The European Custom Show event is a unique concept. Originally founded by the Chalk Custom Board Project collective and now with Roarockit Skateboard Europe as a partner of the event, this collective exhibition aims to bring together and showcase Europe’s most talented custom board artists
The first edition of the European Custom Board Show was born in Brussels in 2017 in partnership with the gallery The Art Project.
More than 20 European artists have been carefully selected to participate. Each of them exhibited up to 3 skates, cruisers or longboards, customized by hand. All unique pieces.
For this exhibit the Roarockit team made a hand-curved longboard board, which was then customized by member artist and Chalk creator, Mata7ik.
The second edition of the European Custom Show took place in Darwin from June 5 to 26, 2019. In one of the cult places of urban culture in Bordeaux, experimental and artistic in the ultra-wide sense of the term.
More than 70 artists were present and no less than 240 custom boards were exhibited.
The 3rd edition was born in Brussels in an iconic building: the Halles Saint Gery. This year from July 2 to September 7, 2020, the exhibition welcomed no less than 50 artists from all over Europe and from a wide variety of backgrounds: tattooing, architecture, painting, graffiti, sculpture, graphics …
Over 150 custom boards were presented for the occasion.
For this occasion and because it is more important to us than ever, we made a piece, all of the profits from which will be donated to the NGO Skateistan (more details below).
In view of the circumstances and due to the security measures due to COVID-19 and their constant evolution, the exhibition is also available online on the European Custom Board Show website, making the virtual exhibition accessible to everyone.
It was a real pleasure to be a partner of this event once again. A success and an unforgettable moment of meeting and sharing!
Skate’N Chair :
The Skate N’ Chair is a project made by Roarockit Skateboard Europe in order to raise funds for NGO Skateistan.
This handmade chair takes its name from its design : 10 curved and assembled skateboards decks whose flexibility provides a natural rocking sensation, similar to that we can find when sitting in a traditional rocking chair.
In detail, this chair is composed of 4 street decks, 3 pintail longboards and 3 mini-cruisers for a total of 70 sheets of Canadian maple wood. Each top sheet of these boards has been selected for their wavy and birds eye effects. The rarity and aesthetics of these maple sheets add a unique side to this chair.
It took a little over a month to complete this project. The pressing of the boards required a particular technique to obtain these curves. An ultra-resistant glossy varnish has been chosen to highlight each board providing a velvety impression. Wheel-truck set-ups have been installed on all three legs to accentuate the rocking sensation and also makes this chair easily mobile.
100% of funds raised by the sale of this piece will be donated to SKATEISTAN.
Design and production: Sarah Jackson & Nicolas Alix
Skateistan is a non-governmental organization, which empowers children through skateboarding and education in Afghanistan, Cambodia and South Africa.
By combining skateboarding with a creative and artistic education, they give children the opportunity to become leaders for a better world. They focus on groups that are often excluded from sports and educational activities, especially girls, children with disabilities and those from low-income backgrounds.
They provide safe spaces where children can have fun, build skills and confidence, and break down social barriers by making new friends.
In the words of its founders, it is about: “creating a better future for these young people and their communities, through innovative programs that aim to develop the experiences and skills of each of them”.
If like us you want to support this NGO, you can directly donate by clicking on the button below or buy the chair that we have made.
We would like to thank Chalk Custom Board Project and all the artists for creating and making the European Custom Board Show what it is today! A amazing experience, a moment of sharing and new encounters, art, talent and much much more.
L’Evénement European Custom Board Collective Show :
L’événement European Custom Show est un concept unique en son genre. Fondé initialement par le collectif Chalk Custom Board Project et désormais avec Roarockit Skateboard Europe comme partenaire de l’event, cette exposition collective a pour objectif de rassembler et de mettre en lumière les artistes « custom board » les plus talentueux en Europe.
La première édition du European Custom Board Show est né à Bruxelles en 2017 en partenariat avec la galerie The Art Project.
Plus de 20 artistes européens ont été soigneusement sélectionnés pour y participer. Chacun d’entre eux ont exposé jusqu’à 3 skates, cruisers ou longboards, customisés à la main. Toutes des pièces uniques.
Pour cette exposition l’équipe Roarockit a fabriqué une planche de longboard courbée à la main. Qui a ensuite été customisé par artiste membre et créateur de Chalk, Mata7ik.
