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Skate Parks: Vans Skate Park, Florida
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Published: July 9, 2007
Skate parks are characterized by a myriad of ramps and half- or quarter-pipes, adorned by a few grinding rails for good measure. At skate parks, skateboarders are free to perform all the skateboard tricks in their canon, from the basic ollie to heel flips to nose grinds. VANS, a popular brand of skateboard shoes, has branched out to the other aspects of the sport many buyers of VANS participate in.
They host skateboarding events and even have two skate parks in the United States. The cities of Orlando, Fla., and Orange, Calif., each have a VANS skate park.
Skateboard tricks aren't easy, and VANS knows this. Thus, safety comes first at these skate parks. Rules at the VANS skate park Orlando location require all minors to wear protective gear; this includes a helmet, knee and elbow pads. Parents of minors must sign a waiver at the skate parks, not from home, with a VANS employee present. VANS skate parks are non-smoking facilities, and skaters can't hold any sort of contests. All competitions must be organized and run by the park. The skate parks follow the no shirt, no shoes, no service code – few would attempt to skate barefoot anyway, as the grip tape on skateboards has a rough, sandpaper-esque feel. Skaters have to play nice; no fighting or aggressive behavior toward others is allowed.
Skate parks offer lessons in beginner and intermediate level skateboarding for $40 an hour during certain hours of the day, with $30 for each additional skater. Up to five skaters can take lessons from one instructor. The price of lessons includes session time as well as rental for pads and skateboards.
Skate parks like the VANS one in Orange, Calif., open at 10 a.m. for those who like to hop on their skateboards bright and early. The park closes at 10 p.m. every day. It's not free, although a membership will bring down the price per session. Monday through Friday, members are charged $5, non-members $12. On weekends and holidays, members pay $7 while non-members shell out $15 for each two-hour free skate session.
Once all the rules are understood, payments have been made and gear is strapped on, kids are able to skate. Skaters can test their skateboards on one of the skate park's courses. Both skate parks have a main street course: Orange's is 20,000 square feet, Orlando's is 25,000. The skate parks also feature two mini-ramps and an outdoor course with more advanced, grind oriented terrain.
When skaters need a rest, they can work their minds instead of their feet at the arcade games inside each of the skate parks. From there, the two skate parks have their own distinct features. The VANS skate park in Orange boasts a replica of an old swimming pool as well as a Pee Wee area for beginners and young skaters, which presents all the features of the main course in a smaller, less daunting fashion. Features unique to the Orlando location include the Dough Boy bowl and a warm up course. Like the Pee Wee area in Orange, Orlando's 8,000 square foot warm up course sports a miniature version of the main course's features.
Famous skateboarders like Bucky Lasek and Neil Hendrix came to the Orlando location in 2007 as guest teachers for enthusiastic young skateboarders during Vans Vert Camp 2007. The kids received one on one sessions at the skate parks with professional skaters focusing solely on vertical skateboarding, where the skater pushes his board off the lip of a ramp and skates down. 30 skaters came from as far as Quebec to get the chance to learn from the pros as well as to experience one of only two VANS skate parks in existence.
Before heading out to the skate parks, skaters may want to slip on their VANS skateboard shoes, which can be found at any VANS store as well as a number of other dealers like Skate Shack. In addition to the famous shoes, VANS stores also sell apparel and accessories like backpacks and purses, so skaters can look stylish even when they're not busting tricks at their favorite skate parks.
Sources:
Skateparks: Orange. VANS. 25 June 2007. http://www.vans.com/vans/skateparks/index.asp.
Skateparks: Orlando. VANS. 25 June 2007. http://www.vans.com/vans/skateparks/index_orlando. asp.
Vans Vert Camp 2007 Orlando Recap. VANS. 12 June 2007. 25 June 2007.
http://www.vans.com/vans/news.asp?id=1406824
Skateboard tricks aren't easy, and VANS knows this. Thus, safety comes first at these skate parks. Rules at the VANS skate park Orlando location require all minors to wear protective gear; this includes a helmet, knee and elbow pads. Parents of minors must sign a waiver at the skate parks, not from home, with a VANS employee present. VANS skate parks are non-smoking facilities, and skaters can't hold any sort of contests. All competitions must be organized and run by the park. The skate parks follow the no shirt, no shoes, no service code – few would attempt to skate barefoot anyway, as the grip tape on skateboards has a rough, sandpaper-esque feel. Skaters have to play nice; no fighting or aggressive behavior toward others is allowed.
Skate parks offer lessons in beginner and intermediate level skateboarding for $40 an hour during certain hours of the day, with $30 for each additional skater. Up to five skaters can take lessons from one instructor. The price of lessons includes session time as well as rental for pads and skateboards.
Skate parks like the VANS one in Orange, Calif., open at 10 a.m. for those who like to hop on their skateboards bright and early. The park closes at 10 p.m. every day. It's not free, although a membership will bring down the price per session. Monday through Friday, members are charged $5, non-members $12. On weekends and holidays, members pay $7 while non-members shell out $15 for each two-hour free skate session.
Once all the rules are understood, payments have been made and gear is strapped on, kids are able to skate. Skaters can test their skateboards on one of the skate park's courses. Both skate parks have a main street course: Orange's is 20,000 square feet, Orlando's is 25,000. The skate parks also feature two mini-ramps and an outdoor course with more advanced, grind oriented terrain.
When skaters need a rest, they can work their minds instead of their feet at the arcade games inside each of the skate parks. From there, the two skate parks have their own distinct features. The VANS skate park in Orange boasts a replica of an old swimming pool as well as a Pee Wee area for beginners and young skaters, which presents all the features of the main course in a smaller, less daunting fashion. Features unique to the Orlando location include the Dough Boy bowl and a warm up course. Like the Pee Wee area in Orange, Orlando's 8,000 square foot warm up course sports a miniature version of the main course's features.
Famous skateboarders like Bucky Lasek and Neil Hendrix came to the Orlando location in 2007 as guest teachers for enthusiastic young skateboarders during Vans Vert Camp 2007. The kids received one on one sessions at the skate parks with professional skaters focusing solely on vertical skateboarding, where the skater pushes his board off the lip of a ramp and skates down. 30 skaters came from as far as Quebec to get the chance to learn from the pros as well as to experience one of only two VANS skate parks in existence.
Before heading out to the skate parks, skaters may want to slip on their VANS skateboard shoes, which can be found at any VANS store as well as a number of other dealers like Skate Shack. In addition to the famous shoes, VANS stores also sell apparel and accessories like backpacks and purses, so skaters can look stylish even when they're not busting tricks at their favorite skate parks.
Sources:
Skateparks: Orange. VANS. 25 June 2007. http://www.vans.com/vans/skateparks/index.asp.
Skateparks: Orlando. VANS. 25 June 2007. http://www.vans.com/vans/skateparks/index_orlando. asp.
Vans Vert Camp 2007 Orlando Recap. VANS. 12 June 2007. 25 June 2007.
http://www.vans.com/vans/news.asp?id=1406824
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