Where to Skateboard
Have skateboard, will travel, right? Well, not necessarily. Sometimes it can be tricky to find where to skateboard--which is why we've rounded up a list of potential places to look out for.
General Places To Skateboard
No matter where you live, there tend to be some structural mainstays that are pretty skating-friendly. Just in case you forgot, here's the rundown.
1. A skatepark
Let's just get the most obvious one out of the way. Chances are, if you live in a city, you're somewhere near a skatepark. Spend a nice afternoon there practicing tricks, making friends, and brushing up on your skills.
2. An actual park
Paved bike paths (particularly if they're not crowded) are your friend. Get your fill of nature by skating through trees and grassy hills.
3. An empty parking lot
Looking for a place to practice your turns and kickflips away from the hustle and bustle of the skatepark? An empty parking lot can be your savior.
Check for any "No Skateboarding" signs first, though--but you knew that already. If it's the parking lot of your high school or a store, it's best to ask in advance.
One tip - if you're worried about cars, put on a set of Board Blazers to your board! They're the perfect LED lights for skateboards and will help your board stand out at night.
4. An indoor skatepark
Yes, this is more expensive than any of the first three (completely free) options--but especially if the weather outside is frightful, an indoor skatepark is definitely delightful.
5. Your garage
Obviously, this only works if you A) have a garage B) that is reasonably empty C) with a concrete floor. But if your stars have aligned enough that this is a thing in your life, go forth and skate!
6. Carpet or grass
This isn't so much "skating" as "a soft place to practice tricks." But if it's all you've got for the time being, it's better than nothing.
How to Find Your Own Skateboarding Spots
Like a cook without their own signature recipe, what's a true skateboarder without their signature spot? Here are some ways to find your own.
7. Join a skate group.
Make friends with some skaters (ideally at a skate park) and start tagging along on rides. Ask where they usually skate. If they share, awesome!
8. Use skateboard spot apps
Websites like ISkateHere and Skatebook.Me let skaters bookmark (and share) their favorite spots. Type in your location to find places that are close to you!
9. Go on your own mission
Drive around, hitch a ride, take the bus, take a walk--whatever way it makes sense for you to explore your city, keep an eye out for interesting concrete spots with skateable architecture. Rails, stairs, benches, etc. When you find something promising (and not privately owned), take a picture and mark down the address.
Cities That Are Exceptionally Friendly To Skateboarders
This advice all works for (ideally) any skateboarder living anywhere. But if you're looking for cities (either to visit or one day live) where skateboarding is truly embraced, you'll want one of these:
10. Portland, OR, USA
In Portland, skateboards have the same legal rights as bicycles--there are "preferred skate routes" and everything!
11. San Diego, CA, USA
You probably already guessed that this one would be on the list. It's friendly, it's got a ton of beaches and boardwalks, and it's home to a ton of famous skaters already!
Skaters--how did you find your favorite skating spots? Let us know in the comments!
Photo credit: Shannon Kelley