Joolz is not only a shop owner, skater and mother, she also manages to find time to organise a summer camp. The second edition of the Burdy Squad Camp took place in France last June. Four days of camping, skating, healthy foods, surfing, sunshine and lots of fun on wheels. This edition featured Ragnaroll as coach and gathered people from France, the Netherlands, UK and Sweeden.

Let’s start at the beginning. Joolz, what’s your personal skating story? Do you remember the first time you stepped on quad skates, and what made you stick with it?

The very first time I put quad skates was during a Roller Derby Trial in January 2014… I did inline skating a lot before but never quad skating. Roller skating + team sports + punk spirit : it was love at first sight. Since then, I play roller derby with the Bordeaux Team :)

You didn’t come from the skate industry originally. What pushed you to leave your previous path and open a shop dedicated entirely to roller skating?

I'd had this idea in mind for a few years before finally taking the plunge… I was tired of ordering online, never knowing if I'd chosen the right size, if the equipment was good quality and worked properly…

Also, I wasn't happy in my job (a very male-dominated and toxic environment) and my son was about to turn one; I didn't want him to grow up with the vision of a mother unhappy at work.

My friend Sidjé, who's a roller skating instructor in Bordeaux, helped me take the leap. She needed a reliable partner to equip her students!

Running a brick and mortar skate shop today is both vital and challenging. How do you approach that balance between being a physical community space and navigating online sales?

I think the two are inseparable. Online sales allow me to reach a wider audience than just in Bordeaux, and even beyond France. While the brick and mortar skate shop allows me to have a more direct and personal connection with my customers.

Without online sales, I wouldn't be able to cover all my expenses related to the store.

Unfortunately, there's a lot of competition online, and that's where it becomes difficult to stand out. I've chosen to be almost as available to answer customer messages online as I am to run the shop. It's my personal contact and customer service that allows me to differentiate myself from the big online retailers.

Burdy skateshop has become a real reference point, especially in France. From your perspective, what makes it feel different or special?

As I said above : I believe it's my willingness to answer questions, to take the time to advise, and to explain technical issues in as much detail as possible. I offer genuine support throughout the purchasing process.

This approach stems from my previous professional experience; I was a technical sales engineer. The client has a problem or need, and I address it by selling them the product best suited to their specific situation.

I don't sell just to make money (even though that's essential ahahah).

You already had a lot going on with the shop. What sparked the idea to create the Burdy squad camp? Was there a specific moment when it clicked?

I always loved the idea of “holidays on skates”. I had this experience with roller derby few years ago as we organized roller derby camp during summer, in a camping, next to a gymnase and the beach. It was the paradise (but also quite a time investment, everyone had to participate in coaching, organization and logistics on site).

During winter 2025, I tore my ACL. I couldn’t skate for the next 9 months, so I had plenty of energy to put in a new project! This kind of camp did not exist yet in France, so I just jump on it :)

The camp goes beyond skating. There’s surfing, shared time, and a strong group energy. What’s your vision for it, and what kind of experience do you want people to leave with?

I want them to feel like they're on vacation! They have nothing to think about, just that they enjoy skating every day, enjoying the beach, take naps and eat well.

This is my vision of the perfect vacation. I created my dream camp!

The second edition just happened this June. How did it feel compared to the first one? What evolved, and what surprised you this time around?

I was able to enjoy this year's camp much more because I had my friend Nono helping me the whole time.

Last year I was alone with the organization, leading the group, the logistics... it was stressful and exhausting. I was still thrilled with the 2025 edition, but 2026 was even better!

For someone who’s never been, how would you describe a day at Burdy squad camp? What can people expect, both on and off skates?

A typical day at camp begins with a delicious vegan and protein-rich breakfast under the trees. Then, everyone heads to the skate park for the day's lesson. For lunch, we either eat at a restaurant or enjoy a picnic we've prepared the morning. The afternoon is mostly free: everyone chooses whether they want to skate more at the park, go to the beach, surf, or do yoga... until we have a tasty vegan dinner at camp. After dinner, some return to the skate park to play in the waves, while others go to sleep.

Was there a moment during the camp where you paused and thought, “this is exactly why we’re doing this”?

I had this feeling when we played in the waves all together after dinner and then enjoyed the sunset...

We were all tired from our skating day, but we all felt a kind of freedom being out in the ocean.

Some pictures of the Burdy Squad Camp, while waiting for the day 3 vlog 💕@amaxagore@louisepros.jpg

Looking ahead, where do you see the Burdy squad camp going? And for anyone reading this who’s hesitating to join next year, what would you say to them?

For now, I want to keep it as it is. I'd like to organize more, but it requires too much time on-site... I'm thinking about it.

For those who are hesitating: I would tell them that it will be the best rollerskating vacation they'll ever have. A perfect balance between quadskating with fellow enthusiasts and well-deserved rest.