Our mission is to help make skateboarding an activity that is accessible to anyone who wants to learn by providing affordable skateboarding instruction to New York City kids. Uptown Skate School is an advocate of "The New P.E." and we support the introduction of a variety of untraditional games and activities that young people can identify with, including skateboarding.
Skate date
Get things rolling with the aid of Uptown Skate School(646-852-6397, uptownskateschool.com; two people $100, if you mention TONY $65), whose instructors will come to the location of your choice for a one-hour, semiprivate skate- or longboard lesson. At Hudson River Park’s Skate Park(30th St at the Hudson River, hudsonriverpark.org; daily 11am–7pm), you can practice what you’ve learned on the bowl, street course and mini half-pipe for free—you just need to sign your life away in a waiver. (How romantic!) Afterward, take some of the edge off with $2 cans of Schlitz and PBR at badass dive Blue Ruin(538 Ninth Ave between 39th and 40th Sts, no phone), where shots like the Cherry Bomb are served aflame.
Rock climbing and relaxing
Relationships are filled with ups and downs, so get yours started on the right foot scaling the 30-foot indoor rock-climbing wall at The Rock Health & Fitness Club(22-15 31st St at Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, Queens; 718-204-1400, therockhealthandfitness.com; day pass $20 per person, includes equipment). And if things don’t work out, well, that’s what the helmet is for. After you’ve reached the summit and back, stroll on terra firma to Himalaya Teahouse(33-17 31st Ave at 33rd St, Astoria, Queens; 718-777-7450, himalayateahouse.com), which has less to do with Mount Everest than with Zen. Order a large pot of organic rooibos tea ($5.95) and Tibetan steamed momo dumplings ($8.95) to share with your little dumpling while you chill.
On the water
If you’re looking to impress your date with something new and unexpected, perhaps an activity on the water with skyline views, then we’ve got two words for you: kayak polo. With a small boat as your trusty steed, join members of New York Kayak Polo(Pier 66, 26th St at the Hudson River; nykayakpolo.org) for an intro session on the last Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm. Games that day are open to anyone—and boats, paddles, life vests and helmets are provided at no cost (first-timers just need to pay a $5 insurance fee). Stick with the boat-in-the-water theme and head to Pier 66 Maritime(Pier 66, West Side Hwy at 26th St; 212-989-6363, pier66maritime.com), a former railroad barge–turned-bar, for white sangria ($8) or a Blue Moon ($6) on the roof deck. Since the most exotic marine life you’ll see floating in the Hudson is cigarette butts, get your fill of the real deal at Bongo(299 Tenth Ave between 27th and 28th; 212-947-3654, ongonyc.com) and suck down a half-dozen oysters ($18) from its extensive selection.
Skatopia is an Appalachian farm where hardcore skating, punk rock and hillbilly culture collide. Mad-Max style demolition derbies and spontaneous car burning accompany all night skate sessions. Pain is a badge of honor. Tony Hawk calls Skatopia a “rite of passage” for hardcore skaters.
Skatopia’s owner, Brewce Martin, grew up dodging the skateboard-hating cops of Parkersbug, WV. With his explosive energy, he knew he could never survive in a 9 to 5 world. He dreamed of a place where he could live and breathe skating… a place where people could forget their “outside” lives by plunging into high-energy craziness. In 1994, he bought 88 acres of land in rural Ohio. With a volunteer labor force of locals and underground skaters, he began building his dream. Skatopia was born.
**Sooooo not appropriate for children whose parents are paying attention:
Ten years later, Skatopia has become a mecca for skaters who want to live outside society’s rules. Brewce, the self-proclaimed dictator, presides over the mayhem like a modern-day Jim Jones. His secret weapon is a free labor force of itinerant skaters and local hillbillies. They come for the freedom and the skating and end up pitching in: doing laundry, picking up garbage and building new skate terrain. They may stay for hours or linger for months in shacks and abandoned cars.
But despite Skatopia’s infamy, Brewce must scramble non-stop to keep the farm solvent. Now turning 40, he is determined to create a monument to freedom and skateboarding that will outlast him.
As filming begins, Brewce has hatched a grand slew of plans to get out of debt and build crazy new skate terrain. His infectious optimism persists through the first set-backs of the year.
But the misfortunes pile on and the movie follows him as he staves off bill collectors, mobilizes his free labor force and struggles with his own rebellious son. Finally, his ambitious plans grind to a halt when he is sentenced to 60 days in jail.
Brewce frantically tries to direct his work crews from the jail phone, but progress on the farm slows to a crawl. “My totalitarian skills will be demonic,” he declares the day before he bursts out of jail. He returns to Skatopia bent on salvaging his income, his relationships and rest of the skating season.
