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Exploring the Thriving Scene and Best Skateparks of San Francisco

Exploring the Thriving Scene and Best Skateparks of San Francisco

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Skateboarding in San Francisco: Exploring the Thriving Scene and Best Skateparks

Nestled amid the hills, neighborhoods, and iconic landmarks of San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic skateboarding scene. From the bustling streets of downtown to the tranquil parks overlooking the bay, the city offers endless opportunities for riders to explore, express themselves, and push the boundaries of their craft.

San Francisco's unique topography, with its steep hills, winding streets, and iconic architecture, provides an exciting playground for skateboarders of all levels. Whether it's weaving through traffic in the Financial District, navigating the twists and turns of Lombard Street, or carving down the slopes of Twin Peaks, skaters are constantly inspired by the city's diverse landscapes.

But beyond the streets, San Francisco boasts an impressive array of skateparks that cater to riders seeking more structured environments to hone their skills. Here are some of the best skateparks the city has to offer

SOMA West Skatepark

Nestled in the vibrant neighborhood of SoMa (South of Market) in San Francisco lies a hidden gem cherished by skateboarders: the SoMa West Skatepark. This iconic spot, located under a bridge overpass, isn't just a place to ride, but a symbol of the city's rich skateboarding culture and the resilience of its community.


Crocker Amazon Skatepark

Tucked away in the Excelsior District, Crocker Amazon Skatepark offers a diverse range of obstacles, including a large bowl, street course, and flow section. With its spacious layout and smooth concrete surfaces, it's a favorite among skaters of all ages.


Potrero Del Sol Skatepark

Potrero Skatepark, a testament to the dynamic fusion of urban culture and architectural innovation, stands proudly as a vibrant oasis within the bustling cityscape. Crafted by the visionary artisans of Dreamland skateparks, this concrete playground embodies the essence of skateboarding ethos – freedom, creativity, and community. Potrero skatepark, nestled within the heart of Potrero del Sol Park, is a concrete park featuring a large bowl and an open-bowl with built in street elements.


Waller Street DIY Skatepark

For those craving a more grassroots experience, Waller Street DIY Skatepark offers a raw and rugged setting where skaters have transformed an abandoned lot into a thriving community space. With its handmade ramps and obstacles, it's a testament to the DIY ethos of skateboarding culture.


Treasure Island Skatepark

Located on the former naval base of Treasure Island, this expansive skatepark boasts stunning views of the San Francisco skyline and the Bay Bridge. With its wide variety of features and spacious layout, it's a popular destination for riders from across the city.


United Nations skate plaza

The revitalization of the 150,000-square-foot United Nations Plaza in San Francisco in 2023 marked a significant turning point for this area, with a multimillion-dollar renovation project aimed at breathing new life into the space. An extensive facelift introduced a range of amenities, including fitness equipment, ping-pong tables, and cornhole, alongside the centrepiece addition of a brand-new skate park.


Whether you're a seasoned pro or a curious newcomer, San Francisco offers something for every skateboarder. From the thrill of riding the city's iconic streets to the camaraderie of its vibrant skatepark community, the City by the Bay is a mecca for riders seeking adventure, inspiration, and endless possibilities.

Visit skatepark map.

By Haroun Cherif

Parque Urbano Do Outeiro da Vela pumptrack - Portugal roadtrip

Parque Urbano do Outeiro da Vela pumptrack Spot nr 49 on our mission to skate every park in Portugal is Parque Urbano do Outeiro da Vela pumptrack in Cascais, aka Cascais pumptrack. This little asphalt track was built by Prorideportugal in 2023 and is located next to a large dirt track. This 28,000m2 Urban Park is located in Fontainhas and has an area of ​​9,500m2 entirely reserved for BTT. In this Urban Park there is a children's park, an outdoor gym, an asphalt pumptrack and a 900m network of paths that allow you to travel around the entire area and enjoy a viewpoint overlooking Cascais Bay, a mini-amphitheater, seating and picnic areas.Visit Parque Urbano do Outeira da Vela pumptrack on our skate map.

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Santo André skate plaza 7th anniversary party

7 years of Santo André skate plaza. A party we couldn't miss. Our next stop on our mission to skate and film every single park in Portugal is Santo André skateplaza, a special place in Portugal. Santo André skate plaza is one of a handful of parks in Portugal that has a strong community, is well maintained and organises events for the community on a regular basis. So when we heard about the 7th anniversary of the park I got a bunch of our crew together and decided to go and have some fun and film the event.Discover more about Santo André skatepark

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"Cafezito" - Video part Tiago Sarreira 2024

Tell us a bit about your latest video part?"So this project, Cafezito, was the most recent and important project I did up to date, because it was my first solo street skateboarding video. I made it together with Cybercafe Skate Shop, and we've been working hard on this project for the last year and a half! It turned out exactly as I wanted!"Tiago Sarreira

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Almada skatepark tour in Portugal 2024

Almada skatepark - Episode 43 of our mission to skate every skatepark in Portugal The mission continues. Last weekend we took the crew to the 7th anniversary of Santo André skatepark and along the way decided to visit Almada skatepark built by our friends Wasteland skateparks. Skatepark approved: we had a blast.Crew of the tour Patrick Costa, Buga, Tiago Miguel, Guilherme Felisberto, Pablitoo, Hugo Cruz taking care of the photography and Rodrigo Correia behind the camera and edit.Vist Almada skatepark on skate map.

