A "Canadian" Introspective: In The Streets

Something funny is happening to the skateboarding "scene" in Toronto. More skate parks have popped up in the past five years than in the nearly forty years that skateboarding has existed in Toronto. Countless indoor recreational centers, such as John Innes Moss Park, S.H Armstrong, St. Lawrence Market, and now Jimmie Simpson, get those of us on the cash grind through the winters without spending a fortune. CJ's, The Rail and the newly opening Skate Loft make up for the imminent loss of, the Toronto Skateboarding legend, Shred Central. The amount of outdoor skateparks have increased greatly with the addition of Ashbridges bay skate plaza, East York skatepark, and, of course, Dunbat.

Herbert Davy- Heelflip

Ever filmer or photographer is well aware of being sucked into the trap that is their local skatepark. With that being said, it's not always easy to warm up at a cruddy street spot - especially in the freezing cold. However, skateboarding was born in the street, and, many agree, it's dying in the park. Mom and Dad coaching little Timmy on his kickflips at the plaza for six hours seems too reminiscent of the jock sports, such as football and hockey.

Jesse Tessier- Kickflip Fs Noseslide

As fun as cruising the park is, it simply isn't quite the same as doging pedestrians, police officers, and piss stains on cutty sidewalks and alleyways. When security or police ask us why don't we leave our spots and to go to the skatepark down the street, there is something that becomes lost in translation and skateboarders simply reply "it's not as fun". There's just so much to street skating that seems more real, and it's up to skateboarders to keep it that way. Heres a few dudes that, in my opinion, are doing just that.

Jesse Tessier-Bs Flip

Kevin Tio- Fs Bluntslide Popout

People always see this spot in footage and interrogate filmers and skaters as to the whereabouts of the ledge. Well in this ledges case, its not so much where but when, this ledge is part of a wading pool, which means its wet all summer and much of spring and fall. Koty Brown already did this trick a few years ago, but I don't think kevin gives a shit, only because of Koty's is so well known in all of Canada as an amazing skateboarder. Thats the other great thing about street skating, skateboarders make their mark on spots, where as in the park everything has already been done.

Kevin Tio- Bs Tailslide

This spot is fun. Run as fast as you can then take five hard pushes, then burn up the shitty cut curb on an angle and- hoping your still alive when you get to the top of the cracky bank, pop onto a curb, grind, then drop in and do a trick off the curb.. This ones a gem, good luck finding where it is though, street signs may or may not have been edited out.

Morgan Smith- Nollie Tre Manual

I have yet to ever see a park in person, or even on footage with this seemingly simple obstacle- a down hill manual pad. This obstacle also shoots you out into oncoming traffic which is actually alot more fun than it sounds. Trick to appear in Devin Guiney's Social Withdrawl

Justin Elliot-Bs Nosegrind

Another obsticale strangely never replicated in skate parks, the good old koston step. Justin knew this ledge wouldn't make it another week or two with out having handrails installed on it, effectively skate stopping the spot. So in only an hour long session Justin shot this photo, and filmed a line to appear in Noah

Tynes's Ghetto Fabulous Volume Five.

Chad Wilson-Noseslide 360 shove

Find me a skatepark with a perfect ledge, 8 feet long-over dirt and through a razor sharp rose bush. Then do chad trick on it. Not likley.

Colin Passy-Switch Tre

Mike Shiffer- Bs Flip

This flat gap recently got repaved, making the gap skateable from a new angle. Street spots are constantly evolving, allowing new skaters to up the ante on what has previously gone down.

Ben Paterson-Switch Bigspin Heelflip

Ben banged this out on the third photo I shot with security walking over, landing it this attempt. Unfortunately neither ben nor security were down to give it one more try for a better timing.

Ben Paterson-Bs Noseblunt

New Spots become can become classics within only a few years. Popping over that crack ain't easy- especially into a back noseblunt. Ben may have been raised indoors at CBMK skate park, but but here he proves that wont hold him back eating street spots for breakfast like coco puffs.

Rasta- 180 Switch 5-0

Beau Digga- Switch Fs Noseslide

The two cars in these photos are not placed, that was straight up just someone backing out of a parking lot in the middle of this "studio lighting" photo shoot. There's just a certain hectic aspect of skating street that makes for pure unadulterated reality, making everything else just seems fake in comparison.

Jon Cos-Switch Fs Heelflip

Josh Forgs- Switch Fs Heelflip

Oddly Enough neither Josh nor John were the first to do this trick, but who hasn't switch fs heelfliped five flat these days?

Tanner- Bs Kickflip

Don't ask me why no one has ever skated this gap to drop in the middle of a classic toronto courtyard spot. But I can tell you that a skateboarders imagination can undermine any kind of skate cap possible, ever.

Andrew Lane- Nollie Bs Tailslide

Nicky Young-Fs Noseslide 270 pivot

Eric Parker Photos

There is probably about a dozen ledges in the city I claim to be my one and only favorite spot, this is definitely one. Thats a thorny rosebush that my naked and girl like legs are sliding beside.