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.
Amazing skatepark in New Jersey that is only 20 Minutes from New York City
Check back soon for winter skateboarding trips from Manhattan
This park is amazing but tight. It’s about 1,200 square feet and every inch of space was well thought out. These guys didn’t take a chance leaving anything out. Not for newbies when it’s crowded, so go early if your learning because it’s a great place to learn if you have the space to figure it out.
The Crew – The Regulars
I only met a few of the guys that worked there and they were cordial. Great skaters too. It was late, there were a few regulars and they were really good, but polite. No snakes and only one small casualty-free collision.
KILLER Bowl
This BOWL IS OFF THE HOOK - has 11 ½ foot deep end, 7 foot shallow and a roll in/out that connects to almost every line in the park. All Pool coping though there’s a smaller 3 foot drop in that connects to the small bowl that it doesn’t have any coping.
Mini Ramps
There are two mini ramps, connected by a spine. Also has a roll in that also connects to the vert ramp
Street Course
Ok this whole place is pretty much a street course, because the pool, the mini ramps and huge vert wall connect to a ton of clever obstacles, banks and barriers, stair set, rails, boxes. It’s totally creative, and flows really well.
Vert Wall
Then there’s the 12 foot vert wall. Dude these guys just seem to float in the air when the backside this thing. It’s really something to see… (I did a little kick turn at the bottem.)
Location:
GardenSk8/DivisionEastII
321 Changebridge Rd
Pine Brook NJ 07058
973-287-7626
So we were really excited to get a call from about.com asking us if we were interested in shooting some skateboarding how to videos. There are four instructional skateboarding videos featuring instructors and local skaters from New York that can help you learn:
Avoid Altercations with Police and Pedestrians by being well informed.
I’m extremely courteous when I skate in the sidewalks because I really do believe in the karma thing, plus what kind of instructor would I be, right? Sometimes people pick fights, they can’t help themselves and skaters are often targeted because of the perception some people have that we have no control over.
One afternoon I was walking up 1st Ave for eight blocks, but then on my one favorite patch of super smooth sidewalk between 80th and 81st, I stepped on my board, rolled super slow for about 20 feet of a half empty block and stopped in front of the closed dry cleaners to dig in my bag for my cell phone.
Before I found it I was approached by an oncoming pedistrian. She was no where near me for the brief ride, but she was angry and she was looking to pick a fight. I’m not sure why she picked me, out of all the skaters in the world, maybe it was just opportunity. Maybe she was having a bad day, but this was obviously a woman who was ready to make a scene, I could see it before she even opened her mouth.
"Excuse me but are you aware of the city public ordinances about skating on the side walk?" She asked me, wagging her finger.
"Actually, I am quite aware of them because I’m an instructor for a skateboarding school and part of our curriculum is to teach the city laws." My perfectly calm response just seemed to make her more angry and it was that moment that I actually understood WHY it’s important for all skaters to know their rights and what is expected of them.
The woman’s voice got much louder now and I could see pedestrians slowing down to see what was going on "But you are over fourteen aren’t you?! You should be skating in the street. That’s the law!" She said this drammatically pointing to the horribly potholed 1st avenue.
Now I know this sounds one sided, but I should mention that this is my neighborhood and I don’t believe its neccessary to be hostile if you are well informed.
"I am over 14 (WAY over) and I believe you misunderstood the law. 14 year olds are not allowed to skate in the street or without protective equipment. Now I don’t know if you’d tell your 15 year old grandson that he had to go skate in the street, but if you did you would putting him in danger and you’d be wrong. It is illeagal to skate recklessly on the sidewalks, in a way that is an endangerment to pedestrians. "
"Oh." she was dumbfounded. Man I’m glad I looked that up.
In spring 1996, the city council passed Local Law 1996/043, making it illegal to skate recklessly, this being defined as skating in a fashion such as to threaten the health or possessions of another person. The fine is $50 to $100. (The law was signed by Mayor Giuliani in mid-June and went into effect in August 1996.) The law is on the books as:
The reckless skating law was a compromise version of a proposal which originally included a ban on skating on the sidewalks by any person over age 14. Happily for skaters, that provision was removed. Nevertheless, city and state politicians have been known to advocate such a ban, including laws proposed in the state legislature. Skaters are thus enouraged to keep their heads screwed on and to skate no faster than a walking pace while on the sidewalk, lest there be an incident which would provide fuel for hostile politicians.
Preliminary signs seemed to indicate that the police would active enforce the reckless skating law, along with the various state skating laws. Among these signs was a spate of reports of skaters being stopped by police in early August 1996 (including the author of this skate guide) and given warnings that something that they had just done would in the near future warrant a ticket. However, since that date, the only known consistent effort by NYPD to enforce skating laws was during August 1998, when they patrolled Central Park on the weekends, looking for violations of the reckless skating law.