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"CEPEDA" - Video part Margarida Cepeda 2023

Margarida Cepeda joins forces with Betesga SkateZine for her latest video partMargarida Cepeda, member of our Trucks and Fins crew, invited Betesga SkateZine to join her during several sessions around Lisbon. "CEPEDA" is the result of those amazing days spent together with Betesga SkateZine. Margarida, an 18 year old skater from Loures, is one of the most talented girls you can currently see shredding around the streets and parks in Portugal and always with a smile on her face. Good times and skate guaranteed. From her: "A special thanks to all who made this possible and to all who supported me along my journey. Also a thanks to my sponsors @banask8 @ementasb and @etnies Filmed by Joana Melo, Margarida Santos, Thais Espezin, Iara Sofia and André Filipe Instagram Margarida Cepeda

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How Troubl3 Keeps Making Trouble with Skateboards

June 29 2022 - Interview with Troubl3  “I always have been a troublemaker”. If Andrew, 41, had to pitch his idea, this could be a good punchline. It’s one of those cases where a business’s name is not just marketing, but a character’s extension. "So, Troubl3 is giving the middle finger to a lot of skate shops that do not support local people." Andrew (Owner Troubl3)   VISIT WEBSITE TROUBL3 is a Canadian skateboard shop based in Otawa. It was born in 2018 from the desire to go against the flow. “Skateboarding industry has become a mass production machine. Everything comes from China or Mexico, where people are not paid right. I buy something for one hundred dollars that really costs ten dollars”, he claims. “Then I thought: if I’m going to be a troublemaker, I might do something different. If I’m making a board it’s got to be unique like any skater is. I’m going to make one by one; it’s going to be tougher, it’s going to last more, every single board is going to be different. When you buy, it’s not just a board, it’s a piece of art and an experience”, he adds. This is something “one hundred percent customized”, from size, shape, wheels base, and a “seven veneer deck”. He proudly details: “Each veneer that goes into each deck is hand picked.” He buys local (wood from Quebec, for instance) in small batches, presses, shapes and hand paints the decks himself also, when he can, he promotes local artists to draw on the skateboards. “So, Troubl3 is giving the middle finger to a lot of skate shops that do not support local people who make stuff. They say they are local, but do not buy local”, Andrew reenforces, protesting against the rules of the game. “I always compare skateboards with pizza. I love pizza: a large one costs 50 bucks, the same you pay for a skateboard sometimes. Those skateboards are made overseas, they cost nothing to make, the price of pizza is gone to double, but the price of skateboards stayed the same for 30 years." “I evoke Paul Schmitt’s case all the time: a big name in this industry who shifted his business from California to Tijuana because people want to keep the price of a skateboard at 50 of 60 dollars for eternity. So, to keep his business going and pay his people, he had to move”, Andrew says.   He likes to be different. “Being marginalized is something good in skateboarding”. Although he admits the way he runs business is not sustainable: “The breakeven would be making 250 skateboards a month. Right now, I have had a month when I made four or five, others one or two.” It doesn’t matter. He believes this is the way. And he gives a discount if people really ride them and not just hang his skateboards on the wall. Authenticity is his brand, like the style he prefers for riders: “I like to see the most unorthodox skater. Do you do treflips? Fantastic, so can any other kid. I don’t care, throw your board against the wall, flip it on your head, do a back flip, do something I want to see. It’s different, do skateboarding and not do what others do.” “There’s a kid in Indonesia I started to follow who's skateboarding reminds me of a young Christian Hosoi. When I see the kid skate I can recognize Christian Hosoi’s influence. Can you recognize the inventors of other tricks you see people do at the park?”, he asks. Andrew sponsors five “troublemakers”: Eric Martin (Ontario), Dustin Lawrence (Ontario), Connor Callan aka Meat Feet (Arizona), Luis Uribe (Texas), Shinichi Nichiyama (Japan). He enjoys watching them and supports them the way he can. About his local skateparks, Andrew recommends: Bob MacQuarrie skatepark in Otawa Joel Gauthier skatepark in Rockland Local bus stop where where it's super smooth and is perfect for slappies, now that people stopped using busses, due to Covid, it's always empty and available.

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