Copenhagen Open has announced that all of its planned events in Bordeaux have been canceled as devastating wildfires continue to affect southwestern France.
This unfortunate decision comes as one of the country's largest wildfires in decades continues to burn west of Bordeaux.
While the city itself has not suffered the same level of destruction as nearby communities, the ongoing emergency has affected the entire region and led organizers to cancel the scheduled skateboarding activities.
The wildfire began on July 22 near Saumos, close to the Bassin d’Arcachon in the Gironde department. Extremely hot weather, dry conditions, low humidity, and strong winds allowed the fire to spread quickly through the Landes forest before reaching farmland near Bordeaux.
By the end of July, the fire had burned more than 42,000 hectares, making it one of the largest wildfires France has experienced since World War II. More than 220,000 people have been evacuated as firefighters continue working to contain the blaze.
Le Porge, west of Bordeaux, has been one of the hardest hit areas. More than 150 homes were destroyed, leaving many families without a place to live.
Bordeaux's vineyards have so far avoided direct fire damage, but wine producers are facing another concern. Smoke drifting across the region could affect the grapes just weeks before harvest. Even if the vines remain untouched by the flames, prolonged smoke exposure can alter the flavor of the grapes, something that may not become fully apparent until the wine has been produced.
With conditions still uncertain, CPH Open decided that canceling the Bordeaux events was the right decision.
The event shared the announcement on social media:
"It is with profound sadness that we announce the cancellation of all events in Bordeaux.
Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with everyone affected by the devastating wildires ♥️♥️See you in Biarritz on the 5th of August 15:30 PM At Cité de l’Océan"
Although the Bordeaux stop will no longer happen, CPH Open confirmed that the event in Biarritz is still scheduled to go ahead on August 5 at 3:30 PM at Cité de l’Océan.
For now, the focus remains on the communities dealing with the wildfire and the emergency crews working across the region. The skateboarding event can wait, but the people affected by the disaster remain the priority.