L.A.
SKATEPARK
PARADISE
Marina local Christan Hos pops an ar fake in the keybole
10
A typical Marina crowd.
On his way to winning the Gold Cup Series Edde Bquera captured 1st place at Marina Gold Cup #3
Marina overview showing the smal brown bows and the exotic Turning Point Ramp.
VANS
THE WALL
A thrashing nose grabbing grind-Bob Serafin Maryl
Manna's banked slalom area is the site of heavy speed sessions
The LA area has been the
forefront of skatepark design
development and intra park
competition (ASPO). At one time
parks numbered into the twenties
Most were either first generation
snake run type, or unfortunately.
those constructed by fast-b
-buck
entrepreneurs who knew nothing
about skateboarding and thus
failed once the skaters recognized
thom for what they were-frauds
Slowly parks began to appear
that were designed either by
skateboarders or in conjunction
with skateboarders and thus what
is known as second generation
parks came on the scene. These
new facilities payed careful aften-
tion to the needs of skaters, not
only providing good quality terrain
also by incorporating fully
but
stocked Pro-shops and responsible
staffers s who were helpful in the
day-to-day running of the park
Parks also began to get involved
In competitions either by organiz
ing their own events for example
The Marina Gyro-Dog Bowl, or by
becoming involved in the original
Henry Hoster Pro Bowl Series and
for
the Association of Skatepark Own-
In some instances parks went a
ers
step further and developed com-
petitions based on the terrain that
was available at the
complex thu
not only pools were utilized for
competition, but the entire pork as
well This trend gave birth to banked
slalom and banked freestyle. The
availability of flat skating areas
allowed the paris to be also used
for freestyle, thus they became the
centers of all skate activity.
This is the historical background
of the LA scene, and it has not
evolved easily by any means. The
skatepark owners of this area have
taken their slaps, hassles and
problems, but they're work and
conviction has allowed skating to
prosper and grow. The lessons
leamed by these pioneers could
well be used by any present skate-
park owner or would-be owner or
investor. The LA area is happening!
An infusion of new skate talent is
on the rise and skaters are stoked
I decided that to really show the
parks in LA I would have to divide
the story in two segments. The first
part will cover Marina Del Rey
Skatepark, Whittier's Skate City and
Big O in Orange. The next issue will
feature The Ranch at Colton
Pipeline in Upland Lakewood
Center Skatepark, Pomona Pipe
and Pool and Skatercross Reseda
MARINA DEL REY SKATEPARK
Marina is really an intense spot.
The park is beautifully designed
and includes the Dog Bowl and
everybody's favorite, the keyhole.
On any given day two or three top
Pros and many amateurs may be
seen at the park, either practicing
their routines or just shredding. The
keyhole without a doubt gets the
heavy skate action,
majority of the heavy
since it's practically port
perfect so that
tricks may be e
may be easily wired. The Do
Dog
thej
Bowlepas original showcase
does not really
deserves, poe the attention it
& possibly because it is
slightly more difficult to skate than
the keyhole [lately, though, I've
been told that attention has refo-
cused on the Dog Bowl and skaters
have again taken to ripping.
Hopefully some day someone will
throw a contest in the Dog Bowl, its
intricate shape making it perfect
for heavy lines and modern ma-
vers The Gyro Marina Pro Bowl
neuvers.
was certainly one of the more
entertaining contests to
date.
Marina also has a series of
shallow bowls known as the brown
bowls" or "clay bowls, the birth-
place of many new tricks. These
bowls are certainly among the
favorite spots of the younger
skaters (also an excellent begin-
ners area). A reservoir is also fea-
tured and is widely used by all
The final crowning touch of
Marina is its excellent banked
slalom area. Denis Ogden has
hosted two Pro banked slalom
contests with all participants com
ing away with the same impressi-
area
best banked slalomi
in existence today" During the
past year Marina has also been
lucky enough to have temporary
custody of the fabulous Turning
Point Ramp, an exotic plexiglass
capsule that is one more
feature of Marina's varied terrain.