In 2015, Paul Rodriguez gave Bastien Salabanzi’s professional career new life through welcoming him to the Primitive team. Not long after, Salabanzi tore his ACL, which was followed by surgery and a year of physical therapy. He began skating again in 2017, but apparently has not been satisfied with his performance since his recovery. Five years and three weeks since joining the Primitive team, Salabanzi is walking away on his own accord. He made the announcement via Instagram last night:
I wanna thank Primitive for all of those years, and beautiful memories together. I will miss my squad, friends, and family. I’ve been skating for 26 years; and I can tell when I ain’t doing what I’m suppose to. And that’s why I decided with a smile and plenty of serenity to quit Primitive to do me. I wanna skate the way it feels right to my heart and soul.
Primitive has not issued a statement on Salabanzi’s departure as of yet. You can view his farewell post below.
UPDATE 01.26.20: Primitive released the below statement yesterday evening regarding Salbanzi’s departure.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7vIJwsAyJM/?hl=en