Spot Check: Westhill Skate Park, Aberdeen

10 Feb 06



This is the first instance of someone other than me putting up a spot check on the Transition website and it's exactly the kind of thing you shredders could be putting together on a rainy day. So to set it off let me say that Westhill is definitely one of a kind, it's serving its purpose of providing somewhere for the guys fa bide there to go and skate, a success.. technically speaking. That said the only reason i go and skate there is the flat bar which surprise surprise was put there by a skater, not the council. The fact is that if the money had been spent wisely here there could be a very different and unique park built, instead some guy who makes bad moulds, getting mad paid. Here follows westhill resident Colin Bruce'sviews on the park, no doubt no-where near as negative as mine, but i am a very negative dude. - Alex

Just thought I would take 2 minty's to let you know about Westhill Skate Park. Super mellow quarters that feel more or less flat at either end and a small box in the middle. The box is the blatant centre piece, comprising of a ledge down the centre, a hip on one side of that and, until recently, a rail on the other. The rail was discovered somewhat dislodged a few months back and is now gathering rust at the side of the park. There is another rail on the ground at the side of the box somewhere in the region of 8 foot long, maybe more, who knows?

Anyway, that's pretty good and is generally the main focus for any sesh that goes off in Westhill. Thats what makes it a good park in my opinion. The atmosphere. You can go to some parks, and despite awesome tricks, there ain't no real buzz about the place. However, in Westhill when a sesh is going off, the atmosphere is pumpin' and everyone gets stuck in and does their thing.

Matt Smith, kickflipping the Westhill hip

On top of this, the latest edition to the park is a bank shaped box made by some of the locals. (All 12 of them.) This is a good wee piece of apparatus to skate on and it is something a bit different as well.

Naturally, as is the rather depressing trend across the North East, residential places designed for skateboarding are being pointlessly ruined by Ned's and general scally's from the local area.

Specifically in Summer, Westhill skatepark is effected by these delinquents who just generally smoke their hash and leave all their shit lying about, leaving the responsibility to cleaning it up to the local skaters. Dont let this deter you away from Westhill in the summer though.

Sam, Melon >>

Despite this going on within the park, in summer it is a really good place to be for a mellow sesh, BBQ's and beer going about in moderation and the crowning glory of the park getting a damn good skating - the mini ramp. Although a tad slidy, it feels really nice to ride, smooth, .

pretty mellow, but flowy. Not much whippiness (if that is a word) to it. In summer, people from all across the Deen come to skate it and I reckon its the best thing to sesh. Nae pressure, just skating, and at the risk of leaving some what of a cheesy ending, thats what its all about.

- Colin Bruce, Westhill Skater



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