ALABAMA
Whenever Alabama is mentioned,
people usually think of tobacco-chewing
rednecks, honky-tonk bars, and the Kul
Klux Klan. Underneath all the hype and
stereotypes associated with the South,
there is a civilized skate scene thriving in
Alabama.
The first signs of energy were evident in
the sixties, when Alabama skate pioneer,
Jon Woodridge (who later formed the
Pipe Dreams Team in the 70's), cruised
the streets of Birmingham on his clay-
wheeled Hobie.
Huntsville, Mobile, Gadsden, Florence
and Birmingham make up the five major
skate communities in Alabama with
Tuscaloosa and Montgomery still showing
signs of dedicated skate activity.
Huntsville (in the North-Central part of
the state) is the location of Get-A-Way
Skatepark. Bill Underwood's design
efforts, Bob Mead's quality control and
Duane Bigelow's (Apple, Cherry Hill and
the Upland combi-pool are among his
credits) concrete work has made Get-A-
Way the hottest park in this area.
Since H'ville locals spend most of their
skating time at the park, ramp and ditch
sessions have almost diminished. The
Get-A-Way has fostered some of
Alabama's best vert skaters. Buddy Rawls
(SIMS), Paul Gierow and Kurt Jose are
just a few whose skate talent has excelled
since the park opened its doors in '79.
Down on the Gulf, Skatewave
Skatepark in Mobile, is closed due to poor
design. For Dana Buck, Todd Smith, Greg
Bloodswoth and the rest of the locals, it's
back to the ramps. Along with winter surf
sessions, there's still energy to be tapped
in Mobile.
Located in the East-Central part of the
state, Gadsden's main skating attraction
is Flying Wheels Skatepark. At present it
is closed due to insurance and vandalism
problems.
Built on the banks of the Coosa River,
the park features Duane Bigelow's
concrete work and what locals hail as one
of the best half-pipes in existence.
Designed by Mike Williams and owner
Dave Norton in the back of a van in San
Diego, Flying Wheels came to exist in '78.
Alabama was put back on the map when
Di Dootson directed a major contest there
in the fall of "78.
Author Patrick Wachter floats through an innovative footplant
cesslide in Get-A-Ways' 13 foot pool. Sequence by Tom Ledbetter.
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