skate culture Archives - Blackpool Social Club

18 May

Stanley Park Skatepark official opening

Claire Griffiths1 CommentLocal News, Sports & Wellbeingskate culture, skateboarding

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] When you live in the pool' it is hard to navigate a town built for tourists. But this week Stanley Park saw the opening of a new public skatepark - something for the community by the community. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="34955" img_size="large"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You will find the space, right alongside the BMX track and in the old skatepark space. The new skatepark has been a labour of love for local skate legend, Woody and project manager Simon Bennett who raised over £200,000 for the 100 percent concrete park. Sport England is the project's main funder, having put up £150,000 and a further £50k…

14 May

Bella B: I learned to skateboard, but this is what skateboarding taught me

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsSports & Wellbeingskate, skate culture, Skateboard

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] As Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 draws to a close, we're pleased to bring you this brilliant guest article from mental health advocate and skateboarder Bella Borgers [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I’ll be honest – some days I think: wow, I really shouldn’t be on a skateboard. I’m terrible at looking both ways before I cross the street and I feel genuinely guilty about the number of times I’ve literally stepped on my mother’s toes – I’m that clumsy. Not to mention, I burst into tears when I’m afraid (even at the sudden whisper of BOO!) and I’m completely anxiety-ridden when I feel…

03 May

Skate Stories: Hidden skateboarding spots and creativity

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsLocal NewsBlackpool, creativity, skate, skate culture, Skateboard, skateboarding

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Blackpool bods whose skateboarding activities feed into their creativity. In this article, we talk to a chap known as "Sandy" to his pals. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Tell us who you are: My Name Is Rob Sanderson, most skateboarders and artists know me as Sandy, I'll be turning 32 this year, born and raised in Blackpool. I've been skating for about 17-18 years now which doesn't feel that long ago, I'm starting to feel the ache now though, having to stretch and get warmed up more each time I go out. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] What came first skating or creativity? Skateboarding definitely came first, I was sketching things…

07 Mar

Blackpool Skateboard Stories: Curb Culture

Catherine Mugonyi0 CommentsSports & Wellbeingenvironment, skate, skate culture, Skateboard

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] If you follow BSC on Instagram, you may have seen @curb.culture pop up a couple of times. The profile is full of vibrant images caught on 35mm film and video clips showing a variety of skaters honing and showing off their skills, but more importantly having an awesome time doing it. Continuing BSC’s skate season, I had a virtual meet-up with Adam Hopkin, skater, journalist, photographer and founder of Curb Culture: A zine that highlights independent skate culture.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]How did Curb Culture come about? Despite being in Blackpool for so long I've never had any contact with any of the creative…

07 Mar

Blackpool Skateboard Stories: Girl skaters get some air

Antonia Charlesworth0 CommentsSports & Wellbeingskate culture, Skateboard, women

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Whether it’s complete newbies or people returning to the sport, everyone is welcome at Ramp City’s Girls’ Skate Night. Antonia Charlesworth steps tentatively onto her board. Photos: Claire Griffiths I’m standing on a skateboard for the first time in almost twenty years. The last time resulted in a few weeks in a luminous pink cast on my left arm and now I have a lot more to lose. The truth is, even then I was no badass rider – it was a guy friend’s deck and I was feeling brave and asked for a go. I learnt my painful…

07 Mar

In Her Place: Urban Skateboarding

Stephanie Cottle0 CommentsColumns & Opinion, Sports & WellbeingBlackpool, community, Place, skate, skate culture, Skateboard, women

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] In another instalment of In Her Place Stephanie Cottle looks back before skating into the future. If I was asked as a kid to imagine what the year 2020 would look like, I can guarantee that I would have envisioned the fun, futuristic depictions from my favourite childhood films. I’m talking teenagers on hoverboards and self-lacing trainers – the really important stuff. We all know the rather less exciting reality of 2020 was that instead of jetting off to have silver suit adventures in flying cars, we’ve faced extraordinarily tight restrictions on our movements. No planes, no trains, no automobiles. Back in March…

24 Sep

Our Time and Our Turn – Female skateboarders return to the ramps

Antonia Charlesworth0 CommentsFood and Drink, Local News, Sports & WellbeingRampcity, skate, skate culture

Blackpool’s female skateboarders are set to return to Ramp City for the popular girls’ nights launched shortly before lockdown. Chris ‘Woody’ Wood, a well-known fixture of Blackpool’s skate scene and owner of Big Woody’s skate shop was inspired to start running female-only skate nights after noticing a growing number of girls buying boards while the ramps in Blackpool’s renowned indoor skatepark remained largely dominated by men. When over 40 females of all ages turned up to the inaugural event in January, it was clear they had just been waiting for permission. Two successful nights were held before lockdown was imposed,…