Shanghai, China is one of the best vacation spots for skaters. This city is amazingly rich in culture and is also the home to the largest skate park in the world. If you are looking for an exotic vacation destination, consider exploring the skating culture found in Shanghai.

The SMP International Skate Park
In the United States it is easy to find skate parks that are between 7,500 square feet and 15,000 square feet. However, these parks pale in comparison to the SMP International Skate Park with its 13,700 plus square meter park layout. For those of you unfamiliar with the metric system that is about 147,000 square feet of skate park terrain. Like I said, this is a big park.

The SMP International Skate Park can be found at 2100 Songhu Road, Shanghai, 200438, China. You can get to this park by taking the line three bus to Jiangwan Tsum Station and then taking a taxi to the park. Once inside the park, you will find a bowl area, a park zone, a plaza-recreation area and a competition area. The bowl area utilizes granite pool coping, something you most likely won't find in many U.S. skate parks, and it is over 4,500 square meters. The park zone offers an additional 1,750 square meters of skating space, the plaza/recreation/viewing area offers over 4,100 square meters of entertainment and the competition area takes up about 2,000 square meters of space.

One of the best things about this skate park, besides its huge size, is that it is the home to several competitions and to the SMP skate team from Shanghai. If you are lucky enough to be in Shanghai during a competition then you will want to take advantage of the opportunity to watch the team practice and compete against local and international skating professionals. What a way to cap off a vacation to Shanghai!

Other Attractions in Shanghai
While the skateboarding is great in Shanghai, you won't want to miss the other great attractions that this city offers. If you enjoy shopping, then you will find an amazing collection of authentic China clothing, as well as a great selection of skater wear while in Shanghai. If you prefer to enhance your vacation with cultural attractions, you will want to make plans to visit the Yuyuan Gardens, the Shanghai Museum, the Jade Buddha Temple, the Longhu Pagoda and Longhu Temple and the Shanghai Animal Zoo. Finally, don't forget to sample some of the local cuisine.

If you want to get away from the super crowded skate parks of Phoenix, Arizona, or if you find yourself in or near Gilbert, Arizona, then make plans to check out Freestone Skate Park. This is a free skate park that is open to everyone, including inline skaters, skateboarders and bikers. This diversity can be both an asset and a liability. Overall, this is a great park with something for every type of skater. Locals love this park and say it is one of the best skate areas in this part of Arizona.

Freestone Skate Park - The Basics
Freestone Skate Park can be found at the intersection of Juniper and Lindsay in Gilbert, Arizona, 85234. It is an outdoor concrete skate park that was designed by SITE Design Group and opened on March 17, 2001. This skate park offers over 22,000 square feet of skating terrain including a vert part, a trannie park and street course. One of the best design features of this skate park is that it is lighted so you can skate there safely until the park closes at 9 p.m. in the winter and 10 p.m. in the summer.

Freestone Skate Park - Skate Park Features
The Freestone Skate Park has a little bit of something for everyone. There are a couple of awesome bowls to trick out on, a trannie course and a street course. The street course is modest, but it offers rails, a pyramid, ledges, metal coping and a few other obstacles. It is recommended that you wear full padding and a helmet, but since this is an unsupervised park this recommendation is not enforced.

Enjoying the Freestone Skate Park
In order to fully enjoy the Freestone Skate Park, you need to go there with the intent of having a good time. This is a popular park with skaters and bikers of all ages, so be prepared to dodge traffic on the courses. You will find young skaters and older skaters here, as well as advanced skaters and beginners. Have patience and keep your board and your body under control for your safety and the safety of others at the park. Finally, don't forget to wear the right clothing for the weather and for your sport.

While you may not naturally think of Nashville, Tennessee as a skateboarding vacation destination, it actually is a great city to visit. Not only does it offer you a lot of great musical attractions, friendly people and great Southern food, this city is also dotted with skate parks and great skateboarding opportunities.

Places to Skateboard in Nashville, Tennessee
Like most cities in the world, it is a good idea to limit your skateboarding to skate parks. However, you can find a lot of low-traffic areas to skate and explore in Nashville. Just stay off of private property, don't skate downtown and don't skate where there are a lot of people. Like I said, your best bet is going to be the city's skate parks.

The first option that you have is the Sixth Avenue Skate Park. This is an 11,000 square foot skate park that offers a great selection of features. It is a concrete park, which makes falling rough on the body. To minimize injuries wear a helmet, the proper skater attire and padding. Some of the features that you will find at 401 Sixth Avenue South include a 16-foot vert wall, sub walls, a ten-foot bank leading into a vert wall, ledges, hips, rails, a spine ramp and a couple of modest ovals.

