New indoor skatepark will be just the trick on a wet day
Skateboard enthusiasts got to grips with Guernsey Skateparks’ new indoor space in St Andrew’s over the weekend as it held its official opening and first open day.
The new park – Guernsey’s first indoor skate facility – is situated under the roof of the old swimming pool at the former St Andrew’s Primary School, which closed in 2015.
It opened for the first time in November, and Guernsey Skateparks head Tim Gaudion said it had already proved to be very popular among users.
‘It’s got a bit of something for everyone, beginners and more experienced skateboarders,’ he said.
Work to convert the former pool began last August, with volunteers largely responsible for the transformation.
Much of the work involved removing the walls around the pool so that the whole width and length of the building could be used.
Funding for the project came from a £14,000 grant from the Social Investment Fund.
One of the biggest benefits of the new park so far, Mr Gaudion said, had been the ability for sessions and lessons to be held whatever the weather.
‘If a session was going to be at Jubilee [skatepark, near Beau Sejour] but it was raining, now we don’t have to cancel as we can just move it to here.’
‘Our popular Saturday morning sessions are no longer at risk, we can also start doing our BMX evening sessions here as well as several other evening activities during the week.’
The park features quarter pipes at each end, pyramid banking, moveable boxes and rails, and a large, flat banking area.
Spectators are able to watch the action via a seating area on the edge of the park, while a range of artwork has also been completed through a series of community projects with groups, including Le Murier School.
‘People are certainly not going to get bored anytime soon,’ Mr Gaudion said.
Skateboarders Jack Bachmann, 15, and Nic Roussel praised the new set-up.
‘We badly needed an undercover space, somewhere we could come whatever the weather,’ said Mr Roussel, a skateboarder for more than 15 years.
‘I also think this place isn’t as intimidating for beginners as the Jubilee park. You can really just relax and do your own thing at your own pace. It’s perfect for learning.’
Jack, who has been skateboarding for four years, said the new park reflected the increasing popularity of the sport in Guernsey.
‘It’s in the Olympics now, and it just gets bigger all the time.
‘There’s so much more to it than just doing it, there’s the art, you can film each other doing tricks, there’s a lot of creativity, and this is the perfect place to be able to do that all year round.’
