Connect Skate Festival Bordeaux
I'm heading to Bordeaux this Autumn for the first edition of the Connect festival, an exciting new international event dedicated to skateboarding culture and its connection to urban planning. It's going to be a perfect blend of culture, art, and skateboarding, with exhibitions, conferences, video premieres, workshops, and concerts. I’m especially looking forward to the skateable sculptures and the city sessions that will take over parts of Bordeaux. Skaters, activists, academics, and professionals from all over the world will be there to celebrate skate culture and discuss how skateboarding is shaping urban development in Bordeaux.
Skating in Bordeaux
Bordeaux has come a long way when it comes to skateboarding. Once a city that took a more repressive stance, Bordeaux has now embraced skate culture through a series of bold initiatives that encourage skateboarding within its urban environment.
The city’s efforts include a mediation-based approach, promoting skateboarding not just as a sport, but as a cultural movement. There’s also a focus on ‘skaturbanism,’ which integrates skateboarding into public spaces with thoughtful design—like street furniture and custom-built structures that are perfect for skating. Some spaces have even been revamped specifically with skaters in mind.
Now, skateparks aren’t the only spots for skating; they’re seen as complementary to the broader idea of skating throughout the city. Bordeaux has also set itself apart by being the only city in France with a Municipal Skate Guide, ensuring a welcoming and respectful environment for both skaters and the wider community.
This inclusive vibe is powered by a diverse local community, including professionals, artists, designers, photographers, videographers, local brands, and skateshops, all working together to enrich the city’s skate culture. Their contributions add artistic and social depth to the scene, which is now being explored in academic studies.
Altogether, these initiatives have created a thriving ecosystem in Bordeaux where skateboarding is recognized as an essential part of urban life.
Photographer - David Manaud
Event co-organized by
Léo Valls - born in Bordeaux in 1986, developed a passion for the intersection of skateboarding and urban life at a young age. His career as a professional skateboarder with brands like DC and Magenta took him around the world, where he embraced an artistic approach to the sport. As a cultural activist and video producer, Valls gained international recognition and contributed to exhibitions such as Landskating Anywhere and Bon Voyage. He’s now a key advocate for "skaturbanism," advising city officials and urban planners on integrating skateboarding into urban development. His efforts are central to the creation of the Connect festival.
City Skate Collective - led by chemical engineer and skate filmmaker Julien Januszkiewicz, aims to promote and democratize Bordeaux’s skate culture and its connection to the urban environment. Julien directed the Bordeaux Exposure video series (2013, 2016, 2021), featuring over 200 local and 50 international skaters. These films unite the skate community by showcasing both professionals and amateurs, emphasizing creativity over competition.
L’Agence Côte Ouest - For over 30 years, Côte Ouest has been organizing events across Nouvelle-Aquitaine and beyond, continuously evolving through experimentation and adaptation. By embracing new challenges and following broader trends, the organization has grown significantly. Looking ahead to the next 30 years, Côte Ouest remains driven by the belief that collective strength comes from the unique contributions of each individual. The team is made up of strong, authentic personalities—ambitious yet grounded.