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Ok... so we got a hint about a hardcore skate/bbq show that was going to take place. We load the car up and head on out. Driving past where the show was being held.. and .. ummm.. well it didn't look like much was going on. Soo......the plan changed to checking out a city sponsored park that was in the area.
With very little problem, we drive right to the place. Pulling up to the park and guess what we find? what amounts to a giant playpen made out of chain with a bunch of "toy" ramps and obstacles. The "obstacles" being a few little kids running around on those damn push scooter things.
Ok.. so this isn't the home of hardcore skating. I kinda knew that after being there for about 5 seconds. I still decide to give it a go. I grab my trusty old que, a '87 Dogtown "Red Dog" model with Indy 169mm and Powell/Peralta Ratbone wheels, and head on into the cage. There were 2 BMXers and about 10-15 kids flying around in all different directions. The "ramps" were of the portable variety and were made of steel and wood. When you hit the ramp, the ramp gave off these weird noises as you rolled over this steel plate then the wood. Also everything felt and sounded hollow. I mean .. you never had a sense of a good "solid" ride. Oh.. and there wasn't anything taller than 5'.
Oh well.. I guess most people would say "Hey Wes.. you should be GLAD that the city has built this free skatepark for the kids!". I guess I just dont see it that way. What I seen was a bunch of generic kids.. just going through the motions. I didn't see one "skater" out of the bunch. These kids weren't ever TRYING to be radical!. In fact, it was sad when I relized that not one kid could even complete a simple kickturn. These kids would simple fly up the tranny and just kinda land/crash on the deck. *yawn*
Generic parents in generic minivans sitting in the parking lot watching their generic kids NOT skate. It was all very sad. "Stepford" comes to mind...
Would I go back to this place? FUCK NO!
Would I recommend this place to anyone? FUCK NO!
Problem is... this isn't a unique situation. This type of "skatepark" is showing up all around the country. Its actually become very common for small communities to offer this as an option. This is NOT a skate park. Its just another version of a babysitter.
For hardcore skating to survive, somebody SOMEWHERE needs to clean out a ditch, empty a swimming pool or build a backyard ramp. Just like in my day, today's skaters need to get out and take control of THEIR skating situation. DO NOT rely on the city government to provide you with a place to skate. You MUST go out and find/dig/search/ whatever it takes to get yourself a "proper" place to session. Either way... rolling around in a city sponsored "playpen" just isn't going to cut it. ---Wes
