YMCA Skate Park in Encinitas - Page 1
This skate park has been doing business for over 7 years. Between January and May 1998 they completely rebuilt the skate park. When I say rebuilt, I mean that they completely destroyed ALL RAMPS and threw them away. Then they re-paved the lot and built all new ramps. The park was great before, now it's awesome. They have many half pipes spread around a great street course. Personally, I'm old school so the street course doesn't appeal that much to me (can't teach an old dog new tricks). I do enjoy the street course, but mainly for the large quarter pipes and fast lines. I don't care too much for the railings and flat "bank" ramps. I prefer large, transitioned, metal coping ramps. I get my fair share at this park. From the 6' high, 32' wide mini ramp (8' transition, 1' tombstone), to the all wood 10' deep fully enclosed pool, to the 12' high, 80' wide half pipe. They also have a spine ramp but it's a bit small (slow) for my tastes (about 3' tall with about a 6' transition). Under construction is an area nicknamed "Kiddie-Land". It's a ramp that is very small (3' max) with several hips and bowls. Kiddie-Land also has an island in the middle to slow you down even more. I know, I'm complaining, right? Not really. There needs to be a variety al a skate park for all ages and skill levels. The YMCA has made an effort to separate the areas a little. I think they've done a great job.
I skated the new park for the first time on May 23, 1998 and I had a blast. This was also my first day back on my board in about 7 months. I was surprised I didn't kill myself. I did do a pivot on the 14' high quarter pipe in the street course that nearly left skid marks in my shorts. The 14' high quarter pipe has a 10' transition, which means 4' of vert. Holey cow that ramp is spooky.
The pool is great, it has a shallow end (about 7' deep) and a deep end (10' deep) that transition together. This pool is completely enclosed which means that you cannot "run out" of ramp. Speaking of running out of ramp, I can't see ever running out of ramp on a 12' high (10' transition) 80' wide half pipe. The pipe has several tomb stones, with two tomb stones connected together with metal coping. It's difficult to describe, so I'll leave that for the pictures below. I've been a member of this park for over 4 years now and I'll be re-newing my membership over and over again.
The spine ramp and "Kiddie-Land" are not pictured. Perhaps someday I'll remember to take pictures of those.
06-07-98 Update: Looks like "Kiddie Land" will open soon. From the looks of it today, it looked like it should have been opened already. I can't wait for this to open, it will lighten up the traffic in the rest of the park.
06-08-98 Update: Here are the good quality, aerial pictures of the
park. I chose to have two high quality pictures instead of many low quality.
Pic1 (800x600 254kb) This is the entire YMCA complex. That's
the 5 freeway on the left. We're looking North.
Pic2 (800x600 176kb) Here is the Skate Park by itself.
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Here is the pool. The skater (no, not me) is in the 7' deep shallow end. In the distance is the 10' deep end. The pool ramp is connected to the big half pipe (off to the right). |
This is looking from deep end of the pool towards the shallow end. You can see the little quarter pipe on the left connecting the deck of the big ramp to the deck of the pool ramp. Beyond the pool ramp is the street course area. |
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This is the big half pipe. Here you see what I was trying to describe earlier. The metal coping connecting two tomb stones together. Beyond the other side of the half pipe is the pool ramp. |