Video, Photography and Text by Robin Pailler
Hugo Westrelin might just be my new favourite skater.
In fact, he’s actually my new favourite human.
Having moved to Biarritz just around the time he learnt to walk, it was only a matter of time before skate and surf culture began to cast their spells on the impressionable young boy.
And whilst Hugo’s a frother in the water, it’s evident skateboarding is where his true passion lays.
Yet despite living in close proximity to one another for over a decade, and with a plethora of mutual friends in common, Hugo and I had never previously met until this feature presented itself.
It just so happened that the week we were scheduled to connect, Hugo was up in la capital, assisting his older sister at the prestigious fashion brand Isabelle Marant. And so our first encounter wasn’t at cotes des Basque, but rather Place de la Republique.
Despite a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, Paris feels like a village when it comes to skateboarding. Everybody knows everybody. And Hugo is no different. When we finally link up to skate, I find Hugo skating alongside fellow Vans compatriots Quentin Boullion and Mika Germond, as well as a skew of local rippers. Saturdays at Republique are always boisterous. Protestors, shoppers, tourists and Gendarmes alike, commandeer the plaza, frenetically criss crossing under the gaze of the iconic monument Marianne
After a brief warm up session, we make our way to the quarter pipe overlooking the Seine. Whilst Hugo’s street game is on point, his true talents lie in transition. There’s a whimsical nature to the way he navigates a concrete wave. The way he’s able to nonchalantly find airtime, gliding over the coping with a fearless approach to landing blindside, Hugo’s flow is intoxicating to watch. Even as a huge cloud beckons and the pressure to land a certain trick grows before the heavens open, Hugo confidently claims he’s landing this try. 15 seconds later and the clip is in the bag. Burnt into 16mm celluloid as we hastily scurry to the Le Nouvel Institut, unperturbed by the hailstorm beating down on us.
By midweek, Hugo’s fashion house commitments are complete and we decided to make our way south to the Basque Country. As always SNCF is delayed and having learnt Hugo is a die hard PSG fan, we spend the next three hours bonding over our shared love of football, pressed up against an intermittent iPad stream of PSG’s victorious second leg against Arsenal in the Champions League.
It’s at this point, Vans TM Chris Pfanner calls. He’s currently in Bordeaux with the Vans global skate team and asks if we want to stop by for a day. One wouldn’t blame Hugo for perhaps being shy at the prospect of skating with the likes of T-Funk, Elijah Berle and Diego Todd. But by the second spot Hugo’s found himself right at home, seasoning a curved slab of concrete with Ronnie Sandoval, undoubtedly garnering respect from his American counterparts.
By the time we reach Biarritz, it feels like we’ve become best friends. We’ve even resorted to calling one other ‘ma poule’, a term of endearment usually only reserved those closest to us.
For the following 48 hours, Hugo is in his domain. Whether throwing down a back three down the Grand Plage stair set, sessioning the new Vans mini ramp at cotes des basque or landing a gnarly nose grind to drop at Algorta’s infamous skatepark, La Kantera , Hugo’s innate ability to conquer all manner of terrain is joy to behold.
Keep an eye on this kid. You’re gonna be seeing a lot more of him in years to come.
