Trucks and Fins is a huge present to the whole skate community - not just for the skating people, but also for shops, builders and schools. Super easy to use and can't believe how complete it is.
Pascal Lieleg aka Official Bowlshit
The Skate Reality: Building Bridges (and Bypassing Excuses) in A dos Cunhados
The Skatelite Reality: Building Bridges (and Bypassing Excuses) in A dos Cunhados
The second stop of the Portugal 2026 skate tour brought me to A dos Cunhados Skatepark, though if you’re asking a local for directions, just call it Póvoa de Penafirme. Tucked away at Rua da Natária 64 within the fresh greenery of Jardim da Póvoa, this spot is a brand-new addition to the Portuguese map. It officially opened on June 5, 2025, born from a €160,000 joint effort between local councils and EU funding. They took a hectare of empty, unused land and turned it into a community hub. The result? A clean, functional, modular park built with Skatelite.
I rolled into Póvoa de Penafirme after spending the morning doing the "other" part of this mission: contacting skatepark builders. My goal is simple—I want to get the people who build these spots to support the platform that maps them. Currently, I have 15 builders and pumptrack specialists on board, but the "hustle" is an uphill battle. The irony in this industry is thick. I often hear, "We don’t do marketing," from companies that post to their socials daily. Or, more commonly, "We have no money," when I ask for a one-time €350 signup fee to join the directory. Meanwhile, I spend entire days meticulously uploading their projects, tagging their craftsmanship, and promoting their work to a global audience. Hearing "there’s no money" is the standard soundtrack of the skate business, but it won’t stop me from knocking on doors.
As for the park itself, it’s a simple (not to say rather boring) back-and-forth modular setup. It’s the kind of reliable Skatelite facility you see popping up all over Portugal—smooth, predictable, and better than nothing kind of park. Is it a bucket list destination you should drive hours to see? Honestly, no. But if you are in the area or staying at the Pousada de Juventude Santa Cruz—which is a literal five-minute skate away—it’s a perfect spot to get in a session.
The best part of any session in this region is the payoff at the end. You’re only 2.5 kilometers from the coast. A quick five-minute drive puts you at Praia da Vigia or Praia do Amanhã. There is no better feeling than soaking your legs in the freezing Atlantic after a day of skating and industry pitching. It clears the head and reminds me why I started TrucksandFins in the first place: for the love of the spot and the community that uses it.
