And the winner for the highest glass ceiling on a skatepark builder’s concrete team has got to go to Airspeed. This is a detail of one of their pictures of recent progress at the Gabriel Park site. There’s probably a woman on another concrete crew out there somewhere else, but three? Yes, I know there are women involved with skatepark building companies in other positions, I’m talking about the work crews specifically. Airspeed is cranking on Gabriel Park. Check it out.

- Thanks to Sonny for the tip.

What does Dreamland concrete look like in the UK? The same as it does here, except really grainy and in black and white apparently. I’ve heard about the gray weather there, but come on. Check out this clip that looks like it’s from the UK’s Sidewalk Mag:

Check out this Kevin Parrott crafted clip from May Bank Holiday Weekend at Saffron Walden and Cantelowes, with Div Adam, Benson, Awadh, Aaron Sweeny, Kev the Plasterer and Mark Nicholson, with a cameo by sir Alex of Irvine.

These names don’t mean anything to me, but there is some ripping in the clip. Stick around until the end for a big warm fuzzy.

- Thanks to Nicky for the tip.

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On top is a picture of another modern snake run. This one in Apache Junction, AZ comes from CarveStarved, a nice site that “wants to be a chronicle of the lives of everyday women who skateboard, to promote the growth of skateboarding among adult women, and to provide a place to meet other women to skate with.” So there you have it. If you are one of those women who wants to contribute or just enjoy it, check it out. Although I have to giggle (like a schoolgirl!) when I read that. I hardly think of my crew as “grown men,” although technically that’s what we are, regardless of how age-inappropriate our behavior can be when we congregate.

On the bottom row we have some brand new shots of the snake run being constructed at Gabriel Park, Portland, as shot by Rich at EPM. And low and behold, there’s one of them full grown women I’ve been reading about in the concrete crew.

So I’ve managed to find two items with snake runs and women, thus er… killing two birds with one post. Some days it all comes together.

OK, so the St Lucie, Florida skatepark is actually the Fort Pierce skatepark. And who needs construction photos when it’s already finished? More pictures from Team Pain. Congratulations to Tito, who is on his honeymoon. That’s Adam Calderwood from team Pain’s concrete crew in the top photo.

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I made an unexpected last minute trip to Hood River on Sunday afternoon. When I go there I recognized a few people from the Portland/Vancouver area, and as I was leaving about half the locals from Pier Park showed up. Hood River is turning into a really nice little park. They keep adding onto it and have plans for more. The new small bowl setup is fun and can be linked to the rest of the park via a couple transfer spots. I hear more street features are in the works for Hood River. (While in Hood River, visit IPS for all your skateboarding needs…)

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These are pics of a semi new skatepark in Harbor City, Florida called The Park of Melbourne:

12,000 sq. ft. indoor skateboard park. Features a 9 foot vert wall. Indoor bowl with mini taco and half cradle, with wall ride. Large street course with moveable elements. Full audio system with large projectors playing skate videos and cameras throughout which can be logged into to pull clips of your sessions.

That’s a new high tech twist on skateparks, cameras that record the session and then you can log in and see the pics or video. I’m not sure how well it would work as far as framing and the quality of the shots. Not-so-good is my guess, but if you’ve ever witnessed (or taken part in) a spectacular slam or collision and wish you’d had a camera on it, this system might grant that wish. Well, it would if it was working. I got the pictures late last year. Five months later and the web site seems to still be mostly under construction with the exception of a some overview shots. (Sorry no direct link)

UPDATE: I like that mural, as goofy as it looks. However, I think that the influence of surf-style on popular skateboarding has largely disappeared, aside from a brief resurgence after the Dogtown doccumentary. Anyone?

Here’s a few more pics I misplaced when posting the St. Lucie skatepark construction progress photos. As usual, they are courtesy of Tito at Team Pain. That snake pit/zone looks fun.

Update: Turns out this is close to St. Lucie County but is actually located in Fort Pierce, so it’s the Fort Pierce skatepark.

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The 30th anniversary Independent Trucks tour is coming to a skatepark, DVD, and Thrasher magazine near you. A great big list of the pros on the tour, but they are doing it in shifts, so it’s anyone’s guess who will be at what stops. Not true. The Indy tour site has the tentative roster for each stop. Let’s see… Lincoln City, Oregon on Sunday, June 29 from 2:00-5:00 pm, featuring Darren Navarrette, Jeff Grosso, Chet Childress, Slash, Peter Hewitt, Emmanuel Guzman, Steve Alba, Danny Way, Alex Horn, Sam Hitz, Tony Trujillo, Alex Olson, Grant Taylor, Tosh Townend, Spanky, Randy Colvin, Tommy Guerrero, John Cardiel, and Max Schaaf. How are those guys going to fit in one truck? Here’s a curious one, co-sponsored by RedBullSkateboarding.com.

This week’s Shot of the Week is from Damienhialation, and it’s called the challenge.

Dan told the kids that whoever grinded off his dollar could have it. He’s a giver.

Yeah great, but did they get the beer too? I mean, by kids I assume he means freshly turned 21 year olds. Check out the Shot of the Week

Local skater Rick Lai has been working toward a Happy Valley skatepark for a while. Here’s the latest development by way of the North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District:

In March, North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District purchased 33 acres of property off SE 162nd Avenue in Happy Valley. This land was purchased to provide active recreation for community residents of all ages. Some of the uses already suggested include athletic fields, trails, play areas, skate park, dog park and community center. NCPRD will work with the community to complete a concept plan to determine future improvements to this site. Interested citizens are encouraged to participate in the process by attending the planning meetings or by submitting comments via mail, e-mail or telephone. Submitted comments will be presented during the public meetings.

Thursday, May 1, 2008
6-8 p.m.
Oregon Trail Elementary
13895 SE 152nd Dr.
Happy Valley, OR 97015

Your input and ideas will help shape the park site for future use and enjoyment. We hope you will attend. Questions, suggestions or comments may be sent to Michelle Healy by e-mailing (michellehea@co.clackamas.or.us) or by calling the parks hotline at 503-353-4367.

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