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Since taking residence in Europe in 2008, the Vans Downtown Showdown has taken many a city by storm, including London and Amsterdam.
This year, twelve of the world's best skate teams competed at the Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris, for a share of the â¬50,000 prize fund. Far removed from the traditional format followed by other skateboarding competitions, the event invites the teams themselves to design the obstacles they'll be riding.
For last Saturday's event we sent R1/Vans team rider Josh 'Manhead' Young, over to Paris, to compile a Downtown Showdown photo diary:
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JY: "Vans really pulled out all the cards at this years DTSD with a spectacular venue, gnarly obstacles, and notable skateboarding Legends, Pro's and Am's drafted in from every corner of the globe.
Following tradition, Steve Van Doren (son of Vans co-founder Paul Van Doren) was all hands on deck cooking up hot dogs and giving away free product all in keeping to his title as the nicest man in skateboarding.Â
As if that wasn't enough, the day was rounded off by Hip Hop legends Black moon putting on a show (and a backpack) to keep the dream alive until next year.
Hats off to everyone involved at this years Vans DTSD!
All packed and ready for the show!
The lines to get into the free event stretched round the block all day.
The original submitted Palace skateboards obstacle design, Karl Lagerfeld's head logo... Shame it didn't get made for legal reasons.
Palace ended up with a Goyard luggage inspired tribute complete with card holder and a packet of fags!
PWBC Karim soaking up the Parisian vibes .
Cliché obstacle; replica pond below the Eiffel tower that was famously skated by Mark Gonzales and featured in "Video Days".
Route One's newest team member Sam Beckett yanking in a ridiculous B/S Nosepick on the Element Eiffel tower.
Steve Van Doren cooking up a storm!
The human shoe.
The FLIP obstacle was based on the French flag.
Vans legends Steve Caballero and Christian Hosoi.
Vans T.M Danny Wainwright handing out the cash to Nassim Guammaz for Flip's French flag best Am.
Vans Downtown Showdown 2013, that's a wrap!"
Vans Downtown Showdown 2013 a Skateboarding video by Sidewalk
