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7. Stoked on Epic Skatepark in Sacramento. I skated that place until I puked, then I brushed my teeth, drank some gatorade & water and skated even harder. Two kids asked me if I was "grimcity from youtube" which was a mindfuck, and I met two ladies that were over 50 who were skating some really proper carve-lines in the bowl. The size of that place is just insane.
I just went there last week for the first time. we got in for free because my roommate is going to write an article on the place for Sacramento News and Review. The place was fucking empty. Only like 5 little kids and maybe a few old pool rippers. but the park is nutty.
It wasn't especially busy when we were there, either... I'm guessing our session peaked out with about 25-ish kids and only me, Jim, and about three or four adults in the middle of a Sunday. I'm about 1000% sure that the electricity bill over there is twice my mortgage payment... I hope they can keep it going. If I lived in that area I'd definitely support the park, especially considering it was 108 degrees outside & up to 114 on the way back to SF.
Some things I'm stoked on about Epic specifically:
1. The weird little concrete dish thing. There's so many ways to skate it, plus doing mannys or nose mannys in it feels great because you're forced to pump a little when you land inside the incline and spring out the other side. Really unique feeling.
2. The bowl. Like most of the park, it's covered in Birch, it's got more of a ramp transition than most bowls I've skated (a little looser, not as intimidating), and only one big wall that's only 7 or 8 feet max. The camel hump going from the deep pocket to the shallow makes for some ridiculous lines.
3. The euro to wall ride. I think this was part of the reason I puked... we would roll in on the opposite side of the park, push/pump over shit the entire way, pop up, then be waaay the fuck up on that wall. It was fun hauling ass on that perfect floor, then *clack* and woosh... you're Spider Man! I think I puked because of how many times I went from one side of the place to the other. It's so damned big.
4. The mini. I think it's half 4 and half 5, maybe? Anyway, it's a perfect ramp.
5. The floor... so smooth. While dorking around, I think I accidentally did the longest nose manual I've ever done, ever. Rolled in the bank next to the little roll in (the end wall by the rainbow hubbas), started the nose manny as soon as the wheels hit the floor, passed the dish, then got three good lines on a G turn, then was able to sit on it while standing still for a bit. It was stupid, but the floor is flawless in there.
6. Both the 8 stair and the miniature Carlsbad gap. I'm usually not a fan of stairs or drop gaps in skateparks, but they get a pass because they have everything else you could want there. I just recently started feeling comfortable jumping down things again, and those two things are pretty damn fun to jump (especially the gap).
7. Camel humps. We have some at our park here, but they're a lot different... the ones at Epic are super fun, come in one way and you're airing off the second one, come in the other way and you're wallie bashing into the thing... or you can just hit the bank and carve over the whole thing. I felt like I was in a video game, and I mean that in a positive way.
One thing I'm not stoked on: they had some air conditioning, but no fans. The ambient cool was nice, but the still air wasn't good. I'd rather skate a hot park with fans than a less-hot park with no air moving. Not a major complaint, but you start to feel it if you're skating hard for a while.