But this isn’t to say that the police will always ignore your skating infractions. There have been periodic police crackdowns on illegal cycling, usually at the precinct level and occasionally borough- or city-wide. All it takes is a city councilmember who’s been receiving complaints from his constituents, or just an irritated police precinct commander, to result in the police getting busy and giving offending skaters lots and lots of tickets. So skate legally as much as possible, be courteous to all pedestrians, and things should be cool.
On Sep. 16, 1996, the city council held a hearing for discussion of three proposed Local Laws (aka "Intros") which would affect cyclists and skaters. In particular, Int. 0844-1996 would have required that all inline skaters in the city to wear helmets. The proposed law was the immediate result of the death of a skater in Central Park the previous month after a collision with a cyclist. Although there were rumors that Int. 844 had passed, the city council website would seem to indicate that it did not.
A couple other Intros which were proposed to the city council but which also never passed were Int. 1042-1997, which would have made it illegal to be using earphones while skating or cycling, and Int. 0631-1999, which duplicated the state’s existing requirement for reflective clothing when skating after dark.
Uptown Skate School provides private and semiprivate skateboard at your own home or local park and we do our best to provide an affordable, safe and fun learning experience geared towards the students own ability! Private lessons are for anyone ages 5 and up, male or female.
If there is anything you’d like to learn, just ask. Here’s a list of tricks that every skateboarder needs to know, based on Skateboarding Explained by pro skateboarder Dan MacFarlane.
Beginner Skateboarding Fundamentals
Identifying Stance
Pushing & Stopping
Getting Used to the Tail
Backside 180 Kickturn
Frontside 180 Kickturn
Tick-Tack
Pushing Switch
Fakie Backsite 180 Kickturn
Fakie Frontside 180 Kicktern
Getting used to the nose
Fronside 180 Nose Kickturn
Backside 180 Nose Kickturn
Street Basics
Ollies
Fakie Ollies
Frontside 180 Ollies
Backside 180 Ollies
Backside Half-Cabs
Frontside Half-Cabs
Switch Ollies
Nollies
Fakie Backside Shove-Its
Ramp Basics
Parts of Ramp – transition, flat bottom, coping, deck
When you first step on the balance board, it will automatically detect your center of balance and set that as the neutral point in terms of steering and doing manuals. If you find it’s not working out for you, resetting is a simple matter of stepping off and getting right back on. When you’ve found a foot position that suits your needs, you can steer by leaning left or right. It’s not complicated, but at this stage, it’s a bit tough to balance between sharp and gradual turns. We’re told that Black Box is hard at work tuning this aspect of the controls and is attempting to find that ideal point of compromise such that the board delivers responsive turns but doesn’t react to every incidental shift in movement you might make whenever your legs get a little sore.
New York City’s Only Manhattan based skateboarding school is in full summer swing making learning how to skateboard a safe and fun experience.
What’s going on?!? So you’ve seen the site change a dozen times and maybe got a little confused what was happening. Here’s the scoop; we’ve had to change over to our summer program. We’ve had a nice Spring filled with lots of discounted private lessons, but now we are in full swing with our summer program.
Uptown Skate School is a fully insured skateboarding school, with the consent of the State Board of Education.
We still offer Private Lessons, please contact us for more information.
New Summer Skateboarding Clinics!
Group clinics offer your kids a chance to learn from Uptown Skate School Instructors as well as from other kids who live and skateboard in the neighborhood. Meet friends, learn to skateboard, and have fun! There are two new programs available this summer
Wild Blue Week Day Clinics
(More Information) Currently Tuesdays and Thursdays and even on Rainy Days. Begin at the Wild Blue headquarters at 401 East 76th Street and meet up other local skaters of all levels and Uptown Skate School instructors at one of the local parks. Spend some time learning new tricks, play S.K.A.T.E and other games with new friends. Register online.
Wild Blue has partnered with Uptown Skate School and NYPD - New York Pipe Dreams to create an amazing new skateboarding instruction program – the only one in Manhattan currently offering regularly scheduled lessons for kids. Our combined forces allow us to give you the advantages of a safe and easy learning environment, a wide choice of child appropriate equipment and a sound educational system taught by great skateboarders who know how to work with kids. This is an ideal way for beginner and intermediate level skateboarders to learn to ride, prepare for skate parks and learn about NYC’s rich skateboarding culture.
Summer Sunday Skateboard and Swim (Swim is optional)
(More Information) What better way to finish off a weekend skateboarding session then a nice jump in the cool pool?
