Getting Involved in your Community

 by Cameron Manthe

Visiting your local skate park can open up many opportunities for making friends and interacting with others in your community. There are often times events that take place as well. A great way to be informed of these events is to be a regular visitor and by talking. Word gets around quick as most people are eag

Skater at Competition
Photo by Jorge Gonzales

er to be involved.

Many of these events manifest as competitions. These have been going on for a long time and were a big deal at the beginning of the sport. You can show off your skills in front of others and maybe even win some prizes if you do well enough. Having fun and spending a day at the skate park with your friends is ultimately the end goal. 

Skate Park Art
Photo by Alexandre Lallemand

Another example could be an art day as described in a previous post about Rip On Skate Park. Painting your park or maybe even t shirt printing can go along with the competitions. Or a clean up and maintenance day can be beneficial. These can help promote merging of communities and open you up to meeting tons of new people. 

If you want to get out and get involved then a skate park is a wonderful place to start. Many parks I have been to have been friendly experiences and I have met lifelong friends through it. So go out and take part in these to support your community and local park.

Sources:

ArtsConnect Topeka

https://artstopeka.org/mural/ripon

StoreYourBoard - The World of Skateboarding Competitions

https://storeyourboard.com/blogs/legacy-articles/the-world-of-skateboard-competitions

Photo by Jorge Gonzales

https://unsplash.com/photos/people-watching-beside-man-doing-skateboard-trick-DrJUPcrWEgQ

Photo by Alexandre Lallemand

https://unsplash.com/photos/a-group-of-skateboard-ramps-covered-in-graffiti-HxWZnqf42Iw

Understanding pumping

 By Cameron Manthe

You may have seen me mention "pumping" a time or two here on these posts and I felt like it was something I should cover for beginners. It is a skate park essential for gaining speed and can be used anywhere with a ramp. Learning this will keep you from having to push around the park all the time.

Skateboarder Bending Knees
Photo by Jim De Ramos

Pumping is the act of using momentum and the transfer of weight to gain and maintain speed on ramps. When you are going up a ramp you want to bend your knees to absorb the transition as you approach into it. This makes you lighter on your board as you ascend. When going down a ramp you want to do the opposite and extend your legs. This pushes your board and momentum down speeding you up and helping you make it up the next side.

Skateboarder in Bowl
Photo by Cameron Manthe

This lesson in physics is best understood in person as it is something that you will have to get a feeling for. The process becomes somewhat rhythmic and an after thought after a while. I would recommend learning this in on a mini ramp or by going back and forth in a bowl. For an in depth explanation check out Never Stop Improving on YouTube. No matter the size or type of ramp it works on all of them, even banks, although the timing may be a little different.

Sources:

Pumping on Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pump_(skateboarding)

Never Stop Improving on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AJKN3QTfoE

Photo by Jim De Ramos

https://unsplash.com/photos/man-playing-skateboard-uuatHnj0mRM

Photo by Cameron Manthe

Guiding You Through Mouse Trap Skate Park

by Cameron Manthe

Mouse Trap Skate Park is Topeka's oldest skate park offered and is situated in the Oakland neighborhood. This park has a variety of obstacles offered in many sizes. This park can be enjoyed by most skill levels but can be quite busy at times. Many of the locals would agree it is one of the best parks in the city. If you are unfamiliar with skate park terminology then Stoked Ride Shop has a great article detailing names of obstacles and even illustrations. Let's check out what this park has to offer.

Quarter Pipes at Mouse Trap Skate Park
Photo by Cameron Manthe

This park features an open bowl section which flows around creating a round quarter pipe hip. It is around four to five feet tall in height and is decently mellow. There are also three quarter pipes in different sizes along one side of the park. This is the extent of transition at this skate park.

This park features several banks scattered throughout its layout. Most notably are two banks with a small gap between them. There is a ledge situated on top so you can choose to grind or jump over the gap. Other notable banks include the set of bank spine things in the corner of the park. These are great to learn how to pump to maintain speed. The banks here flow nicely on a skateboard and are less harsh feeling than Rip-Ons banks. They are also not as steep.

There are two major hips located in the very center of the park. The larger of the two is a very popular obstacle and is one of the more used pieces here. It has a ledge on top but it is rarely used in everyday skating. The hip is fairly mellow and fun to blast tricks over. The main hip has a smaller replica on the back without the ledge. 

Grind Box at Mouse Trap Skate Park
Photo by Cameron Manthe

There are multiple ledges situated around the park. The main ledge is a rather short grind ledge that also doubles as a manual pad. It is the main grind box at the park and also features a larger box jutting out from it. There is a long curved ledge above the bowl but it is mainly used for sitting. There are also the previously mentioned ledges on top of the hip and over the bank gap. 

