Coasting From The Streets To The Parks
Photo by Gustavo Garcia
Since my early days on a board as a shabby eleven year-old pushing down the street, rolling over the uneven concrete coasting along for hours at a time skating anywhere I could, I’ve never lost my love for the sport that stole my heart.
Up until my second year of high school I participated in every sport school had to offer; however, it was skateboarding that outlasted the rest for me and has become a growing cultural phenomenon among students at Thomas Jefferson High School. Kids get into skating at all ages and are often forced to quit for a number of reasons, one of them being the struggle to find acceptable places to skate. Luckily there are a number of skate parks in the Denver area that are built to keep the skating community thriving.
At its core, skateboarding is purely a community activity; most skaters get a group of friends they regularly skate with who become their crew, they convene and skate throughout the neighborhood with each other skating local spots and visiting skate parks. This is ironic since it is widely considered an individual sport. There is no team effort required and all of what is learned while skating depends on a skater and his or her own motivation. However, without a dedicated community that wants to advance the culture of skating, skateboarding would be dead. Living in a city that recognizes the community aspect of skating is beneficial for all aspiring skateboarders. Near and far, the city of Denver is littered with public skate parks that have a wide variety of features that should satisfy entry-level skaters and seasoned vets.
Skateboarding is considered by some people to be illegal. Everywhere a young skater travels he/she has to deal with constant adversity. The streets are filled with heckling pedestrians, angry shopkeepers, impatient neighbors and security guards who are often unfair. It’s not uncommon for skaters to receive expensive tickets from authorities for skating a marble ledge or for riding in the vicinity of some private property. Skate parks are places where groups of skaters can congregate and skate freely; they are being built every year and give the skaters what they need. “I go to skate parks to have fun skating somewhere I know I’m not going to get harassed for doing what I love,” says four-year skateboarder and TJ student Paul Lopez.
Closest to the school is the Greenwood Village skate park where a number of TJ skaters can be found pumping through the transitions of the skate park, which features a large bowl with alternating transitions, two spine transfers, a flat ground area, and a ledge that curves around the side of the park. The greenwood skate park has been around since 2000 and is a good place for beginners and skaters looking to have a mellow session with their friends. “GV is one of my favorite places to go. All the skaters there are like a second family; I feel welcome and always have fun with them,” says seasoned, sponsored TJ skater Alec Chuvarsky.
The friendly locals and light-hearted atmosphere attracts a lot of young skaters. More hardcore parks like Denver Park are gems for the Colorado skate scene. It is parks like this that are for experienced skaters who are looking for a more challenging type of fun. The Denver Skate Park, located at 2205 19th Street between Platte Street and Little Raven, has been around for many years and is one of the most widely lauded skate parks in the world. The idea behind the park was conceptualized by a group of skaters who proposed the idea to the Denver City Council and it has grown into something monumental. This park is a testament to the effort to which the City of Denver has gone to support a skateboarding culture. There is no other park in Colorado that has the atmosphere of D-Park, as locals know it. “I think we’re really lucky to have a place like this [Denver Skate park]; it’s such an amazing park and not many cities have that privilege,” said Chuvarsky.
D-Park is the site mostly visited by pro skaters on tour or for competitions, skating events, and to see some very talented local riders. Located in the middle of downtown at Little Raven Street is the massive orange skate space. The slick concrete is great for maintaining speed to pull off lines, and the obstacles are all very creative, and genuinely fun to skate. It’s one of the most well designed parks in the state and the entire nation.
Skating has come a long way, and is progressing into a league of its own. If you’re a skater and you are looking for a place to skate, don’t hesitate to visit these amazing skate parks.
