Category Archive: Activism
Dire Skates in Montreal
Red Bull has an interesting documentary on the Montreal, Quebec skate scene with the ulterior motive of furthering the case of getting good public skateparks built. Dire Skate is a 22 minute film made by Dan Mathieu of Exposé skateboard magazine. It delves into some history of the scene, including Big O, an atrocious city-funded skatepark built by a generic construction company, as well as efforts to legalize a famous Love Park style spot. Definitely worth watching. – Thanks to Kevin -Live for the tip.
Scott Starr fund
Noted photographer, skate/surf film and TV historian Scott Starr has been diagnosed with Menieres Disease. He’s also considered a find of the site. I have featured his digital transfers of archival footage her on S&A over the years under the banner of “Saturday Starrs” and I’ve bought a few comic books from him that have also graced the pages of S&A. Skip your Starbucks for a day help Scott out via a GoFundMe campaign that his sister set up.
Peach to Parasite: New Orleans D.I.Y.
New Orleans is the largest U.S. city without a skatepark! It’s been a long time since we’ve reported on the scene that gave birth to the now defunct Peach Orchard. Since then the park has a new name to go with a sanctioned location and some ramps donated by Spohn Ranch, leftover from the Mississippi Grind skatepark on a floating barge. The next step is to get back to their D.I.Y. roots by pouring their own transition, and they need your help. Parasite Park has one of the slickest incentive programs via kickstarter that I’ve seen. They’ve got some great looking gear that starts at just $7. Go help ’em out!
Blackfeet Reservation – Montana
Evergreen Skateparks just finished a new park on the Blackfeet reservation in Browning, Montana. Thunder Park is yet another skatepark funded by Jeff Ament, and it looks like a fun one. Aside from the usual elements we’ve come to expect, there’s a moonscape-like mogul field reminiscent of some parks that were built in the 70’s, but you know, good.
5 Days of Ohio: Public Square Group
Day 4 of 5 Days of Ohio (for no particular reason.) Public Square Group is part skateboard/skatepark advocacy, part community outreach, and part skateboarding support group. They are named after the Cleveland’s public plaza, a not-built-for-skateboarding spot that has a history in the scene dating back to the 80’s. They also run the Skate Kitchen, which until this year had been in an actual physical location with an indoor miniramp. The non-profit membership based model (with public hours) seems to have been replaced with pop up skate events while they look for a new space. Grindline recently finished Cleveland’s Crooked River Skatepark on the riverfront. Opening day was snowed in, Meanwhile, Broadway Skatepark in the Slavic Village neighborhood of Cleveland has already gone through early design presentations. Public Square Group is acting as the conduit for feedback. – Thanks to Dan Overfield for the tip. [Video Still: Share the River]
Burnside Fund Matching Emergency!
Burnside is getting new neighbors who are reclaiming some of the territory in the north parking lot, but on the bright side, the developers have agreed to match donations up to $5000 for further park maintenance. The downside is that this post is horribly late, and the deadline for donations is on Halloween, which is tomorrow. Right now there is only a paltry $280 in the kitty. This is a golden opportunity to double your money and help fund Burnside.
Get Rad for Ray
In memory and honor of Ray Underhill, Tony Hawk and a host of other 80’s names will be coming to Raleigh, North Carolina’s Marsh Creek Skatepark for Get Rad For Ray. Contests, demos, clinics and all around fun. Presented by
Southbank Saved!
In spite of Billy Bragg, Skateboarders, BMXers and artists have prevailed in their attempts to prevent historic the South Bank spot in London from being turned into a strip mall. The Save South Bank coalition also has a book for sale that looks pretty well conceived, but details like page size and count are non-existant. [Source: Good Magazine] – Thanks to MC for the tip.
Moms Demand Action
Moms Demand Action is not really upset that you can;t bring a skateboard into Krogers, they’re upset that Krogers has a pro open carry stance. This is just one of several ads featuring a gun toting shopper standing next to someone doing something that Krogers won’t allow. You can sign the petition here. – Via John Grigley on Facebook
Go Skate PDX event
You’re looking at a quarter pipe with a final surfacing made of recycled skateboards, put together by Maple XO for an event called Go Skate PDX to be held at Gallery 135 in Portland on June 21st. It’s an art show to benefit public skateparks in Portland. More pics and flyer after the jump.











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