The second skate park in Nashville is the Nashville Skate Park, which is located inside Wave Country. This park, found at 2320 Two Rivers Parkway, offers about 20,000 square feet of skateboarding terrain. It has bowls, vert walls, rails and obstacles for you to play on and in. Have fun at this park and then cool off in the wave pool.

Shopping for Skateboarding Equipment in Nashville, Tennessee
The best skateboard gear and paraphernalia is going to be found slightly outside of Nashville. In Mount Juliet, a few miles away, you will find Resist Skateboards. This shop is located at 11888 Labanon Road. Your second option is Imperial Skateboarding Company, found at 114 East Prince Street in Gallatin, Tennessee. If you visit this shop, bring your board as Gallatin has a brand new skate park that you won't want to miss.

Asheville, North Carolina is a great place to go on vacation if you are a skateboarder. This city has great architecture and urban features that make it the perfect destination to bring your skateboard. This city has great skate spots, a couple of cool skateboard shops and a huge 17,000 square foot skatepark waiting for you.

Asheville, North Carolina - Street Skateboarding
If you enjoy street skateboarding then you will love Asheville, North Carolina. While it is technically against the law to skateboard outside the skatepark, the local authorities tend to just give you a warning and discourage you from boarding in the city. However, do not skateboard in downtown Asheville or on private property without permission or you will get a $150 fine. According to the locals a few of the best street skating spots are the AC Reynolds High School, where you can find ledges and handrails, the Beaver Dam, where you will find a great selection of challenging ledges, the HESS Rail, which has a very challenging flat bar rail over a large gap, and the Health Depot, which has three up and three down, flat bar rails, benches and a bump up.

Asheville, North Carolina - Food Lion Skatepark
The main skatepark for Asheville, North Carolina is Food Lion Skatepark, and it is found at the intersection of Cherry Street and Flint Street. This park offers about 17,000 square feet of skating terrain, and has three courses, a beginner's course, a street course and a bowl course. The fee to get in is between $2 and $5 depending on when you use the park and if you are a resident or not. The park is always open from 1 p.m. until dark. The opening times are going to vary depending on the time of year and the day of the week that you use the park.

Asheville, North Carolina - Skateboard Shops
There are at least two great skateboard shops in Asherville. The first is the Park Skateshop, which can be found at 25 Patton Avenue. The second is the Flipside Boardshop, which can be found at 88 N. Lexington Avenue. At these shops you will find everything you need to board in North Carolina including skateboards and boarding clothing.

Vancouver, British Columbia is home to numerous skate parks. In fact, there are skate parks located in nearly every borough in the district. If you are in this city and have a need to grind rails or catch some air, try out the China Creek Skate Park. This skate park can be found inside the China Creek South Park in East Vancouver. This is an outdoor park that has a lot to offer beginner, intermediate and advanced skaters.

China Creek Skate Park - The Basics

China Creek Skate Park is a very basic, outdoor skate park. It is primarily made up of asphalt and concrete, with concrete lining the bowls and asphalt covering the street course segments of the park.

While not the premiere skate park in Vancouver, China Creek Skate Park has a reasonably good variety of skateboarding features to play around with. On the street course segment of the park, you will find benches, flat-bar rails, round-bar rails and various obstacles. In the interior of the skate park, you will find a variety of bowls, ramps and launches. Many of the ramps and launches are homemade, so be careful. Check the ramps and launches, especially those that have been brought in by skaters, to make sure that they are sturdy enough to handle you, your board and the momentum needed to trick off the ramp or launch.

China Creek Skate Park - Competitions

China Creek Skate Park is the location of numerous skateboarding competitions throughout the year. Two of the most popular skateboarding competitions held at this park are the Jaks Team China Creek Competition and the Memorial Skate Competition.

If you want to practice for these competitions, bring your board, your skateboarding shoes and your tricks to the China Creek Skate Park. To do well at these competitions, you will want to practice your tricks and skills both inside the bowls and on the street course. If you live in Vancouver, you can practice year round. However, if you are traveling to the city for the competition, arrive a week early so you can become familiar with the shape, depth and temperament of the skate park before the day of the competition. This will improve your performance and your chances of walking away a winner.

If you live in, or plan on visiting, Austin, Texas, then you will want to bring your board to The Shred Shed. This indoor skate park can be found at 2009 Ranch Road, Suite 530, 620 North, Austin, Texas, which is inside of the Vineyard Business Center. This is one of the best skate parks in the city, and one where you will find both great skating terrain and other recreation opportunities.

The Shred Shed - The Basics

The Shred Shed only offers about 9,000 square feet of skating terrain. However, within this modest square footage, you will find vet ramps, pyramids, hand rails, spines, death boxes, hips, a mini-ramp complex and rollovers. What is great about the ramps in this skate park is that they are all made from Skatelite, so they are sturdy and smooth. Most of the time this skate park is only opened to roller bladders and skateboarders. However, there are special sessions for bikers. If you are interested in biking here, you will need to check the schedule.

