How to Skate Street Plazas: Navigating Urban Terrain

Skateboarding is a sport that combines athleticism, creativity, and the exploration of urban landscapes. For many skaters, street plazas---those open, concrete public spaces scattered throughout cities---serve as both playgrounds and canvases for expression. Whether you are a seasoned pro or a beginner, mastering the art of skating in street plazas requires not just technical skills but an understanding of the urban environment. This article will delve into the intricacies of navigating street plazas and offer valuable insights for skaters looking to hone their skills and elevate their street skating experience.

Understanding Street Plazas

Street plazas, typically located in the heart of cities, are designed to serve as communal spaces, often surrounded by buildings, benches, stairs, and various architectural features. These spaces are essentially urban playgrounds for skaters, offering a mix of obstacles such as ledges, rails, stair sets, and banks. Unlike skate parks, which are specifically designed for skating, street plazas can present unpredictable and diverse terrain, making them both challenging and exciting for skaters.

What makes street plazas unique is their dynamic environment. Skaters don't just face pre-designed obstacles---they engage with a wide variety of features, from benches to handrails, ledges, and even urban sculptures, that are integrated into the city's design. Understanding how to utilize these features and overcome the challenges they present is key to excelling in street plaza skating.

Key Skills for Skating Street Plazas

To truly master the art of skating street plazas, skaters need to develop a variety of skills that allow them to handle different terrains and obstacles. These skills can be broken down into the following categories:

1. Grinds and Slides

Grinds and slides are essential skills for skaters who wish to make use of the many ledges and rails found in street plazas. The basic technique involves riding up to an obstacle, jumping onto it, and using the metal trucks of the skateboard to "grind" across the surface or sliding along it.

• 50-50 Grind: This is the most fundamental grind, where both trucks of the skateboard land on the rail or ledge.
• Smith Grind: In this grind, the front truck grinds the rail while the back truck hangs off the side.
• Frontside and Backside Slides: These involve spinning your board while sliding across an obstacle, adding style and flair to the grind.
• Feeble Grind: A more technical grind where the front truck crosses over the rail while the back truck grinds.

The key to performing these tricks is maintaining control and balance while sliding or grinding. In street plazas, obstacles like rails and ledges may not always be perfectly smooth, so skaters must be prepared for the uneven surfaces that are common in urban environments.

2. Manuals and Nose Manuals

Manuals are tricks where the rider balances on just two wheels (either the front or back wheels), riding along the ground or an obstacle. They're an excellent way to navigate curbs, ledges, or even long, flat sections of the plaza.

• Manual: Balancing on the back wheels (the tail) of your skateboard.
• Nose Manual: Balancing on the front wheels (the nose) of your skateboard.

Both manuals and nose manuals are essential for street plaza skating because they allow the skater to navigate transitions and make their way through a plaza without touching the ground too often. They are also effective for linking multiple obstacles together in a fluid, continuous run.

3. Flatground Tricks

While street plazas are filled with ledges and rails, mastering flatground tricks is just as important. Flatground tricks allow skaters to maintain momentum between obstacles and connect different features with ease.

• Ollie: The foundational trick for all skateboarding; it's a jump in which the rider kicks the board to make it rise off the ground.
• Kickflip: A trick where the skateboard flips in mid-air, often performed after an ollie.
• Heelflip: Similar to the kickflip but with the opposite foot movement, providing a different style.
• Shuvit: A trick in which the skateboard spins 180 or 360 degrees without the skater rotating their body.

Flatground tricks are essential in street plaza settings because they can help skaters clear gaps, land tricks off stairs, or prepare for more complicated maneuvers over obstacles.

4. Transitions and Banks

Many street plazas feature transitions such as banks, quarter pipes, and small ramps. These elements allow skaters to gain height and launch into the air, providing opportunities for aerial tricks and more dynamic lines.

• Drop-In: The technique of rolling down a transition like a quarter pipe to gain speed.
• Aerials: Tricks performed while airborne after launching off a bank or ramp.

Transitions are not just about launching into the air; they can also be used for grinds and slides, depending on their shape and surface.

5. Powerslides and Slides

Street plazas often feature large, wide-open spaces, and powerslides are essential for skaters to control their speed and navigate these open areas with style. Powerslides involve sliding the board sideways to slow down or change direction.

• Powerslide: A slide that allows the skater to lose speed or control the direction.
• 180 Powerslide: A 180-degree turn that allows the skater to change direction mid-slide.

Navigating Street Plaza Terrain

Skating in a street plaza means adapting to the environment. Here are some considerations when navigating the unique terrain of urban spaces:

1. Scanning the Plaza

Before starting a session, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the plaza's layout. Take a moment to walk around and identify the key features such as stairs, rails, ledges, and gaps. Take note of any obstacles that might require special attention or skills, such as rough concrete or tight spaces between obstacles.

Understanding the flow of the plaza is crucial for connecting tricks and lines in a seamless way. Additionally, look for natural transitions like curbs or banks that could allow for smooth tricks or grinding opportunities.

2. Adapting to the Urban Environment

Street plazas are not designed with skaters in mind, which means that the surfaces can often be uneven, cracked, or patched with repairs. The terrain might not always be as smooth as a skatepark, and the obstacles could have varying shapes and sizes.

• Rough Terrain: The plaza might feature areas with rough concrete or uneven pavement, requiring extra control and skill from skaters to handle the ride.
• Street Furniture: Street furniture such as benches, planters, and trash bins can be used creatively for tricks. However, these features also pose risks, as they might not be as stable as purpose-built skatepark elements.

Being able to adapt to these unpredictable elements is an important part of skating in street plazas.

3. Respecting Pedestrians and Public Space

Street plazas are public spaces that are shared with pedestrians, tourists, and other urban dwellers. Skating in these spaces requires a high level of awareness and respect for others. Always be mindful of pedestrians who may be walking through the plaza and avoid interfering with their path.

• Avoid Crowded Areas: If the plaza is busy with people, it's best to wait for an opportune moment when the area is clearer.
• Communication: When approaching pedestrians, especially in tight spaces, communicate with a quick shout or gesture to alert them to your presence.

Safety is always a priority, both for the skater and for the public using the plaza.

Essential Gear for Street Plaza Skating

Skating in urban spaces requires proper gear for safety and performance. Here are the essentials:

1. Skateboard Setup

• Deck: A standard skateboard deck with a suitable width for your skating style.
• Trucks: Lightweight, durable trucks that can handle grinding and sliding.
• Wheels: Softer wheels (around 52-54mm) are ideal for street plaza terrain as they absorb more impact.
• Bearings: Quality bearings for speed and smoothness.

2. Protective Gear

• Helmet: While not always required, a helmet provides protection against falls, especially when skating near stairs or other high obstacles.
• Pads: Knee pads and elbow pads can help reduce the risk of injury.
• Gloves: A good pair of gloves can prevent abrasions when grinding and sliding.

Conclusion

Skating street plazas is a rewarding experience that allows skaters to engage with urban environments in a dynamic way. Whether you are learning new tricks or perfecting your grind, the key to excelling in these public spaces lies in understanding the unique terrain, developing technical skills, and respecting the surrounding environment.

As you gain experience and confidence in the streets, you'll discover that street plazas are much more than just concrete expanses---they're living, breathing canvases for your creativity, filled with endless possibilities for expression. So, grab your board, scout the next plaza, and let the urban landscape guide your next session.

View Product