Concrete waves of Cantabria (part 12): Somo

The waves took a little time off in Cantabria, Spain, so the best way to get some surf like riding was to go check the Somo skatepark.

The park is brand new, has a sick bowl with an extension, a oververted wave wall and few smaller trannies. I had a mellow session with the guys from Zaragoza, who also gave me good advice where to go in our next stop in Portugal…

Concrete waves of Cantabria (part 11): Noja

I always check for good skateparks around where we travel and this one in Noja, Cantabria, looked really worth checking out.

It is a combination of a snake run, miniramp and a pool end, all in one bowl! Sadly it is not well maintained. You can just ride the ramp part or pump around, which is not how you would go at it, if the top layer would not be in such bad shape. I was really bummed, but the crazy graffiti were something cool to see…

Concrete waves of Cantabria (part 9): St. Vincent de la Barquera

After quick stop in home camp Zarautz, we went further to meet our friends in St. Vincent de la Barquera, Cantabria.

Cantabria is next region from Basque, if you travel west, and it really is a whole different country… the culture, the people, the scenics, everything changes when you pass Santander and you enter a lot more quiet and lonesome realm of Spain.

After the “mandatory” surf session with Basti and Benno, we had to go check the local skateramp. It is under the old castle ruins by the river, surely the most beautiful setting so far, but sadly the ramp sucks… no real coping to get a lock, few metal plates sticking out and sort of slippery… yet we had a fun session with the local soccer kids, who seemed to enjoy skateboarding as much as they like kicking the ball around, so not all is lost, haha.

Concrete waves of Basque (part 8): Irun megapark

There is a little city, called Irun, right at the border between France and Spain. No big deal… if they would not have the greatest skatepark in the whole Basque!

This thing is amazing. It consists of the street part, which is really well rounded, lines flow nicely and it has something for every type of skateboarders.

But the real deal is the pool part. Trannies of all shapes and sizes, from bowls, spines, boobs, walls, extensions… you cannot really imagine until you see it!

And it is not all!!! They also have a legit pool, meaning real concrete coping, blue tiles at the vert part of the tranny and 2.5m big. Yes, that is legit!

Concrete waves of Basque (part 7): Labenne

Katja and I have left Hossegor when the WCT surf competition ended and headed for Spain. Before we made a short stop in Labenne, France.

Our friends recommeded checking the beach, while there is a little skatepark with a brand new bowl. Its is simply amazing. Two depths and a thick spine in between make this tranny really shreddable. Some quick lines and relaxed session with the local kids was a good break and a nice motivation before we went on with the trip…

Concrete waves of Basque (part 6): Biarritz indoor

Biarritz, France, has the rainy days covered.

Alai Skateboards have a big, mostly transition orientated indoor skatepark, just across the street from the train station. It has multiple miniramps, roll-in, quaters of all sizes, walls and the list goes on… Twelve to sixteen year old grooms are poping 540s and front blunts on the biggest trannies and the level goes over the roof if you are lucky enough to catch some of the french top riders dropping by.

For more photos go to the Alai skatepark page.