The Shred Shed - The Rules

To skate at the Shred Shed you will need to sign a liability waiver. This waiver is standard issue, and it basically says that you won't hold the skate park liable if you are injured. This waiver is just like the waivers required by other skate-at-your-own risk skate parks found across the country. If you are under 18 years of age, your parents will most likely need to complete this form for you. After you have signed your waiver, you will be able to go skateboarding or in-line skating in the park. However, you are required to wear a helmet at all times.

The Shred Shed - Miscellaneous

There is a lot to do at the Shred Shed. Not only can you skateboard here, but you can also take lessons and play in the second floor arcade. There is also a pro shop on site where you can find boards, safety equipment and skating clothes. You can also find equipment rentals here, so if you are having a party at the skate park, or if you need a helmet or board, you can rent one at the pro shop.

Whether you are in Minneapolis for business or pleasure, this is a great city to go to if you are a skateboarder. The city government has recognizes that skateboarding is a growing sport, and boarders of all ages need a safe place to skate. In response they have create six city-sponsored skate parks throughout the city. This means that no matter where you are in the city, you won't have far to go to find a great skate park. Pack your rash guard and skateboarding shorts and get ready to have fun in the Twin Cities.

Skate Parks in Minneapolis, Minnesota

There are six city skate parks inside the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Each of the following parks is an outdoor park found inside a larger recreation center or city park. They each have several skating features including pyramids, ramps and hand rails.

▪ Armatage, 2500 57th Street West, Minneapolis, Minnesota

▪ Bottineau, 2000 2nd Street North East, Minneapolis, Minnesota

▪ Brackett, 2728 39th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota

▪ Creekview, 5001 Humbolt Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota

▪ Elliot, 1000 14th Street East, Minneapolis, Minnesota

▪ Morris, 5531 39th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Skateboard Shops in Minneapolis, Minnesota

If you are looking for new boards or new skateboarding clothing, Minneapolis is a great shopping destination to visit. This city is chalked full of skateboard and sporting goods shops. Here are a few of the shops found in and around the city of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota:

▪ Erik's Bike Shop, 501 Country Road 42, Burnsville, Minnesota

▪ 3rd Lair Skate Park and Skate Shop, 850 Florida Ave. S., Golden Valley, Minnesota

▪ Adrelanine Skateboards and Snowboards, 893 Robert St. S., Saint Paul, Minnesota

▪ Alternative Bike & Board Shop, 3013 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minnesota

▪ Familia Skate Board Shop, 647 Snelling Ave. S., Saint Paul, Minnesota

Outdoor Activities in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Outdoor activities are big in Minneapolis. Throughout the year, you will be able to find special events that celebrate the skateboarding lifestyle. When you are planning your vacation to Minneapolis, talk to your travel agent or read local newspapers to see if a skateboarding demonstration, competition or event is scheduled and how you can attend or participate in it. Minneapolis is waiting for you, so grab your board and hit the road!

Rune Glifberg, a Copenhagen native, enjoys riding few things more than his skateboard; However, he owns what he describes as a "small collection" of BMW models that he gladly gets off his board for. His top-five desired rides include an E60 M5 touring car, a Lamborghini, a BMW M1, an E30 M3 and a Porsche GT.

Glifberg, who turns 35 in December, took up skateboarding as an 11-year-old when a friend brought him a wooden skateboard after a vacation in the United States. He was competing within four years and turned pro at age 17. By the age of 22, he gained fame with a victory at the 1996 Slam City Jam.

He experiments with all terrains, but his signature style is vertical.

"Front side, all day man, it's the best trick," Glifberg says. "It sets you up for anything you want to do. It's a nice, raw feeling. You can tweak a little salad in there, or you know, you can point it down towards the end on it, get a little smith end on it. It's just a great feeling trick. Sometimes it doesn't have to be tech to feel good."

He is known among his peers as versatile and flexible. Until his first X Games gold medal this year, he had won the most medals without claiming a top prize. This reflects his rare combination of performing risky tricks while still remaining consistent. He is one of the first skaters to pull off a kick flip backside lip slide, and it now is his signature trick.

Rune's peers also speak of his love for skateboarding. They say he skates just as hard in tight backyard pools, as he does in front of huge crowds on enormous half pipes. He recalls practicing during sub-zero Danish winters at a ramp covered by a tent. He has donated funds to refurbish his childhood Faeled Parken in Copenhagen.

Glifberg spends family time with his girlfriend and two daughters. They live in Costa Mesa, California, but they return to Copenhagen at least twice a year.