La seconde édition du European Custom Show s’est déroulée à Darwin du 5 au 26 Juin 2019. Dans un des lieux culte de la culture urbaine à Bordeaux, expérimentale et artistique au sens ultra-large du terme.
Plus de 70 artistes ont été présent et pas moins de 240 custom boards ont été exposés.
Vous pouvez retrouver la vidéo présentation juste ici.
La 3ème édition a vu le jour à Bruxelles dans un bâtiment iconique : les Halles Saint Gery. Cette année du 2 Juillet au 7 Septembre 2020, l’exposition a accueilli pas moins de 50 artistes provenant de partout en Europe et d’univers très variés : tatouage, architecture, peinture, graffiti, sculpture, graphisme…
Plus de 150 custom boards on été présentées pour l’occasion.
Pour cette occasion et parce que cela nous tient à coeur plus que jamais, nous avons fabriqué une pièce, dont tous les bénéfices seront versés à l’ONG Skateistan (plus de détails ci-dessous).
Au vu des circonstances et en raison des mesures de sécurité dû au COVID-19 et de leur constante évolution, l’exposition est également disponible en ligne sur le site du European Custom Board Show, rendant accessible à tout le monde l’exposition en virtuel.
Ce fût un réel plaisir d’être partenaire encore une fois de cette évènement. Un succès et un moment de rencontre et de partage inoubliable !
Skate’N Chair :
La « skating chair » est un projet entrepris par l’équipe de Roarockit Skateboard Europe dans le but de récolter des fonds pour l’ONG Skateistan.
Cette chaise fabriquée main tire son nom de part sa conception : 10 planches de skateboards courbés et assemblées dont la flexibilité procure un effet de balance naturel lors de l’assise comme on le retrouve sur les fameuses rocking chair.
En détail, cette chaise est composée de 4 street decks, 3 longboards pintail et 3 mini-cruisers pour un total de 70 feuilles de bois d’érable canadien. Chaque feuille composant les faces de ces planches ont été sélectionnées pour leurs effets ondés, mouchetés ou de loupes. La rareté et l’esthétique de ces feuilles rajoutent un côté unique à cette chaise.
Il a fallu un peu plus d’un mois pour arriver à terme de ce projet. Le pressage des planches a requis une technique particulière pour obtenir ces courbes. Un vernis brillant ultra résistant a été choisi pour faire ressortir les effets de chaque planche procurant un relief style velours. Des set-ups de roues-trucks ont été installés aux trois pieds pour accentuer l’effet de balance et rendant également cette chaise facilement mobile.
100% du montant de la vente sera reversé à SKATEISTAN.
Conception et réalisation : Sarah Jackson & Nicolas Alix
Vernis : Alexandre Marin.
Vous pouvez acheter cette chaise directement sur les bouton ci-dessous, ou sur le site de Roarockit ou sur European Custom.
Skateistan est une organisation non gouvernementale, qui responsabilise les enfants grâce au skate et à l’éducation en Afghanistan, au Cambodge et en Afrique du Sud.
En combinant le skateboard avec une éducation créative et artistique, ils donnent aux enfants la possibilité de devenir des leaders pour un monde meilleur. Ils se concentrent sur les groupes qui sont souvent exclus des activités sportives et éducatives, en particulier les filles, les enfants handicapés et ceux issus de milieux à faible revenu.
Ils fournissent des espaces sûrs où les enfants peuvent s’amuser, développer leurs compétences et leur confiance et faire tomber les barrières sociales en se faisant de nouveaux amis.
Selon les mots de ses fondateurs, il s’agit de : « créer un meilleur futur pour ces jeunes et leurs communautés, grâce à des programmes innovants qui visent à développer les expériences et compétences de chacun d’entre eux ».
Si comme nous, vous voulez soutenir cette ONG vous pouvez directement faire en don en cliquant sur le bouton ci-dessous ou acheter la chaise.
Nous voulons remercions Chalk Custom Board Project et tous les artistes d’avoir créé et participé à la réussite du European Custom Board Show. Un moment unique de partage, rencontres, art, talent et bien plus encore.
