Duck dance, footbreaker and paquito: the best images of the triple challenge taken up in Rieutort-de-Randon

Le paquito s’est déployé sur une trentaine de mètres. Midi Libre – Corentin Migoule

La batucada a fait du bruit pendant le corso fleuri. Midi Libre – Corentin Migoule

Une danse des canards intergénérationnelle sur la place du village. Midi Libre – Corentin Migoule

Les échassiers jongleurs de la compagnie les Enjoliveurs ont fait le spectacle. Midi Libre – Corentin Migoule

Un char olympique a défilé lors du corso. Midi Libre – Corentin Migoule

Red, yellow or pink, the hat is a must in Rieutort. Midi Libre – Corentin Migoule

The majorettes offered a private show to the residents of the Ehpad la Randonneraie. Midi Libre – Corentin Migoule

Beaucoup de monde sur la place pour le brise pied. Midi Libre – Corentin Migoule

Sébastien Coulomb, organisateur et animateur du triple défi. Midi Libre – Corentin Migoule

Under the leadership of Sébastien Coulomb, impeccable in the role of host, a triple challenge was taken up this Thursday, August 15, 2024 on the occasion of the votive festival, in Rieutort-de-Randon. Nearly 2,000 people participated in this triptych composed of the duck dance, the brise pied and the paquito.

“If all goes well, we'll go to Lake Charpal!”This ironic phrase about the expected length of the paquito reflected Sébastien Coulomb's ambition of the day. Because it has become a tradition in Rieutort-de-Randon! Since 2022, the latter, president of the Traileurs du Randon association, has been challenging the local population, which is joined by many tourists on the occasion of the votive festival organized by Rieutort Animations.

Two years ago, this small town of 800 souls had won the record for the largest number of participants in the duck dance. Last year, the challenge was coupled with that of the longest caterpillar. 3,016 people took part, quite an achievement! The daring organizers added the very festive paquito, while the brise pied replaced the caterpillar. “We did one challenge the first year, two last year, we had to do three this year”, Sébastien Coulomb simply justifies.

This Thursday, August 15, 2024, as the square filled up in the middle of the afternoon, the latter was reassured, especially since the sun was waging a hell of a battle to make a place for itself among the threatening clouds. At 5 p.m., while the flower parade had just paraded through the streets of the village, more than 1,500 hats – witnesses of a symbolic participation in the upcoming challenge – had been sold.

“We're here to have fun”

Microphone in hand, in his role as a dynamic host with a machine-gun delivery, the president of the Traileurs du Randon asked the DJ to start the hostilities. First, the duck dance as a warm-up. Then the highly anticipated brise pied, this folk dance from Auvergne that brought out the crowds, since people from Hérault, Gard, Ardèche, Normandy, Brittany and many others took part in this festival “free and popular”.

“If it's not perfect, it doesn't matter, we're here to have fun”, reminded Sébastien Coulomb, putting those who were afraid of not knowing the steps at ease. A paquito was then deployed a little further down, in front of the Magne café. Although the latter caused some comical scenes and amused the gallery, the Lozère record was not beaten, the duration of the installation having exceeded that stated in “the specifications”.