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Caldas da Rainha skatepark tour in Portugal

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Our journey to conquer every skate park in Portugal has led us to the vibrant town of Caldas da Rainha, where history and modernity seamlessly blend.

Nestled in the heart of the Estremadura region, this charming town has much to offer, from its exciting skatepark to the serene Mata Dona Leonor Park, where we enjoyed a well-deserved break after shredding the ramps.

Caldas da Rainha Skatepark boasts a variety of ramps, rails, and transition area that cater to skaters of all skill levels. While Caldas da Rainha Skatepark embraces the contemporary skate culture, the town itself has a fascinating history that's worth exploring. Caldas da Rainha was founded in the 15th century by Queen Leonor, hence its name, which translates to "Queen's Hot Springs." The town's thermal waters were highly regarded for their healing properties, drawing visitors seeking relief from various ailments. Today, you can still find the Queen's Hospital, a magnificent historical building that stands as a testament to the town's royal past.

After a fun skate session, we decided to recharge at Mata Dona Leonor Park, a hidden gem just a stone's throw away from the skatepark. This tranquil oasis offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and recreational amenities. We laid out our picnic blankets and indulged in a delicious lunch, surrounded by lush greenery and the harmonious sounds of nature. The park is a favorite among locals, providing a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

For those planning a visit to Caldas da Rainha, there are several other must-see attractions worth exploring. The charming Praça da Fruta (Fruit Square) hosts a bustling market every day, where you can sample fresh local produce and immerse yourself in the town's vibrant culture. Additionally, the Cultural and Congress Center designed by the renowned architect Alvaro Siza Vieira is a modern architectural masterpiece that should not be missed.

As we bid farewell to Caldas da Rainha and set our sights on the next skatepark adventure, we carry with us fond memories of a town that gracefully balances its rich history with the thrill of skateboarding. Until the next ride, keep pushing your boundaries and embracing the beauty of exploration, one trick at a time! Stay tuned for our next destination as we continue our quest to uncover Portugal's skateboarding gems. Happy skating!

Visit Caldas da Rainha skatepark

By Haroun Cherif

Ponteareas skatepark tour in Spain

Stop #78 on Our Endless Skatepark Road Trip: Ponteareas Skatepark Ponteareas Skatepark, located in the picturesque town of Ponteareas in the province of Pontevedra, Spain, is a must-visit destination for skateboarding enthusiasts. Recently renovated and reopened in 2023, the skatepark has undergone a remarkable transformation, elevating it to a modern, skater-friendly facility. The 2023 remodel brought significant upgrades to the park’s infrastructure. New concrete elements were installed, replacing older features, and enhancing the overall usability of the skatepark. The redesign introduced a series of flowing elements, including quarters and transitions, which make for a seamless skating experience. These changes cater to both beginners and seasoned skaters, ensuring everyone can enjoy the park's smooth and dynamic layout. A notable update is the removal of the old miniramp, which made way for more versatile structures that better integrate with the flow-oriented design. The enhancements have not only improved the park’s functionality but also positioned it as a standout attraction for skaters in Galicia.Beyond the skatepark, Ponteareas is a charming town that offers a rich blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. Visitors can explore the Puente Romano de Ponteareas, a historic Roman bridge that stands as a testament to the region’s storied past. History enthusiasts will also appreciate the Castro de Trona, an archaeological site that provides insight into ancient Celtic settlements in Galicia. For those seeking a relaxing escape, the Praia Fluvial Da Freixa offers a tranquil riverside retreat. Whether you’re enjoying the calm waters or simply soaking in the natural beauty, this spot is perfect for unwinding after a day of skating. As we continue our endless skatepark road trip, Ponteareas Skatepark has left a lasting impression, combining skateboarding excellence with the charm of a vibrant, historical town.Visit Ponteareas skatepark on our skate map

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Vila Nova De Gaia deserves a better skatepark than this

Does this really count as a skatepark?Vila Nova de Gaia, commonly known as Gaia, is a prominent city in northern Portugal, situated directly across the Douro River from Porto. As part of the Porto metropolitan area, Gaia is renowned for its rich history, cultural attractions, and significant role in the production of Port wine, and its skatepark. Just kidding. It's known for everything before the skatepark part. We were traveling during the Kirk storm and the crazy rains and wind made us change our plans a bit. It didn't make sense to film Ramalde or Maia so we decided to look for a skate-able place when it's raining non-stop. All excited we arrived at the skatepark in Vila Nova De Gaia that serves 304,149 residents: a "miniramp" under a bridge. Unfortunately it was also wet, but even if it would have been dry, it still sucks. Our evaluation of this park? It falls under the better than nothing category. It's shit, yeah, I hate saying a park is shit, but this one really is. The community in Vila Nova De Gaia deserves more. Visit Vila Nova De Gaia skatepark on our map and rate the park!

