PORTLAND
a tale of two skaitepans
Roving rasta rollerblader Chuck Walters drove to Portland, Oregon,
the waters at City and the town's two
parks. Says Chuck, "Our travel agenda was simple: Burnside in the
morning, then City Skates, back to Burnside for a brew and a smoke
and then wind up at City Skates until it closed. Portland is worth a stop
on any skater's roadtrip list, so pack up and get moving."
BURNSIDE PROJECT
Boss: Red, a gnarly skater
Terrain: Cement contours of many
shapes and sizes are constantly
poured and formed by the local
skaters. It features three bowls with
grindable edges, lots of pushing
room and is covered from the ele
ments by Burnside Bridge.
Hours: All of them.
Clientele: Burlers, vagrants,
gnarlers, victims, zombies and
wastoids
Rules: None
Recommended set-up: Ben
Schroeder Black Label, Indy 169s
and Spitfire 2
Locals: Germ, Osage, Carl, Gavin,
Long Plank Hank and Travis.
Cost: Free
Entertainment Value: "Gnar
patrol"
Dress Code: Bens, chukkas and
long sleeves.
CITY SKATES
Boss: Howard Wiener, old time wheel gyrator
Terrain: Designed by Kevin Harris, this Mason-
ite park sits in a shallow building with poles
peppered throughout the riding area. There
are many lines, but it feels as if you are stifled
by the dogleg-shaped mini-complex with vary
ing walls and coping size. It also features a
vert ramp that is more like a mini-maxi and it's
easy to kong your cranium on the roof.
Hours: After school and weekends
Clientele: Rippers, freakers, jocks, slash dogs
and pretty boys.
Rules: Too many
Recommended Set-up: Plan B Way, Ventures
and 42 Terminators.
Locals: Matt Beach, Chris Fissel and the crew.
Cost: $2.50 a session
Entertainment Value: "Parental Support."
Dress Code: Fuct pants, Adidas and short
sleeves.
Watch outs: The poles, not having your clip
on membership showing
Watch Outse Used rubbers and the Accommodations: Holiday Inn
dreaded wheelbite.
Common Phrase: "Cash or charge?"
Overall Rating: ✶✶✶
Accommodations: Crust Palace
Common Phrase: "It's a go."
Overall Rating ****
Clockwise from top: The boys get busy shaping and forming a
truckful of fun. Home-grown local Matt Beach shifties on the large
section of the dogleg at City Skates. Photo by Chris Brunkhart.
Among the poles and low ceiling, Chad Vogt transfers over an
eight-foot death tranny into the safety of a bigger tranny on the
other side. Photo by Max Schoof. After grinding the five-foot vert
wall, Redman has more than enough speed to fly out of the
square bowl and down onto the apron. Note corner brickwork.
Photo by Max Schoof. Red says, "Come on up." Photo by Phelps.
Resident ripper and all-around cool customer Osage Buffalo pow-
ers into the vert wall. Photo by Brian Brannon.
PAR