L’événement European Custom Show est un concept unique en son genre qui est né en 2017. Fondé initialement par le collectif Chalk Custom Board Project et désormais co-organisé avec Roarockit Skateboard Europe , cette exposition collective a pour objectif de rassembler les artistes “custom board” les plus talentueux en Europe : par “custom board”, nous entendons des skateboards, longboards, surfs, snowboards et bien plus encore.
Mathieu Bonte (a.k.a Mata7ik), co-fondateur de l’événement European Custom Show : « On s’est aperçus que la plupart des artistes custom board développaient leur art de manière individuelle et il nous a paru évident de les rassembler sous une forme collective, pour mettre en lumière leur œuvres, leurs techniques, leurs styles artistiques. Voici comment l’European Custom Show est né ».
Arsen created the IKO about fifteen years ago
Sarah Jackson, de Roarockit Skateboard Europe : « notre exposition collective n’est pas influencée par une grosse organisation officielle, ni une grande marque multinationale, mais plutôt par des gens passionnés, qu’ils soient shapers, artistes ou activistes. Notre organisation est fondée sur les valeurs de respect, de partage et aussi l’envie de repousser sans cesse les limites du ‘Board Art’, à tous niveaux. Le concept derrière cet événement est de l’organiser chaque année dans un lieu en Europe, dans les villes principales et parfois dans des lieux insolites ! »
La seconde édition du European Custom Show se déroule cette année à Bordeaux, à l’espace Darwin, un des lieux cultes de la culture urbaine, expérimentale et artistique au sens ultra-large du terme. Plus de 50 artistes ont été sélectionnés pour cette occasion et pas moins de 150 custom boards seront exposées.
Cette année, nous allons, de plus, créer (shaper) une oeuvre d’art à partir de skateboards et longboards courbés. Cette œuvre d’art sera ensuite mise aux enchères au profit de l’association Skateistan, une organisation non gouvernementale pour qui nous avons souhaité montrer notre implication. L’association Skateistan permet aux enfants et jeunes de se développer grâce au skateboard et à l’éducation. Selon les mots de ses fondateurs, il s’agit de : « créer un meilleur futur pour ces jeunes et leurs communautés, grâce à des programmes innovants qui visent à développer les expériences et compétences de chacun d’entre eux ».
L’événement European Custom Show fera partie du concept « Skate Life » à l’espace Darwin qui inclura entre autres : performances live, contest de skate, concerts, workshops/ateliers DIY, etc.
ENGLISH VERSION >>>
The European Custom Show is a one-of-akind collective exhibition that started in 2017. Initially founded by the Chalk Custom Board Project, and now co-organised for the first time with Roarockit Skateboard Europe, this collective show aims to gather the most talented custom board artists from all over Europe : skateboards, longboards, surfboards, snowboards and much more.
Mathieu Bonte a.k.a Mata7ik, co-founder of the European Custom Show declares : « we noticed that most of the custom board artists were creating art individually and it was therefore obvious that a collective event would represent the board art in its purest form ».
Sarah Jackson, from Roarockit Skateboard Europe, declares : « our collective show is not driven by any brand or corporate organisation, but by some passionate shapers, artists and board activists that have a collective mind, a non elitist mentality and a true passion about boards. An opportunity to bring together and exchange. The concept is to hold this European Custom Show in different places throughout Europe, in major cities but also in unique places that are quite surprising».
The second edition of the European Custom Show is happening this year in Bordeaux, at Darwin, one of the most popular places to hold such an innovative art show. More than 50 custom board artists (and 150 custom boards) will attend the exhibit.
This year, we will also create an astonishing piece of art, handmade entirely out of custom boards. This project will be auctioned and all benefits will be sent to Skateistan, a non-profit organisation that we care about dearly. Skateistan empowers children and youth through skateboarding and education. Skateistan quotes, «Through our innovative programs children build the skills and confidence, to create a brighter future for themselves and their communities.»
The European Custom Show will be part of the «Skate Life» monthly event at Darwin, that will also include : live performances, skate contests, live concerts, DIY workshops, etc.
A few months ago, Martijn Janssen contacted us with the intention of starting up a “Build Your Own Skateboard” workshop at the Grafisch Lyceum in Rotterdam, Holland. We were more than happy to get him sorted with what was needed and only a little while later we were over the moon, when the first photos of the boards being built in class and then the finished decks were put up on facebook. The result is amazing.