Pool is open from 11-3 & 4-7. Contact us to register. (life guard supervision, USS not responsible during swim, padlock and proper attire required)
NOTE: What follows is the foreword and introduction to the printed edition of the Public Skatepark Development Guide. The entire online publication is available on skatepark.org. For a free copy of the printed edition, (you only pay shipping and handling), please visit www.publicskateparkguide.org
Why Skateparks? By Tony Hawk
Why are skateparks important? The answer is obvious to those fortunate enough to have one in their community, while the unenlightened think that they are breeding grounds for trouble: a place where rebellious, outcast kids gather and conspire to commit crimes against traditional activities. This stereotype is not true, of course. And when a skatepark finally gets built in areas where the idea was first met with disapproval, the naysayers quickly realize what a positive impact it has on their communities.
I was lucky enough to live near one of the last remaining skateparks in the 1980s, and I understand the sense of identity these places can provide to kids who don’t feel like they “fit in” elsewhere. Del Mar Skate Ranch was my sanctuary in my formative years. You could find me there after school on any given day, and it’s where I met many of my lifelong friends. We were considered outcasts, but we shared a common passion. The Skate Ranch made us forget about not “fitting in” because we were right at home in the empty swimming pools that filled the skatepark.The privilege of having a place to skate was never lost on me, and I always wanted to help provide these facilities to those less fortunate.
I’ve ridden a lot of skateparks in my day, and seeing the explosive growth of public skateparks in recent years has been very exciting–but alarming at the same time. I’ve watched some cities pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into skatepark projects, only to be misled by inexperienced “low-bid” contractors. In short: a city designs a park to fulfill the demand of local skaters, then hires a company to build it; that company has no experience with skateparks, employs no skaters who understand the nuances of skatepark features, and yet completes the project on-time, under budget, and with self-congratulatory press. The poorly constructed skatepark opens to disappointed skaters—who are then labeled as ungrateful and spoiled.
Oh my god! I had no idea Halifax was this cool! I found this skate shop called PRO. They gave me directions to the HALIFAX SKATEPARK - at the Commons. It’s a gigantic creatively designed free skatepark in the center of a gorgeous city.
Halifax Commons Skate Park Bio
The street set-up has a wide variety of rails, stairs and ledges.
The biggest bowl is about 10 feet, fast and fun to ride.
Another bowl about 4 feet high with a spine, extensions and hips.
Crazy flat and down ledges, banks, gaps, stair sets, soo many transitions
Lights
Right in the heart of Halifax in the park known as the "Halifax Commons", the skatepark is in the south Commons bordering Bell Rd. and Quinpool Rd. The park was designed by Spectrum Skatepark Designs from Vancouver and the members of the local skateboarding community. Built by Dexter Construction, the park was the dream child of the Halifax Skatepark Coalition, made up of skaters, bike guys and community members.
PRO Skateboards & Snowboards
Jason gave me a little bit of history about the Pro and some local skaters such as Nate Oliver and Kyle Mcdonald. I was psyched to see the NYC based Shut merchandise and to find out that PRO was big supporter of East Coast companies.
Just up the street from PRO is PROgirl. Totally great skatewear without having to suffer boys sizes. I really loved the selection and I bought some really cute gear made by American apparel and the girls that worked here were really chill.
Skateboarders aren’t frowned on at Oak Elementary School in Albany, Ore. In fact, students there get credit for performing grabs, kickturns and ollies in class.
Oak is among hundreds of schools across the country that have adopted a skateboarding curriculum in their physical education classes.
Skate Pass, the Boulder, Colo., company that created the curriculum in 2006, says skateboarding is now being taught in schools in more than a dozen U.S. states, plus Germany and Canada.
Educators say it’s part of a "new PE" movement that recognizes that some kids aren’t natural athletes.
"When people first hear ‘elementary PE,’ the first thing that comes to mind is dodgeball. Then all the other stuff they didn’t like," says Jake Gerig, Oak Elementary’s PE teacher. [Read more →]
Do what you love and try not to look at what other people occupy themselves with. Most people seem restless and bounce around too much to focus or even pay attention enough to themselves to figure out exactly what they really do love, as opposed to what the people that surround them are doing — Rodney Mullen
Check back soon for winter skateboarding trips from Manhattan
KILLER Bowl
One afternoon I was walking up 1st Ave for eight blocks, but then on my one favorite patch of super smooth sidewalk between 80th and 81st, I stepped on my board, rolled super slow for about 20 feet of a half empty block and stopped in front of the closed dry cleaners to dig in my bag for my cell phone. 
Wild Blue Week Day Clinics
ProGirl
