorised to participate in the trials for the French championship and World championship in 2006. Now it is time for the downhill season, which looks likely to be action-packed!
The many kilometres travelled by the team of skullboarders and myself allowed me to further improve the board in terms of ergonomics, performance and braking power, not to mention its design…..certain innovations such as the brake booster were approved by the whole team, the device improved braking by using even more rigid and faster and more stable boards. All good!
The 2006/2007 series is therefore ready, and soon you will be able to discover, try and even buy a skullboard to participate in most events this season!

Claude GESTA in Passy, 18 February 2007