Despite months of rain and a construction company going bankrupt, Truro's brand-spanking new skatepark is nearing completion.
Thanks awfully Lord Falmouth! In 1920, he gave Truro City Council a piece of his land on the Tregothnan Estate to be used "for the good of young people". Little did he know that in 2009 it would become one of the best skateparks in the land - a full-on artificial urban environment that will be the first of its kind in the UK.
It's been a long time coming, but from the plans we've seen and the reports from the construction site, it'll sure be worth the wait. Construction on Hendra Park, as it's known, is scheduled to end around February 2009. To celebrate its grand opening, there'll be nothing less than a huge launch at Easter; a fun-filled, not-to-be-missed exhibition from professional skateboarders and BMXers accompanied by music from live bands.
Best of all, entry is free at the park, with supervision provided at peak times.
Designer and skater Anthony Greenwood spent months working closely with young people from Zebs youth project, local skate professionals Jody and Leo Smith, Mat Perham and Stu from SJ'z skate shop. Much attention was given to ensuring the park was something that normal people could actually skate, with flow and progression big factors, too. Given this dream blank canvas, they also thought it would be plain rude not to incorporate features from some of their favourite spots around the world, too.
Greenwood says the area is: "A condensed cityscape with ramps, bollards, steps and railings. There will also be a classic cloverleaf bowl and a 14m long mini-ramp." The all-ability plaza still holds titillation aplenty for professionals: "We usually have to travel quite a bit to find this kind of terrain," says Leo. "Yeah, it will save us quite a lot of money in train fares!" adds Jody.
Untraditionally, the bowls and mini-ramps have been incorporated into this pure street plaza - the park terrain looking like what you would see walking down the road in a city environment. There'll be plenty of flat concrete and curbs for beginners to get started, and steps and rails for those ready for a bigger challenge.
Hendra skatepark is a unique setting for the skate scene. Friendly to everyone, the plaza will be surrounded by greenery to fit in with the surrounding environment, like a regular park. "It's possible that having the park will help remove some of the stigma towards street skaters," says Stu. "After all, Truro is not ideal for street skating."
Stu has been keeping an eye on construction, to make sure it's true to plan, and will be testing the ramps and rails at the earliest opportunity. He says that the street-oriented park will "benefit every skateboarder, BMXer and rollerblader in Truro and beyond." When the park opens, he looks forward to the community of like-minded people it will bring together.
Photograph by Wig Worland
He sees the park as an opportunity for mentorship and friendship amongst skaters. "When we were kids, we looked up to the older guys. They weren't so much teaching us, but they'd do something and you'd learn from them." Perhaps this kind of relationship will increase the number of professional skaters and BMXers coming out of Cornwall County.
To practise at the moment, they have to drive to known spots few and far between - and mostly low quality - to skate for a few minutes before being thrown out! only to do the whole thing over again at another spot. No doubt, the purpose-built park at Hendra boost the skating potential of Cornwall in a big way.
Lick spoke to Stu from SJ'z about some other little known details about the new park, plus his lowdown on the current skate scene!
So, how do you feel about the new skatepark opening?
It's a huge achievement, this kind of a project down here. It's taken a while though. Initially we had trouble raising the funds, then our contractor went bankrupt causing further delays and this year it's been the weather.
When does construction finish?
The foreman aims to be done by the end of December. We're saying this is February because we need to check that the whole park is rideable and that construction is done correctly in the first instance.
Does this mean you've been testing the rails?
We're not physically testing yet, but we are using our trained eyes to help construction crews with what needs to be bigger, smaller, steeper, not so steep etc. We'll be getting up on the verts soon, rolling up and down to check.
What kind of terrain can people expect?
Anything that you'd want to skate outside of a skatepark. It'll get people off the street because we've given them want they wanted in a skatepark.
Most skateparks end up quite colourful, don't they?
Yeah, we're hoping the graff artists move in pretty soon. Plain concrete skateparks are the most annoying thing. You can't see anything when it's sunny as the concrete is too white, so it's nice to have it in there. There are plans for a graffiti wall. Tagging should be a lot less visible around town when there's a place for artists to do it properly.
What type of art are you into?
Well, certainly not a million 'woz ere's' and schoolboy penises. We don't really want that. Every other skatepark in the world has graffiti in it though and 90% of it is great art. Makes for a good backdrop.
What about the scene at the park? It's not just about skateboarders; there'll be BMXers and rollerbladers too. Will these communities blend or will there be rivalries?
There's rivalries within every sport. Bikers and skaters are alright, rollerbladers tend to be outcast because they're stupid!(laughter)
Them's are fighting words Stu!
Nah seriously, we are all there for the same reasons and it's a good scene. Obviously it could get to the point where someone goes, "That BMXer just dropped in on me." But we all take the mick out of each other and it's all fun and games - part of it. The snaking, dropping in on someone will make you pissed off but that's as far as it goes.
So, put us out of our misery - when does the park actually open?
Easter 2009. There'll be a big opening day with an exhibition by professional skaters and bikers, and loads of live music.
It's been a long time coming, but from the plans we've seen and the reports from the construction site, it'll sure be worth the wait. Construction on Hendra Park, as it's known, is scheduled to end around February 2009. To celebrate its grand opening, there'll be nothing less than a huge launch at Easter; a fun-filled, not-to-be-missed exhibition from professional skateboarders and BMXers accompanied by music from live bands.
Untraditionally, the bowls and mini-ramps have been incorporated into this pure street plaza - the park terrain looking like what you would see walking down the road in a city environment. There'll be plenty of flat concrete and curbs for beginners to get started, and steps and rails for those ready for a bigger challenge.
Lick spoke to Stu from 
