Dundee Concrete (Archive - Last updated in 2010)

EDIT: WE ARE GOING AHEAD – cross yer fingers for dryness!

Whether you are near or far, young or old, please come flex yourleg muscles round the skatepark this Saturday / Sunday.

There is an event in the larger park area on Saturday from 12 – 4 pm run by the council involving live bands (Dudhope locals ‘The Floor’ are the headline act) and also other sports stuff to make the non-skaterssweaty.

AND AT THE SAME TIME:

Craig and Andy have organized a (SECRET… shhhhh)comp / jam / funday which starts from the moment any skater starts rolling in the park,and lasts until Chuck / Elvis / Chin leaves the building.

Many sponsorsfor keenpeeps young and old.

(Confirmed support from:
Dundeeconcrete.com
Frontside
Shiner (Nhs / Deluxe)
Dwindle (Almost / Enjoi / Blind)
The List
Ozzys
Skateboard Scotland
Scottish Hobo Skateboards
S.O.D.
Party at the Doghouse after the Jam…)

Show up, do what you can, have fun.

And as Local Ginger Jack would (probably) say; “There’s plenty o’ shred-biscuits in The Tuckshop, and tunes comin oot o’The Jazz Club.”

If you don’t understand what this means you either need to do more research in the archives of this site, or just show up and ask a local… or both.

rock on.
~d

PS: To the artists on Friday:gonnafreshen up ‘T.J.C.’ for us will ye?

I may see you there anyway.

FRI EVENING:

WEATHER EDIT 2: The main council event is going ahead, we are going to be optimistic about the weather and go for it.

PS I got a call from ‘Mags’ tonight and he is going to try and make it back, if not for the comp, then for the party afterwards.

Rick is away in Canada and will be (hopefully) posting up some shots of some of the amazing parks over there soon. As I’m sure most people around Dundee know; there is ‘an event’ taking place in the larger park area on the 16th.

As for the Council-run stuff:
From 12-4 pm will be the third year of the event called ‘Park Life.’
Bands will be playing (including the very local team of multi-talented schraplers ‘The Floor’) and there will be lots of other stuff happening like the local heats for a city-wide sprinting competition.

Now…(clears throat) ‘officially’ there is no “organized” competition or whathaveyou in the skatepark (this is for reasons of legality / money / beurecratic evil) but during the day there will be a ‘casual presence’ by those who theoretically represent sponsors [ The List, Frontside, Ozzy’s, Scottish Hobo, Enjoi, Spitfire, Independent, Blind, and doubtlessly many others including ourselves here at dundeeconcrete.com] who may wish to hand out gifts or “prizes” for excellence in demonstrating skateboarding skills. Thanks Andy and Craig for being so proactive. See here for more info and possible discussion. Later that evening the focus will swing from encouraging the under 18’s, to encouraging the older guys (and girls) and the possible anointing of a new ‘King ‘o the Park.’

The skatepark is “open as usual” except for the ‘hopeful but unexpected’ visitation of many more non-local skaters.

If you are a BMXer or Blader we would kindly ask that you refrain from trying to ride that day… the place will probably be too crowded as it is. Please spread the word. (c’mon it’s only one day)

thanks.

Here’s a picture from last year of Kohler, to brighten your day and stoke your fires.

Sorry I cut yer arm off there dude.
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11 August: RIP Isaac Hayes:

SHAFT

even if he was a scientologist…

Can we please stop with all the rain now?

Event on the Saturday 16th of August is slowly warming up, stay tuned for details. Lots of sponsors and stuff going on. Thanks to Andy and Craig for being so active in this.

somebody sent me this:

Seems appropriate for the weather.

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Here’s somethingto look at while not actually skating:

http://thedarylsmith.squarespace.com/

and:

Some cool slo-mo skating:

Info newly in:

“SKATE OR DEE” a Dundee skate movie filmed over the course of two years, by Peter Tosh will premier at Feast With The Frontside at the DOGHOUSE Saturday night.

Fandy-List (for it is he) says: “Freestyle comp on the patio and a chance to beat Kev Dalsons monster 4″ 4inch Hippie jump from last time. I’ve got a set of wheels and a box of tea-bags here im putting on that hippie jump challenge. Plus crap DJs playin metal and punk .”

Sounds good!

Send us a wee trailer-clip Pete, so we can put it on the site!

Globe TV just sent out a video from War of the Thistle 2008.

It’s got some pretty awesome footage in it!

Nice day. Too busy skating to take many shots.

I suppose we could’ve had banners and organized silliness, but relaxing under a tree and lazily sauntering out for a few lines now and again seemed just the order of the day.

The scene about 3pm.

