Sep 29, 20222 min read

The Ox Trip - a Mission to Marseille in Memory of Bruce Kelliher

Skateboarding, the ultimate adventure…who are we to have been chosen for this trip through life - I don’t know a fuck but I found myself surrounded by friends and heroes drinking grand creme coffees and supping Perrier by the tin by the worlds skatepark, in the south of France. It was a tour of respect and remembrance, Bruce’s son Ruben sat with us where his dad once did.

Marseilles Prado is over 3 decades old, yet still offers an incredible experience, it’s as simple or as complex as the rider wishes. Get planning, hit the trail, you’ll regret ‘de rein’. The beach just a 50 metre dander and pish-stop away ffs, the hotel 5 minutes down Le boulevard.

Each morning we swam in the salty balm of the Mediterranean, each evening we sweated ‘neath the sunset light on the transitions. 21 volunteers strong, each with gifts to bring to the table, with tales of how Bruce Kelliher affected us, memories of kindness, courage and madness. I’ve known skateboarding as an escape, source of kin, exercise, a means to visit the planet, a reason for living and getting rad, but never really a way to mourn or heal. I know the feeling now, I’m thankful my oul carcass is fit enough to take me on a final skate trip, to drop in, ollie up a curb, to see me safely through these days of pain.

Life is a gift, health a bonus, we were the lucky ones and we all knew it. Julien Dykmanns led us to new horizons, cliff jumps along the rugged coastline into tropical blue waters, street spots and coffee stops - I haven’t seen that fella in 15 years, still the legend, the cool big brother we all wish we had. The final evening the skies came alive with an almighty lightening storm, a relentless light show from the heavens, we all felt Bruce’s presence rain down, electric and alive, inspiring us to go live life, to carry on, to inspire the youngsters and elevate the poor in spirit.

Craic reigned on the grandstand at the park on those three days, we carved and slammed into the night…the youth, the senior, side by side, 30 years between eldest and junior. All friends together, all but one, there was an Ox-sided gap in the crew and we all felt it…damn I wish my brother Bruce was here…

- Jay Dords