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.