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Raise Your Game: Why is it great to skate in Paris?

Frank Bitton: There are many reasons. Firstly, skating is regulated here. The police are very cool to roller skaters as you are allowed to skate nearly anywhere in Paris as long as you respect others and don't take risks with people. The second reason is the geography of the city. You can skate everywhere, you don't have to climb, except in one or two places, and you can always skate across Paris as it's mainly flat.

We have a long history of skating. It started with roller skates, not inline skates. There was a big scene in Paris, which still exists, with many groups of dancers, jumpers, people practising the slalom, etc, who all come together on Friday nights. For 11 years every Friday night you have a big tour that includes nearly 30,000 people.

As skating is so popular we even have a police squad on roller skates. Everyday 70 policemen work on roller-skates, they arrest people, help people, and it's very nice to see them. That's probably one of the reasons why skating is so popular in Paris.

Raise Your Game: What equipment do you need to skate?

FB: The main thing is that you feel comfortable. This is what we say to people, you have to be comfortable so don't worry about the technical aspects. We help people to get equipment which they can wear properly and won't harm them. That is why they come to specialised shops. The number one rule I would say to people is that you must be comfortable and enjoy yourself.

Raise Your Game: Can you tell me about the signatures from major skaters that you have in the shop?

FB: Skating in the city is usually people travelling from one place to another. We also have another speciality called 'aggressive skating'. It is called aggressive because people are jumping everywhere, using all different locations in the city. These are young guys, usually between 14 and 20 years old, using proper skates. You have big stars in the world like Wilfried Rossignol from France and TaΓ―g Khris who are very famous. There are also American guys like Brian Shima. All these people have come to the shop and they have given us their signatures when they came here.

Raise Your Game: What qualities do you need to be good in this sport?

FB: Balance is the main one definitely. It's similar to skiing but the balance of the body is different on skates, skis, and on the ice. You skate rather than walk so you have to learn to balance and fine tune it. It's a good idea to have lessons. We always say to beginners to go and see a teacher, and take 4 to 7 lessons at least, so you know how to place your body, how to move, and how to fall - because you will be falling one day - and how to protect yourself. Basically take your wrist guards with you all the time, even when you're a World Champion as you always have to protect yourself.

Raise Your Game: I notice the helmet is very important. Are there different styles and which one is best?

FB: The European rules are exactly the same for skaters and cyclists. You don't need a special helmet for skating, except maybe for aggressive skating. Everything is different for aggressive skating - the helmets, the wrist guards, etc, as they don't have the same practices. For example, with the regular wrist guards you cannot hold things, because when you practise with regular skates - fitness skates - you will fall and you will put your hands out in front of you to stop. When you practise aggressive skating you must be able to hold yourself, because you may fall 3 metres for example, so you have different protections. But for the helmet there's not much difference as long as your head and your brain are protected.

Raise Your Game: Skating must keep you fit?

FB: Definitely, everything is working, your feet, your legs, for women it helps in every part.

Raise Your Game: And it teaches you respect for other people, because you have to be courteous to others?

FB: Yes. It's like skiing. There's a big debate in France to ensure people respect each other when they are skiing. You have people coming on snowboards for instance, they are very young, very excited, and they don't respect the rules. It's the same with skating, you have to respect people coming from the right, allow them to go first and so on. Maybe they should have even more regulation. You always have the young guys, they go very fast and they scare you.