Middletown, OH
Words and photos by Andrew Hutchison
Clockwise from far left: Bowled corners perfect for pumping.
Buddy Best flies out of the corner and floats one to the flat bank.
Ryan Besold grabs a frontside dive-bomber over the St Helens hip.
St Helens four-eyes view. A Fresh Tracks favorite, Jay Moody, pops
a frontside flip on the mini. You're on deck at the Rock Springs park.
Some of the best bowling in Ohio is in Middletown.
St Helens, OR
Words and photos by Michael Burnett
Where: Middletown, OH (between Dayton and Cincinnati).
What: Free concrete street course, 7 ft bowl that spines to 6 ft
bowl, and 3 ft mini-bowl.
Good: Something for everyone; the best new public park in
the Midwest.
Bad: Metal coping is set too deep, in some spots concrete is
brushed, not smooth, and ledges need metal edging.
Pads: No.
Directions: From 75, exit at Middletown. Take 122 and follow
the signs to the airport. It's next to the airport in Smith Park.
Overall: 7 out of 10.
Rock Springs, WY
Words and photos by Clinton Perry
76 THRASHER
Where: The park is located right off I-80 (Exit 107)
in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
What: A nice metal mini with good transitions and
limited street obstacles, with a pyramid, flat bar,
and launcher.
Good: Mini-ramp.
Bad: Street area minimal.
Overall: 4 out of 10 (higher if street area upgraded).
Where: Near Portland.
What: A pair of downhill bowls that dump into a street
course, capped by a Yuba-style taco.
Good: Polished surface, good hips.
Bad: Uneven coping, lumpy, kinked taco, rails of death.
Pads: Nope.
Locals: See also: Gummo.
Crash-Up Derby Factor: Watch out for BMX bandits.
Directions: Next to the St Helens baseball fields.
Overall: 5 out of 10, but check it out.