Skate Elmira Grand Opening

Skate Elmira Grand Opening 

Even with on and off rain the day was awesome.  The heat helped dry the park quickly between showers.

 The maple leaf. I came up with the concept for a maple leaf quarter pipe and after a bunch of modifications this was the final result. It's acid etched(or something) instead of paint so it's permanent and everyone loves it.

 Stained Glass Army rocked the tent.  Check 'em out here.

 Luke cleaning off the park.

 Mayor Shantz

 Kyle was honored with a custom deck.

"All it takes is a vision, perseverance and a community to turn dreams into reality"

 Kyle skates through the ribbon to open the park.

The clouds were pretty dark and the park was pretty slick when wet but fortunately, it dried quickly.  Ultimate Distribution put on a demo and were awesome.  

 I was having so much fun I didn't get many pictures.  I rode the bowl during the demo and got a boneless transfer over the tombstone and down the roll-in and later carved over the stairs.

When I was leaving some kid said I was awesome. It was a good day.

 It rained all the way home.

Gore Meadows.

Gore Meadows.

Brampton's newest park is ok.

Spott's Favourite Things

This is a totally random blog post about some of the things, skate related, that I like.

1. The Mutt - How to Skateboard and Not Kill Yourself. 

 Rodney Mullens autobiography is great. Covering the stories you knew (skating on an isolated farm in Florida) to some your didn't (smoking and quitting smoking weed at a very young age).

2. Stalefish - Skateboard Culture from the Rejects Who Made It.

 Featuring short stories from the ledgends. If you know who Alex Olson is but not his father, Steve Olson, get your head out of your ass and read this book.

3. Machotaildrop

Speaking of Steve Olsen...  This weird fantasy is like Willy Wonka meets Wes Anderson meets a sponsor me tape.  With Rick McCrank playing a veteran skater and Steve Olson playing the owner of a cake/skate shop you have to check it out. Try youtube.

4. Jeff Grosso's Love Letters to Skateboarding.

Pro Jeff Grosso takes us on a journey of his wandering mind back to the origins of tricks, classic skateparks and whatever else he feels like.

5. The Berrics - BATB

The Flatground comp to end all flatground comps

6. Girls Skate Network.

I love seeing anyone enjoy skateboarding as much as I do, regardless of skill level, and let me point out; these ladies are skilled.

7. Chicks in Bowls.

My awesome wife does Roller Derby and has migrated to the skateparks with me. I'm hyped to see her and her team mates push themselves in the park as these women do.

8. The Amazing Richie Jackson Skateboard Show.

Richie Jackson hosts a youtube show as unique as his skating.

9. William Spencer.

Just one of many skaters with a distinctive style.

10. Built to Shred

If you can find full episodes, watch them. Weather it's skating ridiculous contraptions or teaching you how to make a book ledge in the Hammered & Screwed segments you'll come away entertained or educated.

Dew Underground

Dew Underground

Park 265

A temporary pop-up park sponsored by Mountain Dew with a tight mini-ramp, some rails ledges and banks & a small half pipe.

 Some great street artists did some work. 

Skull by Bacon.

 Free Mountain Dew and Doritos.

I worked in this building as a teen making frames one summer.

Dew Underground is also hosting concerts, video game events and DIY events.

 I submitted one of my stencils for the silk screening workshop and it was used.

Underground is on until April 19th.

Winter Wrap-up

Winter Wrap-up.

This winter was almost worse that last winter. No major ice storm but we have had 30 or more days of freezing temperatures. 

Here's the highlights.

1. December 22nd I got out to Elmira and skated my 264th park. 

2. Continued hanging with Skate Club.

3. Kitchener unveiled the final design for Fischer Park. Looks familiar. 

4. My friend Rick and his daughter, Esther, visited and she played on the ramps.

5. Found a new project.

6. My friend posted a cool shot of me at the Bala park last summer.

7. Had a baby. Well, my wife had a baby (on Christmas) and he's had a deck since birth. Today we went on out first scouting mission.

8. Aurora Family Leisure Complex Skatepark is finished.

Also, word on the street is the Grand Opening of the Elmira Skatepark will be on May 30th.

Elmira, ON

Elmira

Skate Elmira is done! Great job by Spectrum Skateparks. Easily one of the most unique and enjoyable parks in Ontario.
Edit
Got some new, non-snowy shots.

My contribution to the design. 

December 2014

Many people put in a lot of hours to get this project finished.

 Pools closed til spring. Or some unseasonable warmth.

She's long, she's lean, she's anything but mean.

Two-hundred and sixty fourth park.

60th park this year.

Arthur St S and First St in Bristow Park