14. Figeac - France

Found a few French skateparks - in true style some I found only once on the way out of somewhere, (despite looking and sk8loc8 etc, and google maps best help), when it was too hot and the family were needing to float in a pool, (me too), so despite some 'oh how lucky is that there seems to be a skatepark over there' coincidences - this is the only one I truly skated.  I found a tiny one in Rodez but couldn't see how to get to it, and the main one in Bordeaux was right by one of the main roads along the river, with like 6 lanes of traffic alongside.  If time and patience had allowed it would have got onto the list but...

Anyhow  - Figeac - standard kind of set up, a range of quarters either edge with a range of fun boxes and rails in the middle.  Still I enjoyed saying 'oui' in a 'yeah' kind of way and hitting the tail in appreciation of some good skating - but most of the locals were just hanging out.. but they were chilled and friendly so all good

13. Partridge Green

Interesting set up of a small - say 2ft mini on top of platform on one side of large mini ramp / midi ramp.  Short escalator up to extension on other side. Pretty battered and bit spongy, some delaminating going on too.  Nothing else near it to skate but good kids playground on the way in next to tennis courts.

12. Small Dole

Another overdue post from some time ago - good spot.  In quiet village of Small Dole, sat in the corner of like a grassy meadow is a U shape of small, slightly weather beaten ramps. Good fun and pretty location  compared to many spots.

11. Henfield

Long overdue Delayed Post Number 1, spot 11.
originally written a month ago...
Didn't have long but seemed like the first warm dry moments in over a month, so bombed over to Henfield concrete skatepark, then to Small Dole ramps on the way back.

The skatepark is on the far side of the leisure centre car park.  It's small and not a great layout BUT it was all mine and although some lines seem to go nowhere, it was a fun spot that if it was your local I think you'd get pretty creative with.  Not a lot of footage for either park as getting used to new phone and how to do timers and things- worth another visit and will fit in Partridge Green mini ramp a bit further on.

10. Ilfracombe skatepark

Really varied and unpredictable weather made it tricky so when the window of 15 mins or so arose I snuck down to Ilfracombe skatepark while staying at friends house nearby.  Great little park with LOTS of possible lines - kind of tricky to judge some of the angles - reminds me a little of uckfield or good old wicksteeds for finding lines to try out.  Quick video of the place below.  Good but too brief little session.  I'll add a couple of links and found pics another day to give a bit more detail.

9. Burgess Hill and some returns and some history

Been a poor few weeks, too much work and some parent and child ill health BUT
Another few returns to Haywards, Crawley and Cuckfield as well as the ever wet metallic Burgess hill ramps - still wet and no footage but I'm calling it in and will post footage another time.

Have sussed out I can take the boys to hove lagoon to play in the playground or join me in the skatepark for a run around or a roll on boards, and got a heads up that Peacehaven (unvisited by me yet) is also good for kids.. so win all round, might manage the same at Burgess hill when they are warm enough to be dry early in the morning.

To help me encourage me, and keep posting I figured some of Jono's footage from our last joint outing a few weeks back and some back in the day pictures would help.Me at Romford bowl - with beginnings of dreads - about 18 I think - so erm... 22 years ago OMG LOL etc..

Crawley mini ramp....

If the weather holds for me down in Ilfracombe there's Braunton bowl, Croyde and Ilfracombe skateparks pretty close together so fingers crossed I can get to play on them too.

8. Crawley - with repaired and clean cuckfield and quick stop at haywards heath

Sunday 26th - got to Crawley with some frost still about, skating in gloves and not for downhill - flippin freezing but good times and soon warmed up - panorama is from top of the mini ramp at the slightly higher end of the park.  Great place.  Lots to ride, mellow and mental parts to it - distances good and lots of lines.  Also a good group of fellow mature skaters there most weekends - they liked the sound of the challenge..   Had good time and forgot to take any other pics - will be there again though.

Headed to Cuckfield and then Haywards Heath on return to Brighton.  Both very quiet so plenty of play to be had.  Kingpin's DIY issue this month may have inspired the people responsible for mending Cuckfields transitions - much better ride - much respect to the mender.   Helped me land this sweeper.  Ta.

