5 hours, 4 parks, 3 cups of coffee 2 states and only 1 slam...there isn't anyone who has had as much influence on skatepark construction in SE Ct and RI than Jeff Paprocki Norwich Waterford Groton and Westerly all have his trowl to thank. I had a day off and finally good weather so today is the day to skate out my legs. Starting early with a XL Iced Turbo Black from DnD I droped my wife at work and hit Norwich.
Originally a prefab concrete park on an asphalt pad Jeff has been adding pieces here and there for a while....the best piece and the reason I drove there was the bowl (seriously the asphalt sucks 95a-97a wheels are a requirement). I can't believe it's been nearly a year since I've skated this bowl, I wish it was closer to me its so much fun, you really forget that one end is open he's done such a good job of making lines I spent a solid hour skating by myself and only slammed once. The only problem with this bowl is that Jeff likes goofy lines more than regular so it takes some time to get used to things if you are not goofy
Next up Waterford and another cup of coffee....nice thing about New England there are Dunkin Donuts everywhere (worse than starbucks) another Iced Turbo and I was pulling into the Waterford spakepark. Wedged between Public Safety, Animal Control and the police department this is not a park for safety meetings but it's also spotless. Tight slow smooth and in need of remodeling (there are painted lines on the ground marking future improvements) Waterford was the only park I shared this morning. An attractive sunbleached brunette who was as much in her IPOD world as I was mine. This is a goofy park, but it flows well enough that you really don't have to push at all 40 minutes and maybe 3 words to the person i was sharing my session with and I was on my way to Groton
Groton is the mother of all parks for the area, Home to Donny Barley its been around a while and has seen continual upgrades. This parks flows and its fast...I have 3-4 lines here though it's not my home park I can usually wear out my legs in an hour. Again like Waterford there are painted lines marking planned upgrades which will only make the park better (hopefully this winter). My only complaint is the dead zone in one corner of the park
My legs are starting to get wobbly...it's time to go home, short stop for another iced turbo on the way to Whiterock
finally home...I like this park the best not just because it home nor because I've helped Jeff build new pieces but because though it still has room for expansion it fosters complete lines. Again I have the park to myself for an hour of blissful skating. I'm still adding pieces and parts to my lines here though I try to skate it 2-3 times a week afternoons are crowded and don't lend themselves to creativity merely snake sessions so it's really nice to have the place to myself and work on sections that have bee giving me issues. Just about the time my legs are saying no mas the Parks department shows up to empty the trash and mow the weeds that are encroaching on the park....time to go
BTW Jeff Paprocki is a regular skater he just builds goofy friendly lines into parks
Thanks to Breaking Ground and Concrete Disciples for the pics. if you are ever in this part of the country check out these parks
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Quote:
Originally Posted by livefortoday2007
It is almost like racism to seperate street skating and longboards.
Thank you for listing this excelent tour. Speaking for the Hamilton reservation I am sure we would be willing to join you one of these days. did you go during a weekday morning? that is what it sounds like with all the parks being empty.
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Political Correctness is a doctrine,fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end
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yeah I took friday off since I have to work today/tonight....I could live without returning to Waterford until it gets a little more of Jeff's attention....too small for more than 3-4 people to have fun. Jamestown is only a little bigger but it has more lines and its faster, sadly Jamestown is onlly skateable after school and it gets crowded fast. We ought to set up a tour sometime next month
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Quote:
Originally Posted by livefortoday2007
It is almost like racism to seperate street skating and longboards.
yeah I took friday off since I have to work today/tonight....I could live without returning to Waterford until it gets a little more of Jeff's attention....too small for more than 3-4 people to have fun. Jamestown is only a little bigger but it has more lines and its faster, sadly Jamestown is onlly skateable after school and it gets crowded fast. We ought to set up a tour sometime next month
I am definitely down for a Thursday or Friday perhaps.
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Political Correctness is a doctrine,fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end
[img]http://www.silverfishlongboarding.com/forum/attachments/new-england/32660d1203880975-wheelabrator-new-logo.jpg[img]
I was leaning more toward mid morning because I have to be to work in montville at 3 pm
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Political Correctness is a doctrine,fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end
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