Best beginner park in ATL?

[OldGaDawg]

I'm trying to find a place both myself (away from skating for 25 years ) and my 8 year old son can go for him to learn and me to figure it all back out again. Is there one park that is more suited to newbies than others?

I'm really glad he's shown an interest because now it gives me an excuse to get back on a board again! 8)

Thanks

[Cann0n]

No, there aren't parks made for the different levels of riders. It's all based on the funds for the park.

Discover Mills Mall had a real nice skatepark many years ago. I'm sure it's still there, but I dunno. I haven't been there in a while. I never skated there, just hung out. They have a really cool lounge section that over looks the area.

Vans had one at the Mall of GA but I know they shut that one down. I never skated there but it was full of noobs. I didn't see anyone that seemed able to stay on their board.

Every skatepark I've been too, 1 out of 10 skaters there actually knew what they were doing. I've seen kids on those Play-School plastic strap-on skates at nearly every skate park I've ever seen. It just depends on what time you go.

If you are lucky, you might find a small outdoor park that is city funded or volunteer built. I don't know any in North GA. We have them here in every city in FL (so it seems) and they are pretty small and full of amateurs that seem to only be practicing ollies (that was a generalization).

Watch Built to Shred on FuelTV. They tell you ho to make all kinds of skate park toys out of scraps.

Hell, we have a "skate park" in my town and the population is under 3,000, though it only has 2 small ramps, a 3' QP, and a 6' grind rail, it's free. If I cared enough, I'd help build some ramps for it but the skaters in my town (the very few) caught a bad rap trying to be punks and they went around smashing windows and breaking things. Made us all look bad. So F**K them! I've already got some backlash from their mistakes and all I was doing was skating around the bike trails listening to music.

[ross932]

pinckeyville park in norcross has a nice and small bowl that is great for beginners, it also has nice bike trails if you have a longboard.

[aldrian80]

like Ross932 said, pinckeyville park.
Also, check this website's forum for other skate parks: ATLskater.com
And join longboard-atlanta group (Link: Longboard-Atlanta | Google Groups) for longboard sessions/spots around Atlanta.

[OldGaDawg]

I guess I should have said best park FOR beginners- I just don't want anything to crazy for my son yet (or me for that matter). I took him to McKoy in Decatur near where I live but he had a hard time with the sharp transitions on the wooden ramps there. I think the smoother transitions on concrete would be easier for him to handle.

He's riding a cheapie Target kid board that is too small and that didn't help either. I'm building him and me both an old school oak board like my old G&S Warptail I had when I was a kid. It's for his birthday in 2 weeks so I want to take him out once he gets it.

Are there any over 40 geezers like me out there skating?

[mcsk8]

Pinckneyville would be the best best for a beginner

the smaller bowl that would be good for beginners starts to the left of this photo



there is a good smaller bowl at Duncan Creek Park (Gwinnett County). I was there on a sunday and it was packed with tons of kids and bmx'ers so would be tough to get started.

they have a small flat area to practice in also.

Brook Run Skate Park in Dunwoody as a nice large flat area with low angle banks. That would be another great spot for beginners.

[Camel]

Are there any over 40 geezers like me out there skating?

Yes, if you are into longboarding, we have pretty regular sessions all over north ATL. Follow the links in my sig for info.