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/