Sources:

http://skateboard.about.com/od/proskaterbios/p/ProBioGlifberg.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rune_Glifberg

http://etniesskate.com/team/rune-glifberg

www.lat34.com/skate/rune_glifberg_2

www.volcom.team/team_rider_detail.asp?TeamId=2&riderId=5&SectionId=1

Colorado is home to many great vacation opportunities including world class whitewater rafting, shopping and backcountry adventures. However, this state is also a great vacation destination for skateboarders as well. If you want to stay away from the crowds found in Denver, then consider the quaint town of Longmont, Colorado. This town has six skateparks, a great little skateboard shop and it is the home to several annual skateboarding events.

Longmont, Colorado - Skateparks
The first thing that skateboarders want to know about a city is where its skateparks are. Longmont, Colorado has six free skateparks. These skateparks are usually found within larger recreation areas and family parks. This means you will not only have easy access to great skating, but you can also try out some of the other activities found at the park complex.

If you are a novice skateboarder, or if you are skating with young kids, then you will want to stick to the Clark/Centennial Skatepark, located at 1100 Lashley, and the Stephen Day Skatepark, located at 1340 Deerwood. Both of these parks have a great selection of skateboarding features, and Centennial Park also has a roller hockey rink you can play around in.

If you are an intermediate or advanced skateboarder then you will have four skateparks to choose from. For intermediate skaters who are just moving up from the beginner rating, you will want to try out the Longmont Rec Center Skatepark found at 501 Quail Road. If you are an experienced skateboarder looking for both intermediate and advanced skatepark features, then you can try out the Blue Skies Skatepark, located at 1520 Mountain Drive, and Sandstone Ranch Skatepark, located at 2525 E. Highway 119.

Other Skateboarding Attractions
In addition to an amazing collection of skateparks, Longmont, Colorado also is the home to Sol Skateboards. This funky little skate shop can be found at 627 Main Street, and it is a great stop for skateboarding clothes and equipment. If you are interested in skateboarding events then you will want to visit this city during the summer. This is when the Mountain Madness Skateboarding Competition and the U.S. Nationals of Slalom Skateboard Racing are held.

Learn all about the Coronado Skate Park in Coranda, California.

If you happen to be roaming around near Coronado, Calif., and you are a skater then you are in luck. One of the coolest skate parks in the country is located in this city at 2000 Mullinix Drive. It opened back in 2001 and offers skaters 16,000 square feet of skateboarding fun. This park is designed for skateboarders and in-line skaters who want a safe place to skate and a park that offers a variety of skating formations.

General Attractions

There are four main skating formations in this skate park. The first formation is the Street Plaza. It is a shallow bowl with wall heights between 2 and 3 feet. This is a formation for beginners; if you are looking for a place to work on basic skills, this is a great formation to work on.

Intermediate skaters are going to enjoy the second formation, which is called the Clover Bowl. This bowl has wall heights between 5- and 7-feet tall. This is a great formation for skaters who are trying out new tricks and are not ready for the challenge of the Teardrop formation.

The Teardrop formation is designed for experienced skaters. It has walls that are up to 8-feet tall. This formation is great for air tricks, though some skaters criticize the height limitation of this formation.

The Street Course is the final skateboarding option that you can explore. It includes pyramids, banked hips and a fun box. This is the formation that you will want to try out if you are interested in a variety of skating terrain and formations. This course is great for breaking out of a rut.

Coronado Skate Park Costs

To start with, everyone will need to pay a one-time annual waiver fee of $10. This fee applies to everyone. In addition to the annual waiver, you will also need to pay an admission fee. There are several different admission passes that you can buy. Your first option is to pay a $5 daily admission each time you use the park. This is a great option for people who are in town on vacation or who don't plan on using the park that much. Your second option is to buy a Youth Year Pass. This pass costs $60 a year and is sold to kids between 6 and 17 years of age. Adult Year Passes are for adults, ages 18 to 54, and they cost $100. Senior citizens receive a discounted price on their year pass. The Seniors Year Pass only costs $60.

If you need to rent your safety equipment then you can do that right at the park. It will cost you $1 for a basic safety equipment rental package, which includes a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads. You can also rent a skateboard for $2; however, the parks supply of skateboards is limited.

Rules

The rules for this skate park are designed to keep skaters safe. The first rule is that you have to wear safety equipment if you want to skate here. As mentioned above, if you don't have your own safety equipment you can rent it at the park. Next, only skateboarders and in-line skaters are allowed in the park. No bikes are allowed. Spectators are also not allowed in the park. Rule three is that you have to sign a liability waiver in order to skate at the park. You only have to do this once. Your waiver will then be kept on file. The final rule is that you need to be at least 6 years old to skate here, and you will need to have proof of your age.