6 & 7 - Haywards Heath ramps and Burgess Hill skatepark

Winter skating - waiting for dry surfaces and dry long enough to dry out - you look outside - seems dry enough to go see - but there's still bad damp and mud slippy places to keep you on your guard or your arse depending on how you look at it.

The ramps were a little spongy and need some resurfacing but I went two days in a row and second time they were drier and faster, (despite colder day with bits of snow in the shadows of the ramp still), - coping a bit rusty too - so grippy enough to feel more comfortable but not the slightest chance of a 50-50, (on my re-learn list).

Headed on over to Burgess Hill on the way back - park designed around scooter's and BMX more than skating - tarmac and too much distance between over sized and narrow ramps - BUT fast low height metal mini, with a single panel extension  that I just about skated but very wet and very slippy - went back next day but as it was colder the metal had condensation on all the panels, I didn't even try given how slippy it was the day before - shame though. Some time soon I'll re visit and play properly.

5. cuckfield - easy to play. Haywards Heath - Recon

Didn't have long and had the offspring in tow so knew I had to go somewhere quiet and safe for small crazy people. Used the time to visit Cuckfield - on far side of village by rugby club, and their playing field   (skateparks ARE nearly always in struggling estates, industrial estates, near police stations or backs of playing fields near main roads...  honestly it's just a town planning and £ per sq ft issue...)   time of year thing - it gets gritty, take a broom and dustpan - I forgot mine :(
Film of the offspring - No skating of me on film - too gritty and dusty for much fun - will post an old photo for now - will update another time - am sure to be back here.



Next door to cuckfield is haywards heath so...

photo credits to Len or to Jono...

On way home made sure I knew where Haywards Heath Ramps are for another time - look good though getting run down and damaged from age, bmx and scooter use...  On a handy parenting tip they also have a playground just downhill and car park next door - am thinking I need a childcare list of skateparks - "where to go when the kids are in tow"...  Dads with kids take note... combine the trip and come along next time...

Lewes skatepark - sometime soon - Recon

Too many things going on this weekend but on a spare moment detoured to find this place on the back of Lewes, ready for next time...  (skateparkpages, sk8loc8 and good old google maps and aerial views, coupled with a bit of on the ground map work).  Looked good fun but busy quickly I guess... will get onto it next time I can...

A better designed version of hove lagoon from the look of it, has some gentler slopes and some more street bits too.

4. Whats left of The Levels... till the new build in..20whenever

Early morning run at the levels - funny set up - too long distances between some stuff - rough surface - some of it very so, litter hazards, less syringe hazards than there used to be...
Had the place to myself and some good fun to be had - metal plates at base of ramp a bit wet and slippy but all good in the end -just too much rough concrete - you can hear it on some of the video footage..

the rebuild is pretty urgent mr councillor i agree;
http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1234734
option 2 is the one i believe...  but strapped cash in these times we'll see...
all sorts from b.h.s.a on here including the byc indoor spot... and hollingdean and woodingdean that need visiting....

2 & 3 Shoreham skate park & a quick stop at southwick (no.s 2&3)

Managed to get to Shoreham two mornings in a row nice an early 8-9am.  Met Graham Ince who used to run Radlands and knows many a Kettering local.  Good things.  Shoreham bowl is great - the street area is good for cramming it in. Link to their website attached.http://www.shorehamskatepark.co.uk/

Dodgy video - a) bowl pretty full on and b) so windy phone kept blowing over - so wedged it with my bag in the bowl and - it blew over :)  Will update this sometime soon.

Southwick skatepark is a kind of too long a flat bottom, mismatch heights concrete spined mini ramp - ignoring grit, sticks, dirt overspill and occasional dog walking hazard is pretty good for a change of scene.

1. The challenge begins and first spot skated in 2012

Jonozero offered the challenge to skate the number of spots your years dictate - I accepted.  First run of the challenge - hove lagoon - no smooth transitions - slippery surfaces - litter challenges - but close to home and quiet in the a.m.

So we have; ollie, frontside half cab, and a pop shove it, with a background shot to the\ park that I'll improve on another time.

Dodgy photography, (especially if I'm involved), but my battered and beloved sony ericcson C902 has a best pic (9 in a row) feature - which with timer is pretty handy on a solo skate, can set up angle and then run and do the line.

The goon as it's affectionately known has it's own blogspot
http://goonsyndrome.blogspot.com/