This year’s Go Skateboarding Day is fast approaching (it’s June 21st in case you didn’t know). And this year SkateMCR is planning to organise another protest skate at URBIS.
Go Skateboarding Day 2008 is set to be a big one in Manchester because the Vans team are coming here for the day! Their team includes Kris Vile, Danny Wainwright, Ross McGouran and local boy Ben Grove.
Their plan is to have a pump aroung the Projekts Skatepark from noon - 3pm, then sign stuff at the NOTE shop from 4 - 5pm, street skate from 5 - 8pm, then finish off with a Jam at Central Skatepark from 8pm onwards where there will be bands and some “special guests”!
The SkateMCR Protest will be at URBIS from 6pm - 8pm so the Vans team should be able to come and skate with everyone at the best spot in town. The protest will be about the byelaws which ban skateboarding in Manchester’s City Centre. See the byelaws here and sign the petition to get rid of them here: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SkateMCR/
See the Vans website for more info. Here’s their poster:
Document’s new mini-mag which is free and available form skateshops has a review of Manchester, both the City and the skate scene so get your copy right away! I think the article is also in the Document mag too.
On quick correction tot he article though: Although Projekts support SkateMCR and are trying to get an extension to the Pump Cage, is is SkateMCR who are “hounding council representatives, pushing for new parks and opposing the bylaws banning skateboarding in the city”… just so you know!
I totally missed this when it was in the paper nearly 2 weeks ago but it’s a good article covering many of the issues surrounding skateboarding in Manchester:
KEEN skateboarder ‘Chris’ travels more than 200 miles, all the way from Pontypridd in Wales to use the facilities Manchester has to offer.
Yet despite what appears to be a ringing endorsement of the city’s ability to attract skaters to its facilities, Chris and his fellow skaters still feel Manchester needs to `pull its finger out’.
“I reckon a skate plaza in the city centre would be great so we could street skate without all the hassle of being asked to leave,” says Chris, 23.
Byelaws prevent city centre skating and cover the big attraction for Mancunian street skaters - Cathedral Gardens, outside Urbis. Anyone found flouting the law receives a formal warning, and may be prosecuted.
Since these measures were introduced in 2001, more than 100 people have received verbal warnings and at least four have been taken to court, fined and ordered to pay costs.
The problem, though, can only get worse. Skateboarding has gone through a revival since 2000 and hundreds of skaters now flock to the city every weekend.
On one side of the debate, the skaters claim they’re starved of decent purpose-built facilities, but on the other, the council believes street skating is anti-social to shoppers and tourists, not to mention expensive as the council has to fork out to repair damage to street furniture.
Lure
Yet the lure of skateboarding stretches beyond the city centre, across the length and breadth of Greater Manchester. A new skatepark at Stamford Park, Altrincham, is in the offing after police, community leaders and councillors agreed it was sorely needed to help get young people off the streets and engaging in and creative energetic pastime.
Teenage skater Nick James believes provision of more facilities is long overdue. “Skaters in Manchester really need a skate plaza, something similar to Urbis, but designed especially for skaters,” says the 17-year-old.
“There aren’t enough facilities. The one under the Mancunian Way gets wet if it rains because there are no walls - it makes it unusable.”
That venue is council-funded, but Mick Regan, head of community activity at Manchester council, says the problem is keeping all parties happy.
“We have a lot of meetings where people have conflicting demands. We’re heavily involved in the Mancunian Way skatepark. Along with the financial assistance, we also run the positive futures program, helping disadvantaged kids get involved with sports, like skateboarding.”
The UK Skateboarding Association has raised concerns about the number and quality of the skateparks. Chairman Kevin Parrot believes there are too few indoor parks and the rest are badly constructed council parks.
Problem
Lack of suitable facilities shifts the problem back to the streets, where the skaters are drawn to places with the architecture and street furniture to hone their skills, such as steps, handrails and ramps.
But Cathedral Gardens is now out of bounds and two other favourite hangouts have also gone: the Gasworks is now under redevelopment, and the University of Manchester campus has introduced anti-skateboarding devices, like blister paving.
“I can understand why people prefer to street skate,” says Paul Harrison, owner of The World Famous Central Skatepark. “The idea of exploring and finding new spots is the whole point.
“But I also think it’s common sense that there are laws in place. I’m not saying people shouldn’t street skate, I’m just saying it’s unfair to try and demand that they’re allowed to damage other people’s property.”
