Re:Turn Berlin 2025

Hello Hello. Stephen @Whataspoon here. Last May I attended the Re:Turn Berlin Wizard skating event which took place on the Tempelhof Airfield in the heart of Berlin. Re:Turn Berlin started last year as the first Wizard skating event ever (as far as I'm aware). Let's look into what this event is all about.

Wizard skating is a creative, flow-focused style of inline skating that blends elements of urban movement, freestyle slalom, and dance-like footwork. The term was popularized by Leon Basin, a former aggressive skater and the founder of Wizard Frames, who sought to reimagine what was possible on wheels beyond traditional street or vert skating. In the early 2010s, Leon began developing a frame system that allowed for rockered setups (a curved wheel alignment that mimics the feel of ice skating) giving skaters the ability to carve, spin, and flow through space with precision and control. The result was a new form of skating that emphasized fluidity, balance, and creativity, often resembling a mix of skiing, tai chi, and contemporary dance. Wizard skating quickly gained a dedicated following among those looking for more expressive, body-driven movement on skates, particularly in urban environments. Today, it's recognized as a distinct discipline within inline skating culture, supported by a growing community, dedicated frame brands, and events like Re:Turn Berlin, which celebrate the artistry and innovation that wizard skating brings to the world of wheeled sports.

In 2024, a passionate group of wizard skating enthusiasts came together to host the very first event dedicated entirely to this unique style of inline skating. The plan was simple but brilliant: invite skaters from around the world to gather at a spacious airfield in Berlin, known for its wide, smooth concrete which is perfect terrain for wizard skating. The event was completely free to attend, with the organizers kindly asking participants to register online and consider making a donation to help support the logistics.

Workshops were held throughout the weekend, featuring some of the world’s top wizard skaters sharing their knowledge, movement techniques, and creativity with an eager community of learners. One highlight of the event was a game of FLAT, a playful challenge where one skater performs a trick, and the others must land the exact same move. If you fail, you get a sticker on your shirt, and after three stickers, you’re out.

I remember watching countless videos from the 2024 gathering, it looked like such an inspiring and joyful experience. From the atmosphere to the skating, it was clear this event had something special. I knew then that I had to make it to the next one.

I arrived in Berlin early Thursday morning, ready to make the most of the full four-day Re:Turn experience. With some time before the skating kicked off, I met up with a few skate friends and enjoyed some incredible German food before heading out for the evening session.

The first official meet-up was a casual “Welcome to Re:Turn” skate held in a random park near the city center. It was the perfect start, everyone gathered to chat, pick up wristbands, and start skating together. These kinds of sessions are special: there’s a real sense of trust and community. You can leave your bag on the sidelines with everyone chatting while you flow around on smooth concrete with your new wizard friends. Lots of clips were filmed, conversations sparked, and stoke levels set the tone for the weekend. Once it got dark, we all migrated to a rooftop bar nearby that felt like it was reserved just for us. I don’t drink myself, but it was still great to see everyone relaxing with a big German beer after their first session.

Friday:
We had an early start at Tempelhof Field where the first full day of workshops began. A huge area was marked out with cones featuring two dedicated workshop zones and a general skating area in between. This worked perfectly: if you weren’t participating in a workshop, you could still skate freely and connect with others.

The workshops were led by some seriously talented wizard skaters including Nicola Torelli, Rui Vieira, Billy Arlew, Odette Lehman, and many more. These pros shared insights into their skating styles and offered tips to help others explore their own movement. Our very own team rider Jaro Hajdik hosted a workshop on how to parallel slide which was very popular. A useful skill for a wizard skater to learn.

Meanwhile, event sponsors were offering FREE frame testing, a rare treat. For example, Endless Blading had their frames available for skaters to try out on their own boots. It’s not often you get to test expensive gear before buying, so this was a huge bonus and added real value to the event.

Friday also marked the start of the Game of FLAT. Skaters who wanted to compete were divided into heats and semi-final groups. The sun was blazing all day on the old runway, and after hours of skating and spectating, we retreated into the city for food and a much-needed cold drink.

Saturday:
We headed back to the airfield for more workshops and the start of an exciting new challenge called Alleyblade. Inspired by alleycat races from the cycling world, this event had a twist: skaters were given a city map with marked spots and had to visit them in teams, filming a trick at each location. We later regrouped at an indoor skatepark in the late afternoon. If you want to check out the video our team made during Alleyblade, you can see it here:

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The skatepark was in a really cool part of Berlin that looked like an old industrial zone now transformed into a creative hub of nightclubs and event spaces. The park itself had indoor and outdoor areas, a bar, toilets, and even an outdoor cinema with deckchairs, an ideal spot for the next part of the event.

That evening, the organizers thanked everyone for coming. Sponsors had stalls set up inside, and we were treated to a movie night featuring some epic wizard skating premieres. Highlights included footage from skaters who were at the event and a brand-new video from Wizard Skating, filmed by Mike Torres, who was also there in person. The day wrapped up with a party at the skatepark before I called it a night to rest up for the final day.

Sunday:
We returned to the airfield one last time for a few more workshops and the finals of the Game of FLAT. The top skaters battled it out in a showdown that came down to last year’s winner, Nicola Torelli, and Janis Katkovskis. After an intense match, Janis came out on top, earning the title of Game of FLAT champion and walking away with some awesome prizes donated by the event sponsors.

If you'd like to see the whole event through my eyes then check out this youtube video that I made below: