ThirtyTwo

etnies 20 Year Anniversary Party!

Posted: July 7, 2006 | Skip To The Comments (6)

Eiffel Tower group shot.

For stop number two of a three-city tour in celebration of its 20 Year Anniversary, etnies held the main event in the city of its origin—Paris, France. The party went down on Monday, June 12, 2006 at the famous Palais de Tokyo museum / landmark / legendary skateboard spot, and was an event of epic proportions.

Don Brown gets his freestyle fix.

The streets outside the Palais de Tokyo were lined with people waiting to get through the gates and walk the red carpet through huge marble pillars adorned with the etnies 20 Year logo. By the end of the night, 4,000 people attended the party, and that doesn’t include those who may have tried, but couldn’t get in. Sorry, invite only, please!

Pillars of salt.

The outdoor terrace of the Palais de Tokyo was transformed into an open air dance floor with numerous open bars, and a huge stage with a DJ booth that was also decorated with the etnies 20 Year logo. Video footage highlighting some of etnies' team riders' greatest moments was projected on huge banners in between the pillars lining the entrance to the Palais de Tokyo. The etnies timeline was on display, the music was loud and the Eiffel Tower glimmered in the background.

Where's Waldo?

Skateboard legends Natas Kaupas and Sal Barbier, who both helped build the brand, were in attendance, as well as the following etnies team riders: skateboarders Arto Saari, Rune Glifberg, Ronnie Creager, Kyle Leeper, Ali Boulala, Ryan Sheckler, Bastien Salabanzi, Conhuir Lynn, Elissa Steamer and Lauren Perkins; BMXers Ruben Alcantara, Joe Rich, Nina Buitrago and Stacey Mulligan; snowboarders Alexis Waite and Leanne Pelosi, and surfer Mary Osborne.

Clockwise from top left: etnies Girls. Brooke Pederson, Laruen Perkins, Leanne Pelosi. Eddie Ree, Mary Osborne, Steffi Hager. Eddie and etnies + ThirtyTwo owner Pierre André Senizergues.

Celebrities like Jason Lee and the Bishop, Don "Magic" Juan, blessed us with their presence, as well as Stereo Skateboards' Chris Pastras and even the DVS shoes skate team stopped by! Skateboarders, family and friends from all over the world were united by skateboarding, all partying in honor of 20 years of etnies, Pierre André Senizergues and skateboarding!

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the pogo.

People hugged and danced and got drunk and got rowdy and had fun. It was hot and crowded, but no one was complaining…until the cops came and shut it all down just as the wells were running dry. But every good party, just like many good skateboard sessions, ends with a bust from the cops. We take it as a compliment. And this party, without a doubt, was one of the most insane events in the history of our industry. You’d be hard pressed to find anything that compares. Just ask anyone who was there.

And if you missed Paris for whatever reason, there’s no excuse not to be at the final etnies 20 Year Anniversary celebration in Lake Forest this October. See you there. Happy 20th, etnies!—Rob Brink