Spott Dreams of Skate Parks

Sunday, 10 August 2025

Earl Bales Skatepark

4169 Bathurst St

EB is now under construction by Melfler Construction LTD (I'm digging to find out if they subcontracted it to a skatepark specialist). Melfler's been attached to Milton Community Skatepark & the Mount Albert Skatepark. I dropped by the site and saw the ground work underway. I'm posting now to see which skatepark is completed and open first, EB or HALP in Queensville by CRC.

It should be open and vandalized before winter.

The King of the Road Curse

This article deals with death.

I'm not supersticious. I don't believe there's an actual connection between Thrasher Magazine's King of the Road Series and the untimely loss of several skaters and guests that appeared in the show. When I see posts about KOTR, there's often RIP's to some of the more well known participants and hosts like Ben Raemers and Jake Phelps. I believe this is a complete list of those we've lost. I'm not going to get into the deep details of their passing but I'll link the Wiki/info when appropriate.

but first...

Thrasher's King of the Road is the brain child of now Editor in Chief Michael Burnett. It ran for 14 runs between 2003 and 2017 with some rumours of it returning in 2026. Zero and Birdhouse Skateboard companies are both 3 time winners. KOTR is described as a cross country skateboarding scavenger hunt road trip filled with surprises, cool cities and guest skaters. The winners get the cover of the mag.

Here, let's have Phelps explain it from the into to the 2010 KOTR

In 2014, KOTR dropped to 3 teams and production value increased in what I theorize was a pilot for the eventual Viceland run of 3 seasons.

Unfortunately, as with anything that runs as long and involves so many people, we've lost some wonderful humans.

Jake Phelps - Jake's death in 2019 shocked the skateboarding world. Jake was a larger than life character, a walking encyclopedia of skateboarding. He was a presence on KOTR, hanging with teams and hosting meetups. Jake was was always willing to take a slam or tell someone to 'get up there and try it again'.

Ben Raemers - Ben's death by suicide in 2019 was a shock to everyone. The happy Brit from Enjoi was on the second Viceland season where they came in first place.

Preston 'P-Stone' Maigetter - The Thrasher videographer who was on many KOTR's was killed in a motor vehicle collision in 2017. He was honored in the 2017 Season of KOTR by the REAL skateboards team at Lower Bobs DIY Skatepark.

Shane Cross - Shane was killed in a motorcycle collision in 2007, two years after he was on KOTR with the Flip team.

Joe Hammeke - Thrasher photographer and writer passed in 2021 following a heart attack.

Jeff Grosso - Grosso, who died in 2020, was best known for his youtube shorts 'Loveletters to Skateboarding.' He appeared as a guest skater with the ZERO team in 2004, reportedly a week after a heroin OD.

Mike Davis - Davis was on Birdhouse's 3peat winning team, knocking out some of the most technical tricks in the book.

Mark 'Monk' Hubbard - Monk, the founder of Grindline Skatepark, Grindline; the Band, Skatepark Builder extraordinaire appeared on the 2015 season of KOTR where he taught the Birdhouse team some of his signature tricks. GRINDLAND, a doc on Hubbard and Mark Scott ends with a gathering in Hubbards honour.

Gangsta Boo - Lola Chantrell Mitchell, AKA Gangsta Boo of the Three 6 Mafia appeared in the 2016 season where she participated in the 'Do a trick over a twerker' challenge. Lizard King hit a crooks bonk on a board held by Jamie Foy over Gangsta Boo.

This article sucks

RIP

hug your loved ones

im feeling sensitive today.

Saturday, 9 August 2025

Carrville Community Centre Pump Track

655 Thomas Cook Ave

Vaughan, ON

Big property with a nice pump track by Transitions Bike Parks and some opportunities for some street spots if you're willing to put in the work. I got a weak nose slide on a ledge and no hassle.

This Pumper has Lights but you gotta stay on the track, there's water hazards.

Hindsight being 20-20, I wish this 'desire path' had been paved. It would have added additional line options. The double bumps are fun but I like the kickers present in the last few pump tracks I've hit.

How's the helmet rule gonna be enforced.

Thursday, 7 August 2025

HALP Skatepark, Queensville, East Gwillimbury

HALP Skatepark

Queensville

East Gwillimbury, ON

It's very rare that I make a post on a park that's still under construction but this one's 'special'. I'd heard rumblings about more terrain in East Gwillimbury over the past year.

Pretty sure this is just a concept skatepark. I haven't been able to find final design plans anywhere.

Then I saw a post from someone who's a skatepark builder.

June 8

Then, a month later, someone working for Canadian Ramp Company, posted a drone shot to their story of the build site. There's been some ground work and looks like the bowl has been excavated.

This was posted on July 11.

I went back and checked more stories and found out they had been on site since May 22, 2025.

I guess the good news is that there's no other CRC builds from earlier this year I'm going to find.

I was visiting a friend in East Gwillimbury this week so I had to check it out. There's a road that runs right next to the build so after dark, we went back for a lurk.

We didn't explore the whole site but from what I saw, the bowl is excavated.

Footings poured for a hubba and a ledge. I also spotted a framed out 'Pier 7' Ledge.

So here comes some skater math.

West Shore Skate Spot was built in 6 weeks. On time and as promised.

This project is 6 weeks into to the build.

Let's say it's 3 time as large a project. So allowing 18weeks for completion, it should be done by the last week of October.

CRC is Approximately at the same point WSSS was at 15 days in.

So if my skater math is correct, they're on track, even if I think that should be way further into the project.

Less rapping, more concrete!

Sunday, 27 July 2025

Summer 2025 in Pickering

It's almost halfway though summer and here's what's happening.

- There was a skate comp announced for Canada Day, utilizing the mobile park. It was announced with 'Free Teen stuff' rules. IDK how it turned out.

- The mobile park/lessons staff is a good person and I hope to pick their brain next time I see them.

- The city has announced a second competition at the Rec Complex Skatepark but has 'forgotten' to tell me despite Rec/Cultural Services saying 'The recreation team is keen to continue working with you on future competitions'

I've been in talks with other locals about having our own jam at the West Shore Skate Spot at the same time but I'm outta town.

WSSS - Down 4 Life

Seaton Rec Centre and Skatepark is on hold due to the ongoing tariff issues.

Finally, some good news. Pickering is moving ahead with a new skatepark in the hydro corridor, north of Kingston Rd. The RFP is out now and some of the best skatepark builders are looking at it. (also crc)

It's actually been in the works for a while.

I've seen a bunch of placeholder designs but the final design will be designed after locals input.

UPDATE - 3 Companies are under review. CRC submitted a bid but didn't provide proper documents😂. The designs are all great. Two of them took cues from the above concept and the other thought outside the box. The city is still evaluating the bids and public input will go into the final designs.

Another spot in Whitevale is in the planning stage.