Battle Ground Washington Skate Park Grand Opening

Battle Ground Washington Skate Park Grand Opening, Battle Ground WA - Posted 6-6-07
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Battle Ground's skate park is a fine one to be sure. It's got a little something to please most types of riders. Heck, I even like the street course. the biggest drawback of the park is that it's just so crowded now. It can be a hard to get a legitimate feel for the terrain when you are dodging little kids everywhere. Someone needs to break the groms of the habit of parking themselves in high traffic areas, be it on skateboard or bike. Hopefully they will learn soon.

As for the grand opening, I almost didn't go to because well, the park had been open for a couple weeks and I had already skated it and found it to be a blast. Even though it promised to be a zoo, I decided to go just for the pure spectacle and anticpated warm fuzzy feelings from the skate community. I figured a few people would enjoy reliving it through pictures. I think the official head count was about a million people. There were riders officially present from Bacon and Rebel, plus a casual presence from Creature, Sector 9, Lib Tech (Sorry Jesse, i didn't get any shots) and few others I probably didn't realize. The official demo seemed to take place entirely in the deep end of the park. The Fakies played on a stage in front of the street course, I meant to check them out but I got so fried and dehydrated in the sun that I became kind of light-headed. I drank some free Kronik energy drink that almost made me sick.

I didn't get a ton of great shots, but I think I did get heat exhaustion. There are no amazing upside down cradle shots, although Benji Galloway sure was hitting them. I don't know how you can run out from an upside down bail, but he managed it. Anyone who braved the crowds and heat last Saturday for Battle Ground's grand opening definitely deserves the Red Badge of Courage. That place was packed solid, but you could still get your runs in the bowl while everyone else had their attention focused towards the cradle and deep end.

Now is as good a time as any to ask if there are any fellow Nikon D-70 shooters out there who are constantly bumping their shutter speed selection dials. I fell victim again but fortunately caught it after a while. Don't worry, you'll still get to see action in all it's blurry glory. Joking aside, this is one serious design flaw with that camera. Anyone else? Anyone?

Battle Ground Washington Skate Park Grand Opening, Battle Ground WA - Posted 6-6-07
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