austin skate notes

Paul Zimmerman has accomplished the skatepark advocate’s dream: He successfully convinced a developer who was installing a concrete ditch to make it skateable. People in city and county government have often mentioned the possibility over the years. Specific cities strongly considered the idea, but it never happened anywhere. Now there’s an example that can be cited to give decision-makers more confidence in attempting this type of installation.

More information about Paul Zimmerman’s other skatepark advocacy successes can be found at the El Paso Skatepark Association website. More photos are in the Austin Public Skatepark Action Committee gallery.

The Austin Chronicle last week released their special 20th Anniversary Best of Austin awards and Michael Sieben’s crew over at Okay Mountain were selected as the Best Art Gallery for 2009. Speaking of which, they’ve got an exhibit opening later this month featuring 2-D art by Devin Flynn, who worked on the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie.

The New York Times Magazine published an awesome article last week about Spike Jonze and his struggle to create the movie version of “Where the Wild Things Are.” I started reading the Jonze article on my iPhone while on the toilet, and found myself there almost an hour later before I finished it.

Sometimes-Austin-video-visitor, Jeremey Lavoi shot a great video for ESPN of this year’s Chili Bowl contest. Seems almost as excellent as last year’s Chili Bowl Contest at Mabel Davis Skatepark in Austin. Some of the same faces were competing. Wonder if they know what hot chili really is…

Ideal Skateparks poured this Sadlands replica at the Benbrook Public Skatepark in Leander earlier this morning. That park should be open in a couple months.

Remember way back in like 2004 when we went to all those meetings around Travis County and lobbied for bond money to build a public skatepark in NE Metro County Park? Well, the County successfully convinced Austin-area tax payers that some of their county taxes should be collected in the sum of $600,000 and used to build a public skatepark. The project has finally moved into the design phase of the process and a meeting was held last month in Pflugerville to gather public input. Attendance was thin, perhaps because it was held at 6:30PM and Pflugerville isn’t the easiest place to drive north towards at that time of the day. So, now Travis County Planners have decided to hold a second input meeting in Austin to get the input of some of the hundreds of people who attended the bond input meetings back in 2004.

WHEN: August 12, 6:30PM-8:30PM
WHERE: Commissioner’s Court, 314 West 11th Street, Austin, Texas

Here is a flyer for the skatepark design input meeting. Spread the word.

Small, but that should make the ramp easier to move…

i have a 12ft by 8ft mini ramp that is about 2 1/2 ft tall the top needs new surface but all of the two by fours are good and the transition is perfect and mellow, its a really fun ramp, with a new top which is about four sheets it will be ready to skate again. I am moving to new braunfels so i need to get rid of it by friday, it is already in half the two quarter pipes are seperated it will be easy to move… you have to come pick it up though i can help you load it…. save money on wood this ramp is ready she just needs a little tlc…. thanks brad 214 205 8280

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If you haven’t seen the Hangover. Get to it. It’s a phenomenal movie featuring Mike Vallely acting, and his band is on the soundtrack!

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If you couldn’t get tickets to this weekend’s Explosions in the Sky performance, there’s always Mike Vallely’s hero talking at Emo’s. Any bets on the number of Army recruiting posters hanging up around that show? Wonder if he’s got any other bookings set up for this Austin visit like Henry set up for last year’s ACL festival?

Seems like the enthusiasm for Go Skateboarding Day might be waining. A couple years back, stores were hosting competing GSD events. Now, it’s hard to find anything going on. Perhaps it is just a conflict with Father’s Day this year. If people are going to bail on their dads and go skate, they’ll have a new park to check out in New Braunfels this weekend. To their credit, Tekgnar, appears to be the only local shop with anything scheduled for Go Skateboarding Day 2009.

Ideal Skateparks is down in Seguin, Tx. working on a renovation of a wooden-ramp skatepark at the Seguin Activity Center. Should be ready to skate the first week of July.

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Cary Jackson and Louisa Spaventa got married in Austin. It was an amazing event. A great reunion of friends & awesome food. The two newlyweds are exploring Italy on their honeymoon as I type this.