🛹 Puzzle Video: The European Skateboarding Videomagazine That Shaped a Generation

In the late 1990s, when skateboarding culture in Europe was still finding its voice, a new force emerged that would help define it: Puzzle Video. Not a traditional skateboard company in the sense of manufacturing decks or gear, Puzzle Video was a videomagazine—a curated series of skateboarding videos that captured the pulse of the European skate scene and gave it a platform to thrive.

🎬 Origins: Where It All Began

Puzzle Video was founded in France in 1997 by Fred Mortagne, better known as French Fred. Mortagne was already respected in the skate world for his cinematic approach to filming, and Puzzle Video became his canvas for showcasing European talent and skate culture.

The first issue featured skaters like Luy-Pa Sin, Vincent Bressol, Marc Haziza, and Stephane Larance, and included coverage of events in cities like Montpellier and Paris. From the very beginning, Puzzle Video was more than just tricks—it was storytelling, atmosphere, and a celebration of skateboarding as an art form.

🌍 What Made Puzzle Video Special

Puzzle Video stood out for several reasons:

• Pan-European Focus: It wasn’t just about France. Puzzle covered scenes in Germany, Belgium, England, Austria, Czech Republic, and beyond.

• Event Coverage: They documented legendary contests like Radlands in Northampton, Monster Mastership in Dortmund, and Mystic Cup in Prague.

• Cinematic Style: Fred Mortagne’s filming and editing brought a polished, almost poetic quality to the footage.

• Regular Releases: With over 40 issues spanning more than a decade, Puzzle Video became a staple in European skateboarding media.

🧩 Sponsored Skaters and Collaborators

While Puzzle Video wasn’t a sponsor in the traditional sense, it featured and elevated countless skaters who went on to become legends. Appearing in Puzzle was a badge of honor, and many skaters gained international recognition through it.

Some of the notable names who appeared in Puzzle issues include:

• Bastien Salabanzi

• JB Gillet

• Florentin Marfaing ("Flo")

• Rodney Clarke

• Pontus Alv

• Chris Oliver

• Ivan Rivado

• Denny Pham

• Alex Mizurov

• Tony Hawk, Mike Vallely, and Bob Burnquist even made appearances at events covered by Puzzle.

📼 Legacy and What They're Doing Now

Puzzle Video’s last known issues were released around 2009, and while the videomagazine itself is no longer active in the same format, its legacy lives on:

• YouTube Archive: The channel puzzlesk8tv hosts dozens of Puzzle issues, preserving the footage for new generations to discover.

• Influence on Filmmaking: Fred Mortagne went on to work with major brands and continued to push the boundaries of skate cinematography.

• Cultural Impact: Puzzle Video helped unify the European skate scene, giving visibility to local talent and proving that Europe had its own flavor of skateboarding worth celebrating.

17 PUZZLE SKATE VIDEO ISSUE 17 PART 02

09 PUZZLE SKATE VIDEO ISSUE 09 PART 01

Puzzle Video Magazine Issue #25 "Winter 2005 Issue"