Support behind Edenvale’s skatepark grows

Skaters can look forward to a new addition at Edenvale’s skatepark with the arrival of a transition ramp donated by members of the East Rand community.

ALSO READ: ‘Skatepark on the right track’ – Dean

Dean Backos of 011Skatepark said the new ramp was donated at the end of March by Boksburg’s Uncle D’s.

The transition ramp was the first of two new ramps set to be installed at the facility.

Dean said skaters can look forward to another addition to the park in the coming months.

“With the donation of the new ramp and other recent donations, it feels like the greater community is behind the park,” said Dean.

Dean thanked skaters Maritz Pienaar and Christiaan de Jager for their help with fixing and re-welding the rails at the skatepark.

With the arrival of April, an admission fee was introduced at the skatepark.

“Because the admissions were introduced on April 1, some skaters thought the fees were an April Fool’s joke, but the aim is to use the admission fees to renovate the park,” explained Dean.

“Since introducing the admission fees and the access-controlled gate, I feel like the park has taken such a cool turn, but we still have a lot to do.”

In the foreseeable future, the pole jam and kicker box will be removed and new additions will be added to the park.

Dean said a fun box, which has already been constructed, will be installed and there are plans to construct stairs where the embankment is on the northern side of the park.

Besides introducing new features to the skatepark, Dean started sourcing material to begin work on the halfpipe the skatepark acquired several months ago.

“Unfortunately, we can no longer get the 9mm Formica boards that are on the half-pipe, but I have sourced boards made from re-used plastic,” said Dean.

Dean said the plastic used to create the boards is sourced from areas like rubbish dumps and cannot be recycled into anything else.

Dean said the decision to use recycled plastic stems from the skating mentality of reusing and repurposing materials wherever possible.

Once the half-pipe has been improved, Dean hopes to create a mini-ramp out of pieces of Formica salvaged from the half-pipe.

Dean highlighted that everything done at the park is community-driven.

“We are not doing this on our own. We are doing this with the support of the community,” said Dean.

Another success for 011Skatepark was its second Pitch and Skate on March 27.

Hosted in partnership with Dragon Energy and Shadey Films, pro-Dragon athlete Reece Chinery was the commentator for the event.

Bands that entertained spectators while amateurs and open skaters took to the park included Lyndon Jay and Wile E Coyote.

Each skater had three 45-second runs around the park. They were judged on style, tricks, execution and their general performance besides competing in the best trick category.

Jayden Ford won the amateur category, while Kelvin Vosloo won the open category.

“The event had double the attendance of our first Pitch and Skate, went well and was successful,” said Dean.

“Since skating was announced as an Olympic sport, more people have reached out to us. I think it’s because people want to grow the sport more.”

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