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Vagos skatepark in Portugal - perfect park to unblock and learn some new tricks

Want to unblock and learn some tricks? Vagos skatepark is the place to beThe Vagos Skatepark, located in Vagos, Aveiro, Portugal, is a compact flow park spanning approximately 250 square meters. Designed and constructed by Wasteland Skateparks, it caters to beginners and enthusiasts of surf-skate and Carver skateboards. The park's layout, inspired by Evergreen Skateparks' Hillsboro project, offers a seamless and enjoyable riding experience. Situated within a residential area, the Vagos Skatepark serves as a community hub, providing a safe and engaging environment for skaters to develop their skills. Its design emphasizes smooth transitions and flowing lines, making it particularly suitable for those new to the sport. So planning a skate road trip in Portugal? Drop by Vagos skatepark and enjoy the park.Visit Vagos Skatepark on our map

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The Mystery of the Belmonte Bowl

Quandary in the Quarry - The Mystery of the Belmonte Bowl. The village of Belmonte (population: ca. 3500) lies towards the northeastern part of Portugal. It’s head of a rural municipality where you can find about 54 people per square kilometre and where they’re highly likely to be advanced in years, as the ratio of elderly to young people is close to 3:1. Towards the northeastern part of the village, not far from the local Intermarché supermarket, there’s a small residential neighbourhood facing an abandoned quarry. Inside this quarry sits one of the biggest skate bowls in the world. It’s a kidney shaped bowl, wrapped around a half-pipe that leads to a fullpipe ending in a cradle. The pictures should help make this clearer. It’s close to 4 metres deep and has almost a full metre of vert all around. There are oververt extensions over a metre tall. It’s a beast of a thing, especially when you consider the standards of skateboarding and skateparks in Portugal. Anyone that sees it immediately asks himself “What the hell is this doing here?” And it seems to me to be a fair, reasonable question. Anyway, when faced with a Portuguese skate-related mystery, there’s always one thing you can do, and that’s call up Luís Paulo. This dude was the first Portuguese skater ever to get sponsored, one of the few to have met Tony Hawk and the only one to have done an aerial over him, so he’s been in the game for a bit and knows his shit. I thank him for giving us the lowdown on this one. Apparently the whole idea came from the Belmonte Municipality. They are close to Serra da Estrela, the only ski resort in Portugal, where there’s also quite a bit of downhill biking and hang gliding going on in the summer, so they figured a skatepark would attract some of that crowd and get some more visitors to come to the village. Not a bad intuition. However, as it often happens, they didn’t consult any skateboarders before diving into the project. At the time, the largest skatepark in the world had just been built in Shanghai (SMP Skatepark – it’s since been surpassed by the one in Guangzhou) and the architects hired to do the job in Belmonte decided to take inspiration from one of its sections. They did an impressive job: the bowl is nicely tucked inside the quarry walls, the transition is good and the full pipe and cradle look amazing. The only problem is that vert skaters in Portugal are thin on the ground. They did build a street section above the bowl, but unfortunately they didn’t study this subject as well as the transition bit, and it’s just unskateable. As it is, the Belmonte Skatepark, which was inaugurated in April of 2011, is about to celebrate its tenth anniversary with a still pristine coping. We have seen examples of what can go down at that bowl when the right people find it, but they’ve been few and far between. In 2012, Jake Phelps and the Thrasher crew (P-Stone, Rhino) came by and brought Peter Hewitt, Pedro Barros, and Grant Taylor for some serious ripping. One year later the Carve Wicked team (Sam Pulley, Alex Perelson, Sam Beckett, Rob Smith, etc.) also dropped some hammers. But the place can take it. In fact, it’s begging for it. If you’re into big walls, start planning that trip and type this into your GPS.

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Almeirim skatepark tour in Portugal

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Santarém skatepark tour in Portugal

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