SKATEPARKS IN KAMLOOPS AND SURROUNDING AREA
McArthur Island Skatepark
Information:
McArthur Island Skatepark has received considerable international attention as one of the world’s premier street style skateparks producing several professional skateboards since its inception. At 27,000 square ft., the park consists of (2 of 3) completed phases. Phase 1 carrying the largest square footage in form of street, banks, mini quarters, ledges, hubbas and rails. Phase 2 bowl work began in Fall 2006. Phase 3 is of a plaza style and its future is uncertain at this time but KSBA is in the process of inquiring on its final plans.
Location:
1655 Island Pkwy, Kamloops, BC V2B 6Y9
Hours:
8am-11pm (year round)
Members are on the task of snow removal during the winter months.
Lights are now operational and operate automatically until 1 hour after dusk.
RIVER STREET MULTI-USE PARK
Information:
Formally known as the Exhibition Skatepark, this downtown basic holds
various platforms, embankments and a large flat open area. This park is a good starting point for anyone looking to master the basics. Although the aging concrete and asphalt has made it rather difficult to enjoy. The city of Kamloops has a budget set in place to renovate this park and KSBA is in the process of proposing a new design to go with it.
Location:
1110 River St, Kamloops, BC V2C 1Y7
Hours:
8am-11pm (year round)
Winter use is limited..
Rae-Mor SkatePark
Information:
Rae-Mor Skatepark was open to the public in 2018. It consists of an asphalt poured tarmac with prefabricated metal obstacles. Its vision came to life when two young local Rayleigh residences approached the city with their wish to see a skatepark built in the rural neighbourhood.
Location:
113 Arab Run Rd, Kamloops, BC V2H 1M4
Hours:
8am-11pm (year round)
Winter use is limited..
FAMOUS SKATE SPOTS
STUART WOOD SCHOOL GAP
Information:
This school opened in 1907 as Kamloops' third public school. In 1922, the city named the building Stuart Wood School in honour of public school teacher, E. Stuart Wood, who served the community from 1886 to 1910. This magnificent brick building was designed in a neoclassical style to underline the important place education holds in society. The columns on the front north entrance distinguish the school as a 'temple of knowledge'. and now crowns the two step that carved its way into the echelons of Kamloops famous skate spots. The pathway descends on a gradual pace towards its complex misrepresentation of reality. You are forced to rewrite the laws of physics, as you try to calculate the distance and speed required to attempt this aperture. Only a handful of skaters have survived to tell the tales of its distortion. This gap was given prominence in the 2008 video 'Sophomore Jinx" featuring a lengthy kickflip to street by Randy Monchalin.
"The video doesn't do justice in comparison," -RM
Location:
245 St.Paul Street Kamloops, BC V2B 6Y9
Condition:
Fair run up, crusty landing.
Coordinates:
HOSPITAL HUBBA
Information:
In the late 90's, Alex Chalmers was on his first across Canada road trip when his crew stumbled upon the hilly concrete pillars of Royal Inland Hospital. Located by the old emergency entrance, this spot holds creed to the historical references of Kamloops famous spots due to several factors. For one, the hospital staff were probably culture shocked by an individual on a skateboard what looked to be attempting suicide. For two, the screenshot is a snippet from Skateboard Canada Magazine Issue #1 by Concrete Powder, which was unfortunately short lived. For three, the video was published into a sequence featured in Transworld Skateboard Magazine. The caption reads:
"Kamloops, British Columbia gets on the world skateboarding map because Alex Chalmers' Ollie off dumpster to 50-50. By the way, you'll probably never hear the name Kamloops again, but we're sure that Chalmers will become familiar.," -TWS
Little did the editor know Kamloops would go onto spawn several pros and an Olympic athlete.
We reached out to Chalmers to get some insight on that day. His reply was:
"It was a perfect spot, because if I fell I was already at the hospital!" -AC
Location:
311 Columbia Street Kamloops, BC V2C 2T1
Condition:
Defunct.
