Every summer, the friendly and dynamic team of Nissa Pilo organizes Pilou initiation sessions on Friday evenings on the Promenade des Anglais (at Voilier Beach, near Gambetta).
It is a unique opportunity to meet authentic locals, proud of their culture and heritage, and passionate about sharing their perspective on their city.
Pilou was a very popular sport from Nice to Menton in the fifties to seventies. Hitchcock immortalized it in his film To Catch a Thief. In recent years, it has once again become very popular among young people. It is played in neighborhoods and in university parks.
The only essential equipment: sports shoes.
To start, a perforated coin and a piece of plastic bag make a shuttlecock, called “Pilou” (Pilo in Niçard). This is juggled with the feet, head, and body. Hands are strictly forbidden except during service. The goal is to make the pilou fall into a circle drawn on the opponent’s side of the field!
Many visitors and locals learn to make the famous little coin twirl each year. The “lessons” are under the direction of André Giordan, known as “chief strategist,” and Ninou Bernardi, “golden foot,” former world champions, surrounded by a team of skilled educators: José Maria, René Bodenès, Christian Delobette, Emmanuel Nicolaï, Jean Paul Robbi, and Elie Gallo. Participants easily gain dexterity and agility during the sessions.
