Oregon Skatepark Pioneers on OPB

Oregon Skatepark Pioneers on aired on OPB last week. That’s Oregon Public Broadcasting. Skateboarding on TV is always a crap shoot. Usually the announcers will try and use the lingo, and more often than not, incorrectly. Thankfully Oregon Field Guide didn’t fall victim to that. More commentary and links to the vid after the jump. Check out the top right picture… Almost looks like a video blue screen..

The skateparks piece correctly identifies Oregon as the leader in skatepark design and build. It’s intelligent and somewhat interesting even if you already know the story. Overall, a good job considering it was done by outsiders.

There are a few downsides. The skate footage isn’t always the greatest, and there were a few odd choices made, such as the inclusion of way too much rollerskating footage at Burnside and the fact that Daddies Board Shop gets thanked in the credits but there is no mention of Cal Skate even though Howard is interviewed heavily and provides the requisite historic example of a skateboard. Daddies did setup the downhill footage session. I remember getting the news email. Also interesting is the fact that someone let them film a private bowl being poured as well as divulge the city of it’s location. Usually those guys are pretty tight lipped about that.

How many of your favorite skatepark builders can you recognize?

Somebody even posted a partial link recorded by pointing a still camera with video capabilities at the TV screen. I’m not going to mention names because Ryan Hass already knows who he is. Oops.