The Local Skate Scene/Summer 2017

The summer skate scene is in full swing, with schools out and private and public skate parks in operation. South County continues to be the hotbed of Rhode Island talent, thanks to the draw of top talent that calls the Old Mountain Field Skate Park their home. Over the past two years, more than $10,000 was raised by local skaters in their quest to make improvements and enlarge the park. With the encouragement and backing of the South Kingstown Recreation Department, Old Mountain Field continues to produce not only the best skaters in New England, but also the best riding surfaces in the state.

South Kingstown skaters dominated in the two latest major skating contests held in the tri-state area. Evan Mansolillo crushed it at the big Groton Jam, held in Groton, Connecticut. He took the title with two dramatic backside airs on the 10-foot vertical wall, and the hand plants sealed the deal. Rogan Kennedy won the title for the best ledge tricks at the Alex and Ani rink jam. Kennedy’s combination of a kick-flip backside tail slide and back-180 nose grind locked it up.

A recent online survey of skate shops by New England skateboarders made for some interesting results. The survey was based on quality of service, knowledge of the staff (do they skate or do they pose), product selection and team rider presence.

Narragansett Surf and Skate won the survey by a landslide, with the voters stoked on the tiny store’s energy, selection of innovative skate decks and outstanding team riders. Civil Skate Shop finished in second place; they have three locations: East Greenwich, Providence and Westerly. The Drift Surf Shop in Wakefield took third place, followed by Elemental Surf and Skate in Middletown. The fifth shop selected was Solstice Skate Shop in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Coming up on the skate scene schedule is the very popular South County Skate Camp, which takes place from August 15 to 18, at Old Mountain Field Skate Park in Wakefield, Rhode Island. The camp runs from 9am to 3pm daily, and is headed by probably the top two skateboard competitors in New England: Rogan Kennedy and Evan Mansolillo. All skill levels are welcome at the camp, and skaters always get one-on-one instruction and encouragement from both Kennedy and Mansolillo. Ages for the camp are 6 to 15 years ols.

Interested skaters can sign up at the South Kingstown Recreation office, located at the Neighborhood Guild, on Columbia Street in Peacedale, or online at parksandrec.southkingstownri.com. Skaters can also follow Old Mountain Field Skate Park updates on events and improvements on Instagram at @omfskatepark.