Much fuss is made of Bath’s new metal-surfaced ramp in the introduction to this guide. History says that was a mistake. Leamington Spa also gets a mention — it was later to have a major impact on British skating as the birthplace of Legends, who crossed skating over into a High Street shopping experience.

THIS MONTH

We’ve just been to take a look at a couple of new minis. The one at the boy’s club in Leamington Spa isn’t totally new, but it’s just been extended. They invited SS20 down for a demo to mark the opening of the new wide version and the result was total snaking mayhem. Creative chaos with some familiar and some unfamiliar faces.

The Bath mini is totally new. The Bath skaters formed a club and hassled the council into doing something in Royal Victoria Park. The result is very impressive: the father of one of the skaters owns a shop fitting company and the people in his workshop really got into the project. The new Bath ramp has got to be one of the best made we’ve seen yet. It’s on an ultra solid metal framework with unique surface technique. They took two layers of ply, one just plain, but the other cut into strips and then bonded to the back of the first one so that everything curves smoothly. Then they rolled 3mm steel to the correct radius and before fitting it onto the ply, giving a perfect smooth transition and minimising stress. This thing is fast, solid and (as ramps go) silent.

If your council are investigating building a ramp and want someone professional to do it, maybe they should contact the Bath people. We’d be happy to pass on the number.

There’s no room this month to show anything much of these two ramps _ for the full story you’ll have to wait. Or visit Bath or Leamington Spa yourself.

SOUTH WEST

BATH +++ MIDI MET
Royal Victoria Park
Metal surface midi. 24′ wide, 8′ transitions cut off at 6′. 12′ flat. High section. Very solidy built by Rare Unit for Bath City Council/ Skateclub.
Robin Hunt

EXMOUTH ?? ! STRT
Various
J.C.R. bank then platform ‘all compact into one fine circle’ (?). A few pools which get drained once in a while !!!!?
Roland Smiller

ISLE OF WIGHT
? RAMP
Back yard ramp to join all the other private ones on the island?
Lordy

TEIGNMOUTH +++ RAMP
Broadmeadows Sports Centre, near Industrial Estate

20′ wide, 10′ trans, 1 1/2 ‘ vert, 4’ wide channel. Plan to add a mini spine plus snake run into a bowl, street area etc. Surface of existing ramp was a bit knackered in October 89.
Dickie Thornton

TROWBRIDGE
+++ MINI
Farleigh Hungerford Ravenscroft School
Mini ramp 6′ high, 16′ wide, 10′ flat. Tombstone. never busy: only two skaters. Rad ramp, needs livening up.
NOD
ANDOVER ?? ! STRT
Various
Magistrates court next to college. Selection of brick banks, somewhat gnarly brick lips that stick out. Quite mellow, easy to ride. Steps and a very close handrail. Usually people there evening and weekends. Keep away from college’s side. Safeways good slope down to fly-off tyep bank. Lots of other spots: seek out court skaters and ask…
Simon Tappenden

SOUTH

BURNHAM ON CROUCH ?? ! STRT FLY HRAL
Various
Handrails and benches to satisfy even the most craving. Mini ramp somwehere. Shelly’s yard 2 huge slide bars, quarter pipe, fly-offs
Damian Jones

CANTERBURY
++ FLY MINI
Riverside Youth Centre
Ramps and other things. Full size half-pipe maybe! Friday night’s good. Mini-ramp 4′ high, 12′ wide. 6 1/2 ‘ trans. 4′ wide, 2’ extension.
Julian Round

CHATHAM + CONC PARK
Buckmore Park

Strange vintage mini-park at Scout camp. We’ve been rude about it in the past, but locals say it’s worth a session now that Gillingham’s gone. It beats Hartston Park in Margate any day. But now (10/89) we’re getting reports of hassle, so best call them on 0634 61295 before going.

GRAVESEND ? ! BANK
?
The pool… Banked to vert, sketchy quarter pipe, half a mini, various slidy things. But it’s about to be dozed.
Harvey Colven

MIDLANDS

LEAMINGTON SPA
+++ MINI
Boys Club near BR Station
Recently extended mini. Now about 27′ wide, 16′ 5′ high, 12′ 4′ high. 8′ transitions, narrow channel. Floodlit. Mellow. Call 0926 425878 for details, but it’s open most days.
Jess White

NORTH

COTTINGHAM + ! STRT
Grandways car park
Grindy curb, benches, very mellow bank to small curb, 11~.009 curb. Good for locals, but not worth travelling to. Staurday, Monday, Tuesday, AFTER 6.30
Matthew Payntor

GRANTHAM ??? ! STRT
Various
Leisure centre with sloping walls, benches, steps, handrail with no runout and a 50 yard long 60 bank with curb on top. Garage nearby with two 45 banked hips with curbs on top. Morrisons car park with free-standing curbs, painted curbds and walls. B&Q building site with walls and very slidy grindy curbs about 14~.009 high going downhill and round a corner. Much more in town and a private mini-ramp outside town (invitation only)
Dave Apsland

GRANTHAM ??? RAMP BANK
Old swimming pool in Wyndham Park near St Wulfram’s Church
8 foot 8′ trans half-pipe, 16′ wide with 12′ flat. Recently resurfaced. Also 45 bank to wall (no lip) 4′ high to 8′ high around central mogul. 30p per session. Helmets and pads sometimes required… Banks look interesting in sketch provided by Fay. Sessions 9.00-12.30, 1.30-sunset
Mark Chambers

HULL
++++ MIDI
Hessle Skateboard Club
Midi 16′ wide, 7′ high, 8 1/2 ‘ trans, 12’ flat. Metal surface. Plus street stuff. #10 a year to skate. Or visitors #1 by arrangement. Pads must be worn. Call Chris Cooper on 0482 82 after 6pm
Chris Cooper

WARRINGTON
?? ! STRT
Centre of Stockton Heath village
Good brick banks next to Gateway. Good wide benches. Very popular
Richard Park