The movie celebrates the freedom from everyday life that Skatopia offers, but it also takes a hard look at the flip side of Brewce’s energy and charisma. The audience won’t find a story-book hero – Brewce can switch from inspiring visionary to bullying cult-leader in seconds. But his fierce, unapologetic pursuit of his dream will inspire even those who have never touched a skateboard.
Ever wondered what to do in Yorkville this spring with two energetic kids? Well, stop scratching your head. Being my self the proud mom of two adorable (but never tired kids), I have it covered.
Since spring is back, Carl Schultz Park offers some skateboarding classes every Sunday at noon on their basketball court or in the shady alleys of Central Park (entrance at 76th and 5th). No need to show up with an all-geared-up-kid; they’ll provide the boards as well as the knee, elbow and wrist protection. You will just need to bring a helmet. And believe me, they’ll need all these. If there’s just one garbage can in a half mile radius, your kids will crash into it.
The classes are super fun and laid back, taught by Jennifer and David, two pros who will really get your children hooked up from class one. From belly board races to balancing boards, your kids will be able to skate in less than five lessons and master that cool street dude attitude. You’ll need to call ahead. Jennifer Willis, the owner of the uptown skate school, takes reservations so she’ll make sure there’s a three kid per instructor ratio.
But don’t try to get on one of these things yourself; I almost broke my wrist while trying to impress my kids, ending up embarrassing them and getting that “what on earth were you thinking???” look from my husband.
The tre flip is a 360 degree kick flip that might take a little bit of time to get just right. Before you take this trick to the streets, see how to tre flip, and how you can best practice doing it.
Tre Flip Position
For a tre flip, what you want to do is you want to put your back foot - and you want to put your toes hanging off a little bit - right where it starts to curve. When you first learn, you want to put your front foot close together so you actually get the spin. And once you start getting them down you want to move your foot up more and more - and the higher your foot is up, the more control you have over it. You might flip a little bit slower but it’s easier to control it.
How to Tre Flip
As you’re popping down, the whole thing’s with your back foot - just scoop back behind you with your back foot, and you do a little kick out the front. You don’t need to kick too hard - just your ankle - and it will start to rotate like that. It’s pretty much like a scissor kick: once your back foot goes behind you, your front foot goes in front of you. And then you land it.
How to Practice a Tre Flip
Don’t ever practice them stationary. Just practice it moving - because once you get them moving, then you’ll get them stationary. It’s weird, but that’s what happens.
Common Tre Flip Problems
A problem that a lot of people have is that either the board goes in front of them or the board goes behind them. It’s usually because you’re leaning too far forward or too far back, and if it over-flips, just don’t kick as hard. When you first learn them you might just start doing varial flips and it will keep hitting you - you just have to work out how to scoop with your back foot to get it all the way around. You don’t even have to worry about the flip, just worry about the scoop until it spins all the way.
WHEEL FUN: Tony Hawk tours the White House yesterday.
Last updated: 2:58 am
June 20, 2009
Posted: 2:25 am
June 20, 2009
WASHINGTON — World-famous skateboarder Tony Hawk went to the White House yesterday to celebrate Father’s Day, but it was his inner boy that made the biggest splash.
After getting permission from White House officials, the rad dad shredded around America’s most famous residence and the office building next door.
Skating through the famous Grand Foyer in the White House and down the hallways of the Old Executive Office Building, Hawk, 41, took hip to a whole new level for an administration already among the hippest in history.
Sending Twitter messages to fans, Hawk wrote: "Hi, I am inside the White House gates eating Frosted Flakes and about to do press. You heard it here first. Yes, I brought my skateboard."
One of the shots of Hawk shows the pro-skateboarding pioneer — the star of a series of skateboarding video games — with his hands above his head as he cruises down one of the corridors of power.
"And here is my exit," he wrote on Twitter. "Supposed to return at noon for the First Fathers event if they let me back in."
Gathered with other famous fathers, including Mesa Grill chef Bobby Flay, NBA players Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and Etan Thomas of the Washington Wizards, Hawk also wrote: "Tweeting live from the Diplomatic Room. Unbelievable."
"The Prez addressing all of us fathers before we split up to visit DC charities," he tweeted. "D Wade & Etan T make me feel short."
A father of four, Hawk has been skating since he was 9 years old, when his brother — on a whim — gave him a skateboard.
Hawk wrote on Twitter that he briefly talked skating with Obama.
"He did apologize for not having any ramps to skate on the grounds during our brief chat."
At 8 p.m., Hawk posted a picture of himself doing a "nose dive" trick on a driveway outside the White House.
"Last shot," he wrote. "This really happened. Thank you for the invite, President Obama. It was an honor."
June 21 June 27th - Blow of your obligations and go skateboard!
The craziest international skateboarding event all year.
