Skateboarding is Still Alive in Europe

Image by Seattle Parks ( flickr)

When picturing skateboarders and the skateboarding culture in our heads we probably tend to have this image of youngsters of the ’90s with baggy clothes, piercings and/or tattoos with nothing else to do but ride on their boards while listening to hip-hop all day long. In short, before we realize it, the image of skaters from the “Kids” film will most likely cross our minds instantly. Furthermore, many of us will probably fall into the trap of thinking that skateboarding was a part of American culture for the past 2 decades, which stayed in the past and on the other side of the ocean.However, Europe has never taken a back-seat when it comes to skateboarding and this is not the case in the present either.

This means that even though different types and variations of skateboards, like longboards or pennies, seem to be in trend now, skateboarding and the community that skaters create, still form a huge part of urban life. In a lot of European cities not only are skateparks still in great demand but, day by day, skateboarding attracts and unites more people through various competitions or just by being a type of sport that many young people share a love for. Below you can find some of the skateparks (not in any order) in European cities, which will surely attract even people who are not skateboarding themselves.

Skatepark – Brussels

Image by Wouter Spitters

Skatepark in Brussels is probably visited by non-skaters as frequently as it is by skaters. And this is simply because just grabbing a drink and sitting on one of the benches, while the skaters are showing off their skills, is pure pleasure.

The place is pretty wide and very flat, which gives an opportunity to those who do not enjoy performing tricks, to just have a smooth and calm ride on their boards. It’s also a great park for beginners and gives the opportunity to learn skateboarding.

Skatepark WestBlaak 2.0 – Rotterdam

Image by Anne-Marie Ros

Having recently been completely renovated this concrete skatepark in Rotterdam is one of the biggest outdoor skateparks in Europe. The design of the park has been very carefully worked on by a Finnish architect, who brought all the cool concepts he had in his head for skate ramps, to life. Now this park is one of the locals’ favourites, fully packed in the summer with ages ranging from 14 t0 40 years old.

Westblaak 2.0 is unique in its kind because this is one of the only few skate spaces in Europe that was built right in the city center and was perfectly integrated into the urban life of the city. This skatepark has some ramps that you really need to have the guts to skate on but it also has some wide spaces shaped like bowls and half bowls that are perfect spaces, especially for beginners.

Latraac – Athens

Latraac (by Javier Munoz)

This place is interesting for two reasons: you can skate here, and buy some coffee. Latraac is a skatepark with a small coffee area attached to it. It’s a nice way to encourage the younger generation to be more active and sportive by giving them many outdoor alternatives. If you’re here around the summer, you might be in for a treat. They organize screenings and various cultural festivals. Check their website for more information on upcoming events.

Kablys – Vilnius

Kablys (by skatein)

Kablys skatepark is a great option when you still want to skate, but the weather is not too great. It is the first indoor skatepark in Vilnius and the rest of Lithuania. Besides providing a great space for skating, the building also provides a hostel, nightclub, and a restaurant/bar. A great mixture of locals and tourists.

Fælledparken Skatepark – Copenhagen

Image by Steen Kelså (Flickr)

And finally, Fælledparken in Copenhagen should definitely be included in the list as it is so fascinatingly built that the architects who stand behind it even received an award for innovation. Professional skaters also teamed up with the architects in order to have the attractive and user-friendly skatepark that Fælludparken Skatepark is today. If you get a chance to visit Copenhagen, make sure you try this skatepark out.

These are just a few European cities that show that the skateboarding scene is growing day by day, even attracting non-skaters to visit the parks, thus becoming an integrated part of the urban culture of a city. And if locals, who are not into skateboarding themselves, mark these parks as their favorite spots then you should pay those spots a visit when you’re in one of the cities mentioned above, without giving it a second thought.

More? We have local spots in 59 European cities!