There is one lonely grind rail here and features two different heights on either end with a sloped section in the middle. It is a wide flat bar and the low end is great for beginners who want a taste of skating a rail. It is located in a large flat area that is also great for flat ground. Just be aware that this can be a high traffic area if the park is busy. 

Mouse Trap is a great skate park for skaters of all skill levels to practice or get a session in. With many of the obstacles being offered in different sizes you can work your way up right there as you progress. Come visit and see why this is the preferred skate park of many skaters in Topeka.

Sources:

Shawnee County Parks and Rec

https://parks.snco.us/Facilities/Facility/Details/Mouse-Trap-Skate-Park-140

Stoked Ride Shop

https://stokedrideshop.com/blogs/fun/the-ultimate-guide-to-skate-park-ramps

Photos by Cameron Manthe

Chesney Skate Park in Rough Shape

 by Cameron Manthe

Holes in Park
Photo by Cameron Manthe

While Chesney Skate Park is a great place to skate, it definitely shows its age. Like many skate parks  it will require some maintenance over time. The most common damage comes from skateboards and exposure to the elements. 

The concrete foundation that Chesney sits on is starting to crack and chip away. There is a significant portion missing from in front of one of the ramps. This leaves it practically unusable and can be dangerous for skaters not paying attention. Another area of concern is the grind box and the holes in the ground making this box less less than ideal to skate.

Broken Concrete in
Front of Ramp
Photo by Cameron Manthe

The ramps are showing common signs of wear. Many of these marks appear small dents  and scratches and do not affect the function of the ramp. The grind box has become detached from the side of the middle structure, leaving warped metal paneling exposed. This is something I feel is minor compared to the actual riding surface falling apart. Chesney skate park also had a flat rail stolen right out of the ground and has never received a new one.

Having these issues can make for the park to have poor regular attendance. They will end up just going to a better skate park across town. This leads to bad experiences and a mostly forgotten park. I think a nice revival of the space would be to have it be a D.I.Y. skate park like Edgewood park in Lawrence built by the skaters. It would generate a new excitement for the park itself and the skating community in Topeka as a whole.

Sources:

Shawnee County Parks and Rec

https://parks.snco.us/facilities/facility/details/chesneyskatepark-142

Edgewood D.I.Y. Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/edgewood_diy/?hl=en

Photos by Cameron Manthe

Learning Skate Park Etiquette

by Cameron Manthe

When you visit a skate park you are introduced to customs that form the backbone of how the park operates.  This is commonly referred to as "park etiquette." Understanding these unwritten rules will generate a friendlier atmosphere. Let's go over some key aspects that apply to almost all skate parks.

Skater
Photo by Cameron Manthe

Be sure to choose appropriate places to sit and rest, or even put your stuff down, so you won't be in anyones way. Sitting on an obstacle can keep others from enjoying it. Observing where more experienced skaters go to sit is a good indicator of where you can rest. Paying attention to typical lines, or paths, skaters follow will help keep you safe from collisions.

Since skate parks can be a busy setting, being aware of when it is your turn can help you avoid running into another skater. Try to avoid cutting off others, also referred to as snaking. Interacting with others around you will help you get a sense for when you can go. Do your best to be aware of your surroundings.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors

Limiting your run is another courtesy to others at the park. Doing this allows everyone a chance to use the park as they wish. Generally the rule is once you bail on a trick or fall your run is over.

Nobody likes a skate park full of trash. Be respectful of the park and use one of the designated trash cans around the park or take it with you. Trash in the park can pose a threat to people using the park if they accidentally run it over. Remember this is a public place that other people use so by treating it well it improves the experience for everyone.

These are just a few of the basic rules you will initially encounter. All skate parks are different depending on the locals. This can all be intimidating your first few visits but don't be afraid to get a feel for it and jump right in. Participating plays a huge role in learning here. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, they happen all the time. If you want a more in depth view of this topic Surfer Today and Red Bull have some excellent guides. These are all quick and easy to learn so don't sweat it and go enjoy your local park.

Sources:

Surfer Today

https://www.surfertoday.com/skateboarding/the-ultimate-guide-to-skatepark-etiquette

Red Bull

https://www.redbull.com/us-en/skatepark-etiquette-guide

OpenClipart-Vectors on Pixabay

https://pixabay.com/vectors/garbage-litter-littering-sign-1292874/

Other Photo by Cameron Manthe