The hero-line was getting doin’ when the camera came out so that’s about all that was shot.

Benjahmin

Johno Johno with metal leg-spreading styles (see hand.)

Blair Blair Flips Child. (ok maybe this one ain’t landed, but many more are.)

Jack with the kung-fu tweaked ollies.

Blair and Jack doing the hero line.

Happy ‘International Go Skateboarding Day’ everyone. See you again next year (or tomorrow if if it’s dry.)

Livi next weekend anyone?

Wot it sez on the tin.

Saturday: anytime til we drop

Show up, Shred, Grin.

It so obvious but people keep forgetting:

Try and bring some juice / water, food !!

Great suggestion below in comments:

If it rains we will have session under the road bridge.

12:00 onwards.

Pete: bring yer ramps. (please)

Big Stu Graham interview scores an interview in Thrasher magazine:

Read the interview online at the Thrasher website ->

Go Skateboarding Day

Last year’s session on international Go Skateboarding Day was pretty fun, it’s coming up again on June 21st:

On June 21 skateboarders around the globe will celebrate the pure exhilaration, creativity, and spirit of one of the most influential activities in the world by blowing off all other obligations to go skateboarding!

Check out more about Go Skateboarding Day on the official website, but better still, Go Skateboarding on Saturday June 21st!

Comp / Funday

The comp / funday thingthat is being planned for August needs some (council-style) legality attached to it, which could be helped greatly by a small music event being run alongside it.

Are there any bands out there (hint to Dudhope locals) that would like to sign up to be the youthful ‘hosts’ of a free music event on the day?

All it would mean is filling out a small form (with help) to apply for grant funding… and “Bob,” as they say, “is your ‘Uncle.’ “

Daryl can help do lots of organizing but it will take a group of under-18’s to officially ask for the cash.

sign up, sign up!

When the sound system was brought up to the park the other day (that was great!) some Bo Didly was played in the mellowing afternoon and it was so amazingly fitting to the mood of cruising round the curves in thelowering sun.

Here’s one of a long list of obituaries that are on line.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/bo-diddley-guitarist-who-inspired-the-beatles-and-the-stones-dies-aged-79-838868.html

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THE WORD:

The comp / funday thingthat is being planned for August needs some (council-style) legality attached to it, which could be helped greatly by a small music event being run alongside it.

Are there any bands out there (hint to Dudhope locals) that would like to sign up to be the youthful ‘hosts’ of a free music event on the day?

All it would mean is filling out a small form (with help) to apply for grant funding… and “Bob,” as they say, “is your ‘Uncle.’ “

I can help do lots of organizing but it will take a group of under-18’s to officially ask for the cash.

sign up, sign up!

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nae pictures… sorry

The park got a bit of paint-job on Sunday with some emulsion that managed to last through the rain while drying. Thanks to The Coach and Scottish Hobo Skateboards for that initiative.

While Coach and Rick (a different Rick… a Hobo rider from near Glesgae, fine chap) tackled the Hobo Dog design elswhere, I took the opportunity to formalize the name which had been given by the locals to a certain section of the park:

The as-yet-still-King-O’-the-Park Adam ‘Mags’ Maguire dropped by for a week to shuffle some rhythm with the band, and pick up a new Hobo zoom-stick.

Irish-Jamie, was not sure about all that jazz and drops drops the beat to escape the nightmarish Saxmafone /keyboard section.

An accomplished local skate-musician, Nick shows us his chops.

The D-man just blasted through the hype and bad musical-themed captioning and ‘pulled one off’ (as they say… actually he does it a lot, the nutter that he is.) right onto the flat.

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Also in the news: Colin Adam from Heathen Skateboards showed up on Saturday and showed people some of his own jazz-riffs on the park that were utterly mindblowing.

I failed to be there for that and thus have no pictures to post up. Nice one.

~ Daryl

A nice wee noseblunt slide sequence from Jamie.

It took him a few tries to get it but it was worth the effort 🙂

The above video is posted on Flickr but you can also see it on Vimeo – http://vimeo.com/1006754

~Rick

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Anybody seen it at Dudhope?

Poor wee dude.

~ Daryl

What a brilliant sunny day. The Sea-mist came rolling in during the evening, but even then it was warm and somehow sunny.

I had other things to do so didn’t get there til about 6, but it was great. Good weather predicted all week. Lovin’ it.

Murray and Pete discuss.

Jamie was totally on it today, as fast as mince. Tail-slide on the tit.

Jaimie hoiking it off ‘the windscreen.’

Pete: Hat’s off to the photographer! Cheers bud.

