Red Bull Access All Areas University of Vienna by Philipp Schuster

“Hey, Philipp! Come with to the main university building and have a look at the 11 steps to the hall. We should try to distract the doorman and skate down the steps. They’re really perfect!” So I go along with Lucas and take a look at the steps. They are really perfect. But not necessarily the kind of thrill one needs to experience, just to be able to have a few attempts at the set of stairs. So we walk through the arcade court and as I turn around, it suddenly hits me: This is the perfect location for a Red Bull Access All Areas event! Steps, benches, gaps, tables and perfect flat areas in a sunny courtyard in the midst of green lawn and trees, all completely sheltered from the wind and with the most wonderful backdrop one could ever imagine.

After permission was granted, a date was set and invitations to the skaters had been sent off, we made it our mission to put together a concept, which would make the skateboarding event as exciting as possible. The correct formula is actually quite simple: Good weather, good spots, skateboarding friends and loads of fun. In short, there must be no limit to enjoying the event. Therefore the best thing we could do in the six hours which were at our disposal, was to view the skateboarding session as if we were just going to skate down the street somewhere as usual. This is often not possible at Red Bull Access All Areas events due to safety reasons. Only one spot may be attempted at a time in order to keep an overview of the event, which does detract a bit from that special feeling of freedom which is simply part of skateboarding. The final preparations were made just a few days before the event. We constructed a wheelie box and a jump ramp in order to fulfil the final remaining wishes and could then only keep our fingers crossed for good weather and hope that the other skateboarders would be satisfied. And this almost perfect street spot was the best prerequisite for that.

Mac Mackelton, Daniel Spiegel, Mario Wirnsberger, Niki Truppe, Ben Wessler, Michi Mackrodt and myself participated in the event. The atmosphere was simply fantastic from the very beginning and we skated until were ready to drop. Really good tricks were performed on every spot. For example, Niki performed a Cabalarial on the set of stairs in the courtyard without noticeable effort, Mack did a crooks to backlip over the grass gap on the backrest of the bench, Mario did a beautiful flip to tail on the tabletop and, after six hours of constant skating on all the other spots and with his last remaining strength, Daniel executed a Nolly halfcab on the set of 11 steps at the hall. Refreshments were provided in the middle of the lawn during the event in the form of a lovely picnic, which catered for all tastes. I think nobody went home after this event without aching muscles, but everyone probably just fell into bed with a feeling of complete satisfaction.

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