An evening at the skateboard park is what summer is all about.
With a resurgence in all things vert and street, skateboard parks are buzzing with guys and girls drunk on the sport. And right there to greet them are a generation of old-schoolers and savvy sponsors, willing to promote and cross-promote, excited at the prospects of skating's growth.
Skatepark of Tampa is no exception. In fact, they are the rule. The park has a full evening of free entertainment lined up Aug. 10, the kind of evening that helmets and release forms (forget summer) are all about.
Things get started at 5:30 p.m. with a Planet Earth skateboarding demo, featuring Ed Selego, Forrest Fore Kirby, Kenny Anderson, Steve Brandi and more. At 8:30, there's a premiere of F.O.R.E. and Friends, a video produced by Rhythm skateboards, starring Fore and a slew of his skating partners. And at 9, Thistle and Scallywagon (Cincinnati indie bands) and Drivethroughwinter (from Brandon) play as skaters session the bowl to the bands' punk soundtrack.
Skatepark of Tampa hosts similar events all year long, offering skaters a number of reasons to come in from the sidewalks and parking lots, beyond the main reason, the street course and vert ramp in a safe, hassle-free environ.
The park includes a pro shop and offers lessons Saturday mornings from 9 to 10 a.m. The lessons cost $20 (including safety gear and the 10 a.m.-5 p.m. skate session) and cover everything from basics, such as the functions of a skateboard's parts and pushing on flat ground to more advanced maneuvers like ollies, dropping in on bank ramps and kick turns.
Skatepark of Tampa is at 4215 E. Columbus Drive, Tampa (813-621-6793). www.skateparkoftampa.com.
—Cooper Cruz
This article appears in Aug 9-15, 2001.