Skatepark Badges
Badges were big in the late seventies. Many of the skateparks in both the UK and USA operated a badge system either as a sign of membership or as a sign of proficiency. Skate City in London, one of the first UK skateparks took their lead from the ski slopes: Green - Learner slope, Blue - Beginner slope, Red - Intermediate slope and Black - Expert slope.
Skate City - London
Skate City in Tooley Street, London - see
Skateboard Issue 2.
The park operated a badge system - a beginners Green Badge got you into the freestyle area and only
after being tested by a marshall could you move up to the the bowls; Blue for the Slalom run & bowl,
then intermediate Red Bowl and the infamous Black Bowl.
Around June 1978 the park was taken under new management (Tate & Lyle and National Car Parks Ltd) and renamed Skateways.
Skate City Green Badge
Skate City Blue Badge
Skate City Red Badge
Skate City Black Badge
Skateways Green Badge
California Skateboard Scene
California Skateboard Scene was an indoor and outdoor park at the legendary Cali Ballroom in Whipsnade Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire.
The outdoor park opened on July 9th 1978 with Legs & Co dressed as Smurfs!
The Rom
The legend that was the the Rom was built in 1978 and on the 11th Sep 2014 was made a Grade II listed site.
Sadly it closed it's doors on the 1st September 2019.
Check out the documentary here - Rom Boys: 40 Years of Rad
Skateboard USA Skatepark Warren Michigan
"Skateboard City - located in Warren, Michigan..."
www.glenrasa.com
Martello Skatepark (UK)
Martello Skatepark at Walton-On-The-Naze in Essex, was opened on May 27th 1978 by the Logos Team. It featured a 3m deep performance bowl, slalom and freestyle runs.
I'm not sure, but based on having a green, red and black badge, I assume they operated a similar system to Skate City.
Skate Circus (UK)
Skate Circus was in Wandsworth Road, Vauxhaul, London. Originally a bingo hall - opened, closed and then re-opnened around May 1978.
Featured a series of flat areas and banks and the "showpiece" - a 13m section of 5m half pipe.
Reviewed in Skateboard! Issue 11 July 1978
Page 78.
Mad Dog Bowl (UK)
The Astoria Cinema at 593-613 Old Kent Road, London was the home to The Mad Dog Bowl... Reviewed in
Skateboard!(UK) No11 July 1978
Page 78-80.
Hard Surf (UK)
Located behind the Pandora Pickles factory in Middleton Manchester was the Hard Surf skatepark. Opened 24th March 1978.
Inner City Truckers (UK)
Located next to Chester City Football ground Inner City Truckers Skate Park opened 30th April 1978...
A grading system was in place - these are the Red and Black badges.
pic by Meany
Skateworld (UK)
Located in Finchampstead Road, Wokingham Skateworld was an outdoor concrete park...
Wheelies Skate Space (UK)
Located in Putney Hill, Putney, London - Wheelies was an outdoor concrete park...
