"Rat" to Rock Scion Park

If you haven’t gotten a chance to check out Scion Skate Park yet, soon you ca witness Texas' best amateurs shredding the park. On Nov. 12, 2011, The Regional Amateur Tour (RAT) will be performing at Scion Park in Lewisville.

Permission from Geiger Media LLC.

What is RAT?

The RAT Skate Tour is “a six (6) stop regional amateur series that provides a local platform for Texas shredders to get together with friends and compete in a relaxed, fun environment” (“About Skate,” n.d.).

Attendees will be treated to a ton of cool stuff: skaters competing for generous cash purses, a graffiti exhibit from artists like Grasp and Motion Groin, live music from Skullcandy DJ PHIL-N-IT, free Monster Energy Drinks, shwag from series sponsors, and even a dance contest to win a deck. To participate in the contest and win that cheddar, apply online here.

Check out the tour schedule to the right, and the below video of the tour’s first stop in Lewisville on March 29, 2011.

Permission from Geiger Media LLC.

UPDATE : December 2011: The RAT tour went out with a bang on November 12, when 80 skaters showed up to compete for over $2,500 in prizes.

Results of bowl heats

Eleven riders competed, with Rany Beres from San Antonio took first place “with a semmingly effortless array of big airs, big grabs, grinds, reverts and hand plants” (RAT, 2011).

Taking second place was Taylor Brown, and third place Dallas native Sean Greene.

Results of Street heats

In nine, five-minute jam sessions, Sixty-seven riders competed for a chance to advance to the semis. After whittling down to nineteen skaters from each group, the judges were left with a final round of phenomenal talent.

In the end, Drake Flores secured first place with “a clean backside 270 lip on the rail and a huge backside 360 kickflip down the 4 set to end his run” (RAT, 2011).

The second place winner was Frankie Heck, and Taylor Jett took home third.

  

"About | Skate The Rat." RAT SKATE TOUR!. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2011. <http://skatetherat.com/rat/about/>.

RAT, THE. "BIG CROWDS – BIG TRICKS – BIG FINISH for the 2011 Scion RAT Skate Tour | Skate The Rat." RAT SKATE TOUR!. N.p., 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2011. <http://skatetherat.com/rat/2011/11/15/big-crowds-big-tricks-big-finish-for-the-2011-rat-skate-tour/>.

        

              

Concrete Paradise

Tired of running from rent-a-cops and fighting for your right to skate? You can shred carefree at my favorite skate park in Dallas.

Scion Park

Scion Skate Park is a 33,000 square ft. concrete paradise located at the Toyota of Lewisville Railroad Park.

Who's Afraid of the Man?

For me and my friends, it all started in the driveway: ollies, kick-flips, and 180’s. Then we hit the streets, the industrial parks, and finally city hall.

The Man didn’t appreciate it. Chewing up public property and causing mayhem was not his idea of a wholesome sport. Cities put up skate-stoppers and ordered security patrols to keep us off the streets. We found the cat-and-mouse game amusing.

For a time, running from security and trespassing on private property was a way of life. The rush that came from getting the better of The Man was almost as great as finally sticking the big trick that’s been taunting you for days.

Eventually, the life wore us down. We got kicked out of shopping centers before attempting a single run. For six months we were banned from the Grapevine Mills Mall (although skateboarding only played a minor roll). Our favorite spots became littered with skate-stoppers. Something had to change.

We began to make a record of every spot we visited, and over the years a master list was created. The list detailed the locations of a variety of skate spots and the best times to skate in order to avoid confrontation. The list was constantly being added to, updated, and passed between groups of skaters.

But over the years, the cliques broke up, and the list was lost. The concept of skaters being able to discover and share the best skate spots in Dallas was the inspiration for this blog.

We beat the Man. You can too. Check back for the best spots in Dallas.

Get Ready to Shred

I began skateboarding in the Dallas suburbs 10 years ago. While learning the basics, my friends and I were content with skating on simple, flat surfaces. But soon driveways and waxed curbs lost their appeal. As we improved, we looked for new challenges to test us.

Skateboarding magazines and documentaries were our primary sources to learn about skate spots. We saw our idols throw themselves down 30-stair handrails and kick-flip over the Carlsbad High School gap in southern California.

Where were the Carlsbad-like gaps in Dallas?  I created this blog to guide skaters searching for the sickest skate-spots and skate parks in the Dallas area. Check us out for park reviews, and look for updates about contests and demonstrations. Learn how to build ramps and boxes, and discover Dallas’ best skate-shops and deals. Get ready to shred!