Emergency parking location has been renovated several times since the 90's.
Coordinates:
Before Google maps and probably buried 6 feet deep.
DQ GAP
Information:
6 letters RDS FSU. The year is 2002 and the infamous Red Dragons are belching out mayhem full bore with their candid security altercations and sweeping raw street cred. It wasn't until the video was released did locals realize the DQ gap was even approachable. The run up is literally an uphill battle on aging pavement ran victim to endless melting dilly bars and scorched desert summers. This however didn't stop Jake Stewart. Whether it was some special force or the energy of fast food pumping through Jake's legs to these heights we would never know. Most people would simply skate by. Others have pondered. Yet only a few have ever attempted. Regardless of how Jake reached the pinnacle of this chest level rail gap it was stamped into history and deserves a place in the tabernacle of Kamloops famous skate spots.
Recorded at mark 13:30 in RDS FSU 2002
Location:
811 Victoria Street Kamloops, BC V2C 2B7
Condition:
A trio of pavement, bricks and blood.
Maybe soften down to 97A unless you like bad vibrations. Best during the week to avoid the pop hops.
Coordinates:
The 629
Information:
Hidden within the northern shadows of the city sin-bin lies The "629". aka "The Colosseum Steps" aka "The Sandman Double Set".... and beyond. This foot stall serving scabs holds an unforgiving deplorable deck of duels. It reigns with an impressive focus count and a desire to snap kingpins. It renders any contender that enters its ring to work for victory. When locals introduced 629 to the The Under Attack Tour in 2003 (SE 01 EP 01) all chaos sunk ankles.. Amidst the churn lay the prediction that this discord might hold the world record for casualty count in one session. By the end all eyes were on Grant Patterson, with a formidable appetite to conquer this terrible affliction two fold. First with an impressive Nollie FS 180 to switch flip then serving dessert moments later with a Kickflip to Nollie half-cab flip.
The 629 is a stunner of construction with its seemingly clever design. It seems as though the architect might have been a skateboarder. So next time you find yourself downtown make sure to stop in to pay homage to the 629, as we lock its tales permanently to the famous skate spots found here in Kamloops.
Stamp mark 17:40 in Under Attack SE01 EP01
"Get jiggy with it." -Scotford Von Castlehousen. (Stamp mark 16:31)
"Used to be a right of passage. You weren't allowed to sk8 there unless you attempted the second set." -Billy
Location:
Riverside Park E, Kamloops, BC
Condition:
Great take-off. Tough landing.
A glimpse into yesterdays future.
Coordinates:
SPOT GAP
Information:
Industrial areas make for great skate spots. As a centrally located hub city in our province, Kamloops carries an onslaught of intricate loading bays and the IPH property is no exception. The building showcases bays directly in front of Laval Crescent. To the passerby this concrete pillar boasts no intrigue. However to the eyes of a skater its hard to ignore its approach. Little did the owners know the way they conduct logistics there would prove to be troublesome. It would become known as Spot Gap. Stretching 6+ ft, Spot Gap proved to be a solid foundation for sharpening ones ability to execute flat ground technical trickery. With a short but baby smooth approach, one can pump to speed to get over its cavity and positioned 4 step up, At the turn of the century the Spot Gap went from lonely slabs to being a star scene conquered by local members like Stacey Gabriel, Grayson Dhillon, Jasper Ellis, Ryan Leonard and Derek Swaim and gaining prominence as a filming location. One video in particular is the RDS Skateboard Party. Filmed in 2005, the film serves us a glimpse into the skills of Gailea Momolu. An undisputed nollie master, Gailea is an inspiration to seekers who wish to study its art form. Gailea made history here with a resounding Nollie double heel.
Stamp mark 14:11 in RDS: Skateboard Party 2005
"Get out of here!" -Owner
Location:
782 Laval Crescent, Kamloops, BC V2C 5P3
Condition:
Defunct.
Half of the loading bay is gone. Only the staircase remains, Other loading bays in area have long since been capped.
Coordinates: