| Carlsbad, CA is known for great skating and is the | | | | the graffiti. I expected plenty, but was surprise and |
| home of the original skate park. Skating is such a | | | | impressed by the quality and originality of most of |
| part of the city that there's even a group, The | | | | the art work! The ditch looked like it needs a good |
| Carlsbad Village Association, trying to get a skate | | | | sweep to get it ready for the summer, but it's really |
| park, museum and art center built to honor its | | | | asking to be shredded. It is about 16 feet wide with |
| amazing skateboarding history. So when I heard | | | | 3'6" high walls, has soft enough transitions to ride |
| there was a great spot hidden in Carlsbad, I wasn't | | | | quickly, and varying degrees of down hill slope for a |
| surprised and was excited to see it! | | | | challenging ride. |
| Not every skater is happy keeping to skate parks; | | | | At about 100 feet long, it boasts plenty of trick |
| many prefer the adventure of more rugged, organic | | | | opportunities per pass. With a good top edge, the |
| spots and like to test their skills on different | | | | ditch is perfect for tail and nose slides, and a few |
| obstacles. So when Patrick, a local skater, | | | | killer obstacles, like a grind-able drain hole, give the |
| volunteered to show me one of his favorite | | | | opportunity to add tricks, originality and technical |
| out-of-the way places to ride, I couldn't resist! From | | | | difficulty to a session. The several small drainage |
| the second I met him, I could tell he treasured this | | | | inlets scattered throughout could catch a wheel, so |
| spot; a peaceful drainage ditch across the street | | | | beware! Those openings, as well as the big drain hole |
| from Batiquitos Lagoon. We parked on the corner of | | | | (that's been used for grinding a little too much), and a |
| La Costa Ave and Saxony and walked east for | | | | sunken center area (which screams to be cleaned |
| about 3 minutes, until we came upon the access road | | | | out and used for some sliding action), will keep even |
| gate. We went around that gate, trudging through | | | | the best skater on his game! The run flattens out |
| waist-high weeds and plants, then continued to a | | | | near the end, allowing time for a skater to stop |
| chain link fence with a "La Costa Basin" sign on it. We | | | | before getting to the swampy part. |
| gained access to the spot via an opening in the | | | | If you decide to make the trek, this spot is definitely |
| fence, about 50 ft to the right of that gate. From | | | | worth a look! Sure, it needs a little work to be totally |
| there, we just had to go about 400 feet back, | | | | ride-able, but if anyone wants to rip it up, don't |
| towards the road. Even though it was a bit of a hike, | | | | hesitate to ask for help getting it ready; I'm always |
| it was pretty easy to find. | | | | game! It'd be great to see this spot used to its full |
| As we approached the run, I was instantly struck by | | | | potential! |