Like a kid who says “that doesn’t hurt” while he’s getting spanked, for some kids, getting sent to your room is not a punishment. Jack Grover sleeps in a private indoor skatepark in his basement. Of course it doesn’t hurt that he’s a tiny four and a half year old kid, so the low ceilings aren’t an issue. You wouldn’t believe the amount of red tape I had to go through to get around Jack’s contractual obligations with Earth Patrol Media. Check out the facilities and learn how they came to be after the jump.
This is a funny story. Jack has a six month old sister, seen above, at the far left. Like most babies. she cries a lot in the middle of the night. Jack isn’t a good sleeper, and has a really hard time getting to sleep once he’s been woken up. Apparently, it was his idea to sleep in the basement. His parents didn’t believe him, but they finally called his bluff after several days of pleading. Sure, it looks creepy, but he hasn’t seen any horror movies yet, so it’s not affecting him.
Steve had a few junky ramps in his driveway, but his driveway pretty much sucks for rolling, so he cut them all down and moved them into the basement so Jack could skate on them. Here’s a wide angle shot of the current setup. I’m guessing that this park will continue to evolve, much to the potential annoyance of his mom.
Jack, showing off for his friends. Notice the washing machine next to the ramp.
Another overview. I think Jack is channeling Dr Brad. If you look to the far back right of the room, you’ll also see screenprinting production facilities for a, ahem, major Northwest skateboard company.
Charging it!
Here’s a shot of a one year old poser.
I found a few shots of the ramp when it was outside. It doesn’t look that crappy actually. Steve bought one sheet new for the ramp, the rest was salvage. These shots predate spending 4 months in the rain uncovered. EPM has another gallery as well.
Rich tests it for child safety.
17 comments
brad
I rode that place with Grover, there were funny pieces notebook paper stuck to the wall with dating rules, etc.
Kilwag
Ramps in the living room? Steve took me there once when I visited him.
skaterdave
Steve, was this partly inspired by Matt & Perry’s 8th st. Genie skatepark ??? Did you ever ride that?
conahan
I totally poached those ramps while he was upstairs.
jacknife
Add some arcade machines!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Milo Janus
Great pics! that one of him doing the transfer is priceless.
Fitz
Are you sure that’s safe?
colin
sorry fryar…
NO HELMET!!!!
brad
I actually called Jack to see what was up the other day…like calling a bro…kinda bizarre!
xfryarx
Do you see a helmet ?
Mac
That corner in the “showing off for his friends” shot should be a bowl pocket…
colin
no helmet?
some guy at work
Creepy basement. Kind of “It rubs the lotion on it’s skin, or else it gets the hose again.”
Prickly Pete
Funny, the post on EPM about indoor bowls had me thinking of doing something in the basement for my three-year-old son. My parents would have never seen me if I had one of these growing up. What does “skate or go home” mean if you are home?
skaterdave
We weren’t smart enough to make little ramps when I first started. Jack, you don’t know how lucky you are ; I had to learn to drop-in on a ten foot halfpipe (uphill both ways you know, in knee deep snow, before they invented shoes).
KC
Man, I had hard enough time trying to get my folks to just drop me off at the skatepark when I was a kid.
Weeparks Rule. (no pun intended.)
Rich
It’s like Batman only Jack has his own skate cave and now everyone knows where it is. 🙂