This being one of the first schools in Europe to have started up the program, after many years of successful workshops in Canada and the States, we asked if we could do an article to put forward the amazing work that has been put into this project and to find out how it went.
My name is Martijn Janssen and I am currently teaching Media Design at Grafisch Lyceum Rotterdam. Before I started teaching I ran my own company in interactive media design and animation. I was also one of the founders of eyesupply.tv, a VJ collective now responsible for the visual shows of Armin van Buuren and Afrojack, among others. I stopped VJ-ing when my son Kik was born and I could not combine the work at school, late night shifts in the weekends and being a dad.
Ever since I could hold a hammer and some basic tools I made a lot of my own toys. And I never really stopped “Making Stuff”. In the 90’s I studied Industrial Design. In the year 2000 I decided to built a snowboard with a friend, a one of project. A lot of different smaller and bigger projects followed and than in 2013 I wanted to build a hollow wood surfboard. I searched a lot on the internet and at one point I came across someone, a surfboard builder, who had built a skateboard just for fun. This seemed much less complex than building a surfboard and I decided to give it a go. And I’m hooked, it also got me picking up skateboarding again (after almost 20 years!).
I hadn’t worked with the Roarockit materials before, but was very interested in them. And once the plan for organising the workshop at my school found approval, I knew this system would work best to get the students to understand the process of building your own board.
The first board was a “mini” longboard for my son. The result was far better than I expected and in no time I made one for myself. The third board I did (“La Troisième”) was noticed by a friend of mine who asked me to build some more of “these gorgeous boards” and sell them at the Indie Kids Festival, a fair of independent brands in Amsterdam. I had one month to create the brand and about 15 (mini) skateboards. I teamed up with Henk de Bruin, fellow teacher and illustrator to make the first Superkik series.
This was a succes, we sold 5 boards and received quite some custom orders in the months after that.
I decided to name the brand Superkik because I registered superkik.nl in the past. My son Kik is a big super hero fan.
The boards had drawn the attention of students and colleagues and I started a few other collaborations. Some were even interested in designing and building their own boards. Than the opportunity came with the annual workshop week for our graduation students. Students can follow workshops and seminars of choice to gain some extra knowledge and skills in a fun way. So I submitted the idea of teaching 10 students to build their own board.
I told my bosses that the students were about to build the ultimate canvas for their artwork: A skateboard they could actually ride! Since skateboarding is closely related to the creative industry, it was not hard to convince them to invest in the materials and tools for this workshop.
Together with Niels de Bruin from Langplanck we put a program together. We did a short introduction of what to expect and started with shaping of the moulds. We helped out with the design and the students shaped the foam completely by hand. By the end of the morning we had to glue the boards together and put them in the presses. Than two weeks passed before we could get to part two of the workshop: designing and cutting the outline, finish the rails, top and bottom and drilling the holes. The finishing had to be done by hand again.
This concluded the official workshop, we only had 2 x 4 hours. In the unofficial part 3 of the workshop we will help some of the students with applying their design to the board.
Over all we can conclude that next time we need more time. We could have spent some more time on the design part. Also an extra session to finish the board with a design and coating is necessary.
Nevertheless the workshop was one big succes and there was a real buzz in the school. A lot of students asked where they could sign up for the next edition. I even had a prospective student asking me: “In what department do they teach you how to build a skateboard?”
The next workshop will be with colleagues, we will keep you posted on the results!
We are looking into possibilities to run the workshop at other schools and are finetuning the program at the moment. Working with the maple and the TAP-bags was a breeze. I expect to do a lot more with both! The maple is very easy to work with and the results in quality and expression are simply amazing!
I’m more or less teaming up with Niels from Langplack to develop some longboards and we are going to experiment with other materials like bamboo, birch and carbon. Besides that I’m also working on new designs and techniques for the artwork. And finally, in the next few weeks we expect to shoot some footage for a promo for Superkik and Langplanck (in 4k!!).
“Build Your Own Skateboard” workshop at the Grafisch Lyceum in Rotterdam, Holland. We were more than happy to get him sorted with what was needed and only a little while later we were over the moon, when the first photos of the boards being built in class and then the finished decks were put up on facebook. The result is amazing. 