But a rebellion is brewing. SkateMCR was set up by disgruntled Mancunian skaters, fed up with the restrictions and poor skating facilities in the city. They want the bans lifted and have even petitioned the Prime Minister’s website.
However, Steve Bass, who recently bought one of the region’s largest skateparks, believes the real way forward is through cooperation between skaters and local councils.
Steve’s UKskatepark in Stockport (formerly Bones) attracts around 200 people every Saturday. “Lot’s of outdoor parks in Manchester are built by the local councils, who tend to order ramps out of catalogues and then plonk them somewhere with no thought to their set up,” explains Steve.
“There’s only one other indoor park in the city, Central Skatepark, and if that gets too busy it’s almost unusable.”
The all-weather concrete platforms around Urbis mean it has found itself at the centre of the debate. But chief executive Vaughan Allen is keen to show they embrace the city’s skate culture. He said: “Urbis has adopted a proactive response to the problem by holding a number of skateboarding exhibits and events.”
The comp is happening at Central Skatepark on 26th Jan from noon with £1,000 worth of cash for the over 18’s winners! Under 18’s winners will win all sorts of prizes too. There’ll be some great music, food, non-alcoholic bar, graff workshops from Sketch City and a Film crew recording the day.
From 8pm they will also be an after party in URBIS with some more great music and alcohol so over 18’s only.
Entry to the comp or after-party costs from £4 to £10 depending on your level of participation. See this page for more info.
Get on down to support Cancer Research and have Big Fun!
SkateMCR’s Christmas Doo Part 2 was a fun time down at Central Skatepark for a Nativity Fancy Dress Themed Skate Jam!
Plenty of folk came along to have a skate but only a handful made the effort with the fancy dress. Jim, the New Sensation, won the prize for the best dressed - an Element Deck - for his dressing gown, PJ bottoms on his head, and bareing his legs in the freezing skatepark to make the oufit more authentic!
Jim also came 3rd in the Skate Jam which was won by Louie B and Stu came second.
Sexual Stu even made an effort for a bit, but kept his leather jacket on for style!
Remember, tomorrow (Tuesday) evening is the SkateMCR Christmas Doo Part 2 & Nativity Skate Jam at Central Skatepark.
It’s a Fancy Dress Skate Night with the theme of the Nativity, so come dressed as a Shepherd, WiseMan, Angel, Sheep, etc. The best dressed person will win an Element Deck from SkateMCR! So make the effort!
Also, don’t forget that the Central Skatepark Staff will be performing their beautiful rendition of the Nativity Story, so don’t miss it!
Yes, it’s true, we have another Christmas Party organised for you…and it’s a gudd’n.
Central Skatepark will be hosting the 2nd part of our Christmas Doo with a Nativity themed Fancy Dress Skate Jam! This means you’ve gotta come along dressed as a Shepherd, Wise Man, Angel, Donkey… as long as it’s a character from the Nativity.
Its happening on Tuesday 18th December (1 week before the big day) from 5pm at Central Skatepark. We’ll have a best trick comp with prizes from Antiz, Fidel, Momentum and TWO. Entry is £5 for Central skatepark Members or £8 if you’re not a member. SkateMCR will be providing free Mince Pies and Christmas Biscuits for the masses.
The highlight will surely be the critically acclaimed and emotional retelling of the Nativity story by Central Skatepark Staff. Remember folks - Christmas isn’t about increased sales profits, it’s about the birth of a poor homeless man who changed the world!
To celebrate Christmas this year, SkateMCR has arranged not 1 party, but 2! “Tell me more!” I hear you say…
The first party will also be the premiere of Dan Cintra’s new Skate Film “everyone” which probably features you. So make sure you get down to Joshua Brooks (as long as you’re over 18!) at 8pm on Tuesday 11th December after Skate Night at Central Skatepark. Buy your tickets for £2 from NOTE, or pay £3 on the door.
Dan is providing his video, and SkateMCR is providing free Mince Pies and Christmas Biscuits!
Here is the pretty flier to get you excited:
And here’s the trailer for Dan’s film “everyone” to get you even more excited!
Go Skateboarding Day 2008 is set to be a big one in Manchester because the Vans team are coming here for the day! Their team includes Kris Vile, Danny Wainwright, Ross McGouran and local boy Ben Grove.
KEEN skateboarder ‘Chris’ travels more than 200 miles, all the way from Pontypridd in Wales to use the facilities Manchester has to offer.
“I can understand why people prefer to street skate,” says Paul Harrison, owner of The World Famous Central Skatepark. “The idea of exploring and finding new spots is the whole point.
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