What’s Going On?
When: This Sunday, June 21, 2009
Time: 1:00 PM
Where: Meet at the LES/Manhattan bridge skatepark (corner of Pike and Monroe street in Manhattan).
Brooklyn: If you are coming from Brooklyn meet at Homage skateshop by noon, 151 Smith Street between Bergen and Wyckoff, and skate over the Brooklyn Bridge to LES skatepark with the Homage crew.
Sponsers: Made possible by: 5boronyc, KCDC skateshop, Stoked Mentoring, Official New York, Volcom, Emerica, Etnies, All, Prize Fighter, Tech Deck, Nike SB, Es footwear, CCS, Redbull, Coda skateboards, MetroPlus health plan, DC Shoes, Zoo York, Open Road of New York, Rockstar Bearings, Homage skateshop, Rival Skateshop, Autumn Skateshop, and Substance skateboards.
For more info, check out New York City’s official skateboarding site: Official New York
What It’s All About: On June 21 skateboarders around the globe will celebrate the pure exhilaration, creativity, and spirit of one of the most infuential activities in the world by blowing off all other obligations to go skateboarding. OK, most skateboarders do this every day of their lives, but this is just one more reason to blow off your television/computer/video games and go skateboarding!
Skateboarders everywhere will show their love and support for skateboarding by holding fundraisers, contests, protests nad demos. They’ll skate across cities, gather in skateparks, stream into their local skate shop and some will even revel in the solitary act of skateboarding alone at their favorite spot, all bringing together the skateboarding community in the grind heard around the world.
The History:Go Skateboarding Day (GSD), held on June 21 every year, is the official holiday of skateboarding. The holiday began June 21, 2003 as an excuse for skateboarders to make skateboarding their top priority. Go Skateboarding Day began with a few simple skate sessions and bar-b-ques held in skateboarding’s unofficial capital, southern California.
Founded by the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC), Go Skateboarding Day gives passionate skateboarders as well as those who are simply inspired by skateboarding, the opportunity to drop everything and get on a skateboard. GSD is a cooperative of decentralized events that take place around the globe. Skateboard retailers, manufacturers, skateparks, distributors, organizations and individuals of all colors, creeds, and attitudes hold skateboarding events to celebrate the holiday. Skateboarders around the world create their own events and traditions to celebrate skateboarding.
Go Skateboarding Day originated as the day for skateboarders to have fun, to raise awareness about the issues we face; to show the world what skateboarding is really all about; to reclaim our culture; and to define skateboarding as the rebellious, creative celebration of independence it continues to be. In the years since that first celebration, the holiday continues to grow, but the mission remains the same: Have fun, go skateboarding!
Rental Included: Always wanted to try longboarding, but don’t want to invest the $$ in the equipment first? Come try out one of our Bustin Boards! If you want to try a specific board, ask us.
Want to perfect a particular slide or technique? Tell us what you want to try!
Here’s your shot at the best deal ever. For one whole day you can take advantage it. Don’t miss out, you have until Midnight tonight!!!
If you have purchased a Groupon lesson, please fill out the registration form.
This One Day Only offer is brought to you Groupon, an ingenious little idea, created by Andrew Mason, a really clever guy who knew; The best way to make things happen was to do it collectively. Check out: The Point
Japanther and Ninjasonik and Skateboarding at the Whitney Museum
July 11th, Free music and bowl skating show for New York City Teens in front
On July 11th, the Whitney Museum is hosting a teen program in conjunction with the exhibition Dan Graham: Beyond. Japanther and Ninjasonik will play free shows and there will be a bowl in [...]
Uptown Skate School co-founder Jennifer Willis works with some young clients at Carl Schurz Park on Upper East Side.
Alessandro Procaccino slowly rolled across the hockey rink at Carl Schurz Park on the Upper East Side, eyes fixed on his skateboard as he lined up his shoes with a chalk outline.
Jennifer Willis walked slowly behind the [...]
Created by a pair of life-long skaters, model Amy Gunther and Nevett Steele, KCDC Skateshop sets the standard pretty high in terms of skate shops.
Located in the now super-trendy Williamsburg, Brooklyn, KCDC has stayed true to the roots of skating in Brooklyn, keeping the beat of an old [...]
3 Day Skate Camp Sessions Now Available for July
Skate Jams and Skate Camps are a great way for local kids to meet other kids to skate with at some of the city’s coolest skate parks. This year Uptown will be conducting Skate Camp at Hudson skate park on the water.
Rooftop Rampage 2009
The skate jam/best trick contest on Saturday, June 14, will be the first of its kind here in New York, happening at high altitude on the rooftop of Manhattan’s New Design High School. It all begins at 11AM, so grab an egg and cheese, a morning cup and get out to this thing. [...]