I tried like… 5 times to get this, but Jack REFUSED to stay within my framing.
Jolly ollie-sticks, ginger-style.

more soon.

Jack and Kev were trying for a while to get this doubles act going on in the halfpipe at Dudhope the other day.

It took them a few tries but they eventually nailed it!

The Sidewalk guys have post a couple of videos from both Aberdeen and the Dumbarton legs of War of the Thistles:

There was so much awesome skating going down all over the place!

Aberdeen

Dumbarton

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Congratulations Bill Bailey! Winner of both heats of’Thor of theWhistles!’

Well done lad… “WOTT a performance.”

Hey Well done lads!

Spot the Dudhope locals in the article below:

Get yer autographs off’em while you can.

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DINNAE FORGET THIS!

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LATEST News Headline: FS ollies down Wallos Jris ‘the new black’ for old guys.

The BBQ session kind of went down at the park today but it started to rain after a while, here’s a wee clip from the session that went down. Weather permitting the BBQ will happen Sunday 30th instead / as well.

War of the Thistles 2008

Don’t forget about WOTT08 on 19th and 20th April at Transition Skatepark:

• Day 1 (Sat Apr 19th):
  Transition Skatepark – Aberdeen.
• Day 2 (Sun Apr 20th):
  Unit 23 – Dumbarton.

Chick from Unit 23 has been very busy building a new bowl so there’s gonna be some awesome stuff to ride!

Before many of you reading this were even born skaters were shredding plywood in a disused warehouse up in Stobswell, Dundee.

Andy posted this link in a comment on the previous post which just had to be shown here. Skaters appearing, amongst others are Smod, Craig McKnight, Simon (from Stirling), Aljo, Sean Goff (SS20 skateshop owner), Pete McNeil, Ploppy, Scott Malcolm (I think that was you Scott!) and many more.

Check out these links for some more of Dundee’s skate history:

• Anarchy Skateboard Jam – Dundee Factory Skatepark Competition 1989 (Part 1)
• Dundee Factory Skatepark Competition 1989 (Part 2)
• Dundee Factory Skatepark Competition 1989 (Part 3)
• Dundee Factory Skatepark Competition 1989 (Part 4)
• Dundee Factory Skatepark Competition 1989 (Part 5)

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Update: Photos from Stobswell Factory, Perth Road Factory and Broughty Ferry.

I came across a bunch old photos the other day so I’ve posted them to my Flickr account, there’s too many to post on this site so you’ll just have to check them out there. A blast from the past!

• Broughty Ferry ramps
• The Factory 1 – Arthurstone, Dundee Terrace
• The Factory 2 – Nethergate, Dundee
• RAD Magazine Factory Comp Article

Recognise the skater above?

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P.S. Can we please have no more arguing in the comments, people are trying to talk which is cool, just absorb the vibe from the video above when everyone just got along and skated!

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Edit:

Sigh….

OK! no more battles about various shops etc.

Everyone can go and MyFace themselves to a frenzy about whatever it is, but please leave it off here.

We here at DundeeConcrete admit ot our own political views on the matter but are tired of the comments board being used as a boxing ring.

We love LowriderzNEW-ERA, Frontside and The Listbecause thethe people that run them are all ancient mates, but we are tired of the divisionsthat are being created.

As the old Zorlac Sticker sez: Shut Up and Skate.

Buy from whom you want to, and who you feel ethical in supporting.

HERE ENDETH THE LESSON.

(yes the weather is crap this week… go up to Aberdeen like we used to when we was young and the weather was pants… except we never had a park like this!)

Danny Way etc will doutlessly berehearsing theirMega-Ramp sequined-leotard dance movesfor this NEW PARK IN WHITFIELD.

Yep… what a beauty.

I especially like the TARMAC. Bless’em.

Super-small-budget though and they just couldn’t afford a concrete slab, plus theyadmit thearea mostly full of BMXers, not skaters. (Sorry Kieren&co, you are from the area but just aren’t important to the the youth workers. You act like a real people, notnasty littleanimals, so they don’t need toworry about distracting you with a ‘facility.’ Does that not speak volumes about the cool people that skate at Dudhope??)

Still…. if this helps keeptheBMX-bandits-who-tuck-their-tracky-bottoms-into-their-socks, fromcoming to Dudhope, then I’m stoked.

Thanks to Dundee City Council for the picture.

EDIT: 23 Feb.

To be fair: this ground is under consideration for redevelopment, and the idea of ramps that CAN be dug up and moved in the future is probably a good idea to save the council money.

It was apparently a teeny-tiny budget and is only meant for the local kids wot don’t wanna pay to get into Super Mario’s World of Leather which is ten less than a ten minute cycle from here…

d