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Written byLiam Girie
“Skateboarding is as much, or more, an art of mode of expression than it is a sport. What skateboarding has given me is precisely that: a form of expression that drew me to it.” – Rodney Mullen
As I imagine was the case for many, the 2020 lockdown marked the advent of a new passion of mine which I still eagerly pursue to this day. More so out of necessity than inspiration, I picked up skateboarding to offset my sedentary lifestyle. At that point in time, I felt I needed a reason to get out of the house and skateboarding seemed as good as any. Little did I know of its addictive properties.
Nearly two and a half years later, skateboarding has become something I care about as much as my work. It has fast become a core component of both my lifestyle and my identity, and I refuse to stop until my bones become dust and the only four wheels I can ride are attached to a wheelchair.
I’d like to, among other things, spotlight the things that have drawn me to this sport and to explore the culture surrounding it to more deeply understand this thing that I have become so ridiculously obsessed with. For starters, I’d like to talk about my three favourite skateparks here in Cape Town.
Eyethu Skatepark
Located in the heart of the Hout Bay Valley, this park was purposefully constructed at the point of confluence for its three demographic areas. The park gets its namesakes from the adjoining township, Imizamo Yethu. This translates from Nguni to “Our Efforts”, a title that reflects the park’s intended purpose; to promote integration in a town whose districts are still predominantly split down racial lines.
The park gets its namesakes from the adjoining township, Imizamo Yethu. This translates from Nguni to “Our Efforts”, a title that reflects the park’s intended purpose.
While I believe the City of Cape Town could, and should, do more to rectify the problems that contribute to the persisting marginalisation of POC communities, Eyethu Skatepark is a step in the right direction, especially in such a segregated space. Having lived in Hout Bay for nearly 3 years now, I have experienced firsthand how influential this park has been in fostering inclusivity between its surrounding communities.
The park itself is a 925 m2 concrete monolith primarily designed for bowl skating, one of the sport’s most quintessential styles. This means that the infrastructure at a rider’s disposal here will mainly feature transitional obstacles, mostly quarter pipes, of varying heights.
Riders unfamiliar with transition skateboarding will quickly become acquainted with Newton’s Laws if they aren’t careful, and the solid concrete surface makes for a harder slam. I’d encourage first-timers to wear protective gear and start on the smaller obstacles before moving to the big sections. The park allows riders to drill fundamentals on the smaller, safer obstacles before translating them to bigger sections. The park does have a street section both in the middle and back consisting of A-frames, hubbas, round down-rails, and a pyramid.
Beyond the calibre of your average skater, these obstacles are big and scary and don’t see much use besides from a select few whose years on the board have rendered them exempt from the laws of gravity.
Battery Park Skatepark
Located in the V&A Waterfront’s Canal District, Battery Park is Cape Town’s premier skatepark. I would like to thank our corporate overlords for devoting nearly a third of the Canal’s R1.1 billion development budget to its construction. The park was designed by California Skateparks, the world’s most recognised skatepark construction firm with help from Cape Town’s own Marc Baker. Notable skaters like Devandre “Chappie” Galant and Jean-marc Johannes, two of Cape Town’s most decorated riders, are regulars here.
The park’s layout is a sweet harmony of street and bowl obstacles that make for a good flow between sections. Its mirrored design also allows skaters to hit obstacles from both directions to account for goofy and regular foot placement. In my humble opinion, no other skatepark in Cape Town offers quite as much variety as this one. It is not without its issues, though.
Skateparks fulfill a fundamental role in keeping the sport alive and accessible. For us skaters, they are not only the proving grounds where we hone our skills but also, much like skate shops, are the cultural hubs of our community.
Mill Street Skatepark
Located under a CBD bridge and just about as disgusting as that sounds, this park is my regular and it is here that you find me stoned and dehydrated at least three times a week. I cannot stress enough how filthy this park can get. The Council has long since forgotten the lofty ideals of transforming derelict eyesores into safe activity hubs it touted in 2014 during the park’s construction, now only cleaning it every so often when things get really bad. At its worst, several key obstacles either become dangerous or inaccessible due to the build-up of trash. The responsibility often falls on the skaters to keep the park in a useable state.
So why do I skate here? If you can persuade yourself to look beyond the detritus and bodily fluids, you might see the same charm that I do. It may be filthy but its absence of municipal jurisdiction and police attention has made the park a free space for all kinds of artists. Most notably, every inch of real estate along the park’s walls is covered in spray-painted murals. Unfettered by the police and the Council, street artists from Cape Town and abroad are constantly travelling to Mill Street Park to put up new pieces. As space begins to run out, artists will begin painting over each other’s pieces, fulfilling a cycle that offers a great lesson in the beauty and impermanence of street art.
In terms of obstacles, this park has all your street basics – a rail, hubba, ledge, and manny pad – with several banks and quarter-pipes on either end for skaters to build speed. Mill Street appeals to a more core demographic of skaters so you probably won’t have to worry about bumping into children here. As long as sanitation isn’t counted among your deepest concerns, this park has everything you need.
Skate Is Life, Bru
Skateparks fulfill a fundamental role in keeping the sport alive and accessible. For us skaters, they are not only the proving grounds where we hone our skills but also, much like skate shops, are the cultural hubs of our community. If you are a skater based in Cape Town, these parks are where you’ll find like-minded individuals whose dedication to the craft will help inspire your own. If you’re just starting out or are interested in picking up skateboarding, I encourage you to explore these skateparks. The atmosphere might scare you at first but trust me, it’s a vital step in your journey through skateboarding and it does not matter how good you are.
