Skateparks near campus
Rancho Penasquitos Skatepark (PQ):
A twenty minute drive down the 56E, this skatepark is located right off the freeway and is an awesome place to skate. The picture shown here is only half of the skatepark. The half shown here is the vert area, there are small quarterpipes, bank-to-ledges, and a mini ramp with a spine. The other half of the park is the street area and is currently under construction. There is a massive staircase with a table running down it to grind on. There also several ledges and a large flat ground area to practice tricks. Make sure to go in the morning or early afternoons, as this place will get populated fast as the local high schools get out. You will find skateboarders of all levels here and so don't be deterred from practicing at the skatepark if you are just starting out, skateboarding is all about learning tricks and having fun, not about impressing other people!
A twenty minute drive down the 56E, this skatepark is located right off the freeway and is an awesome place to skate. The picture shown here is only half of the skatepark. The half shown here is the vert area, there are small quarterpipes, bank-to-ledges, and a mini ramp with a spine. The other half of the park is the street area and is currently under construction. There is a massive staircase with a table running down it to grind on. There also several ledges and a large flat ground area to practice tricks. Make sure to go in the morning or early afternoons, as this place will get populated fast as the local high schools get out. You will find skateboarders of all levels here and so don't be deterred from practicing at the skatepark if you are just starting out, skateboarding is all about learning tricks and having fun, not about impressing other people!
Carmel Valley Skatepark:
This park is only about ten minutes from campus, taking the 5N. It is very popular as it is right next to Torrey Pines Highschool and because it has such large street skate area you will often see sponsored skaters practicing their craft here. There is a large 10-15ft peanut bowl so if you are a pool shark this place has you covered as well. Beware this place attracts a lot of people so the park is usually crowded with kids and their on-looking parent, so if you are coming here to learn how to skate this may not be the place for you because there is usually no area left untouched. However, for those comfortable on their board this place is a great motivator because the level of skating here is always very high and you will often see sponsored skateboarders here or the local group of kids who come here every day. Another thing about this park is that it is the only lit up skatepark at night near UCSD so after a long day of grueling classes you can always come here to take some stress out on that skateboard and meet some San Diego locals.
This park is only about ten minutes from campus, taking the 5N. It is very popular as it is right next to Torrey Pines Highschool and because it has such large street skate area you will often see sponsored skaters practicing their craft here. There is a large 10-15ft peanut bowl so if you are a pool shark this place has you covered as well. Beware this place attracts a lot of people so the park is usually crowded with kids and their on-looking parent, so if you are coming here to learn how to skate this may not be the place for you because there is usually no area left untouched. However, for those comfortable on their board this place is a great motivator because the level of skating here is always very high and you will often see sponsored skateboarders here or the local group of kids who come here every day. Another thing about this park is that it is the only lit up skatepark at night near UCSD so after a long day of grueling classes you can always come here to take some stress out on that skateboard and meet some San Diego locals.
Washington Street:
This skater-built park is located underneath the Washington Street exit on the 5s. This park is only 15 minutes from campus and is one of San Diego's most famous. Built entirely by skateboarders coming in and pouring their own concrete, this thing was literally built from the ground up. Although the picture looks awesome, keep in mind that skateboarders built this, not professional contractors so the ground can be a little rough and the transition is not always perfect. Slap on your biggest set of wheels and prepare for transition after transition. Everything is a ramp and the walls can reach as high as 20ft! You will see this park in many skateboarding videos as the level of skating it takes to really skate this park well is pretty unbelievable. Be prepared to take some heavy slams while you are here or do not come because it is the only way to learn how to skate this park.
This skater-built park is located underneath the Washington Street exit on the 5s. This park is only 15 minutes from campus and is one of San Diego's most famous. Built entirely by skateboarders coming in and pouring their own concrete, this thing was literally built from the ground up. Although the picture looks awesome, keep in mind that skateboarders built this, not professional contractors so the ground can be a little rough and the transition is not always perfect. Slap on your biggest set of wheels and prepare for transition after transition. Everything is a ramp and the walls can reach as high as 20ft! You will see this park in many skateboarding videos as the level of skating it takes to really skate this park well is pretty unbelievable. Be prepared to take some heavy slams while you are here or do not come because it is the only way to learn how to skate this park.
Robb Field Skatepark (OB):
Located right next to Sea World, this park can be seen from the 5N, just look for the blue gate surrounding the park. Built for BMX, the transitions in this park can be a bit steep but the possibilities are endless here. If you are a street skater be prepared to take a huge step out of that comfort zone as this park is entirely made of quaterpipes and bowls. This park never gets too crowded but the locals usually tend to show up in the later afternoons, so if your goal is to practice here uninterrupted the mornings or early afternoons are best as this park will be pretty empty. A great place to learn how to skate transitions, there is a bit of a learning curve to this park but once you get the hang of pumping around the transitions you can string together lines of tricks around the entire park on a single push of the board.
Located right next to Sea World, this park can be seen from the 5N, just look for the blue gate surrounding the park. Built for BMX, the transitions in this park can be a bit steep but the possibilities are endless here. If you are a street skater be prepared to take a huge step out of that comfort zone as this park is entirely made of quaterpipes and bowls. This park never gets too crowded but the locals usually tend to show up in the later afternoons, so if your goal is to practice here uninterrupted the mornings or early afternoons are best as this park will be pretty empty. A great place to learn how to skate transitions, there is a bit of a learning curve to this park but once you get the hang of pumping around the transitions you can string together lines of tricks around the entire park on a single push of the board.
Memorial Skatepark:
Arguably the best in San Diego, this place is a little bit of a drive from campus as it is in Chula Vista. The park is huge and unlike most other parks near campus this place has a good mix of vert and street obstacles. The picture shown here is only half of the park, so you can imagine how big this place is. You will run into skateboarders of all levels here so if you are a beginner do not hesitate to make a stop here and check it out. The surrounding neighborhoods can be a bit rough so if you are the type to snap at people the best advice is to just keep the peace, and do not bring any valuables.
Arguably the best in San Diego, this place is a little bit of a drive from campus as it is in Chula Vista. The park is huge and unlike most other parks near campus this place has a good mix of vert and street obstacles. The picture shown here is only half of the park, so you can imagine how big this place is. You will run into skateboarders of all levels here so if you are a beginner do not hesitate to make a stop here and check it out. The surrounding neighborhoods can be a bit rough so if you are the type to snap at people the best advice is to just keep the peace, and do not bring any valuables.