In the far Northeast of Portland lies a derelict, rundown and forgotten warehouse. Although it is just one of the many abandoned industrial complexes which line the industrial zones of Portland's riverbanks, this one draws a special crowd.  Aptly named Pirate Town,  the building has drawn Portland's illicit citizens to its grounds, offering a haven of lawlessness. Just as buccaneers of old were outcast renegades, Portland's underbelly have flocked to this derelict paradise for counterculture expression. No police presence is to be found and anyone who want to do their business away from the public eye has found Pirate town's shelter. Underage drinkers, crack smokers, vandals, artists, skateboarders and the homeless all take their piece, sharing the autonomy of its removedness. 

A decaying fortress of concrete, every inch from the  dingy, haunted basement to the burned out roof are covered in graffiti, displaying work from some of the city' most prominent street artists. Along with the painting, another type of art is thriving. That of the renegade skate ramp, illegal missions of forming and pouring, of creating skateable space out of our concrete covered world. Renegade projects are blossoming around Portland, a tradition started with the grass roots skatepark project under the burnside bridge in the early 1990's and continuing daily. Portland's skaters have never shied away from mudding up some impromptu tranny and Pirate town provided the perfect canvas: abandoned, away from the public and full of crazy motherfuckers.

Within the warehouse ramps have been constructed, transforming space which was considered valueless to larger society into a location of limitless creativity for the skateboarder. Anything

which could be scavenged has been thrown in the transitions, railroad ties, rocks, chunks of pipe and pieces of trash can all be seen poking out from the expertly finished surface. 

For reinforcement chain-link fences were bent into transitions, providing not only stickable surface for the concrete but also adding the strength of steel into the tranys.

Rumor has it that the Burside boys themselves laid down the transitions and the place definitely has a ruggedly professional 

feel. Everything is built using minimal materials and maximum scavengability, but it is also built proper. Tranys are good, the surface is smooth and the only real issue is clearing out all of the debris, glass, rocks, dust and gravel from the flat-bottom. Even the unruly have respect however and a broom which looks like it has swept one to many ramps is left on sight to clear out the wreckage which accumulates between the two sides. 

 Town is a gem of renegade skatespots. If you can find it, respect it and be thankful to those who put in the sweat and time to create a space for everyone.

Christopher Shauger and I rolled out on a sunny afternoon to check out the new Gabriel Skatepark in Portland. Located at SW 45th and Vermont St., the first impression is that it was another waste of public funding. No coping can be found around about half of the transition and the main bowl looks like a throwback to 1970's parks or the old Whiterock park in British Colombia. Everything is rollie and the site is baking hot, not a breath of shade available anywhere. Outside the main bowl the "snake runs" and "pump humps" are pretty useless. They are tight and fling you with excessive speed which  the little two foot transitions can't  handle. The snake run dumps you right out into a dirt patch. The "wallride" could potentially be really fun, but to access it you have to push uphill which limits its versatility.

However, after a few runs within the main part of the park it becomes apparent that the designers did in fact know what they were doing.  Although the course lacks tons of coping, the rollable banks make it easy to pick up speed anywhere in the park. There are actually plenty of lines to be had and the pool-like coping grinds like butter (with a little added concrete squeal). 

Although the park may not be as multifaceted as some, for what it is, Gabriel offers a good time for sure and it is great to have something skateable in SW.

 

My first day entering the blogosphere, and later today a mission to Battleground. Spot checks coming soon