Saint-Jean-de-Luz Skatepark

Excerpt from 1978 Skate France International: From Endless Lines and Google Translated to English:

"For the past year, the whole of Europe has taken up skateboarding. England and Germany were the first to obtain the means to build skate parks. All French fans were waiting for tracks to practice their favorite sport. It was Saint-Jean-de-Luz who gave the green light. The first circuit was started in May 1977, and opened to the public on July 14 of the same year. Its creator, Jean-François Heuty recorded 9,000 admissions in 6 months, at the rate of 10 francs per half-day. The track itself covers an area of ​​3,000 m2. Young Spaniards only have to cross the border to put on their gloves and put on their helmets, because in any skate-park protections are mandatory! Think, the youngest practitioner is two and a half years old, and the oldest is seventy-five years old...

… The Saint-Jean-de-Luz circuit is covered with asphalt; with the heat, the gravel comes out in places and one of the descents is impassable. Also many builders went to the United States, to London, to Munich; they looked at foreign circuits, made contacts and sought to achieve the best seals, the best coating. Many projects are under study, but the pitfalls are legion. Depending on the ambient temperature, the coatings vary. They must guarantee perfect security for users"