Skateboarding isn’t limited to the confines of city street spots, suburban downhill runs or ramps at a skatepark. Huge expanses of prehistoric terrain that has been around way longer than skating is all around us, but the great outdoors and backcountry skateboarding has been largely ignored by the worldwide skateboarding fraternity. It’s not that hard to believe that in some freaky way the elements have conspired to create some awesome skate spots beyond the urban jungles we’ve created. Some intrepid skateboarders have been exploring the wilderness in search of these isolated skate spots, and found some of nature’s own creations that eerily lend themselves to so well to skateboarding.
Denizens of the Petrified Dunes
In the depths of the Utah desert, a group of skaters take on the smooth rolling hills around Moab. The natural bowls and slopes are perfect for big slides and carving, all set against the backdrop of the snow capped Sierras. Skater Rolf Hanson has been skating the terrain since 1978, keeping it a closely guarded secret between just him and a few select friends. With a video now exposing the area and showing how much fun this type of backcountry skating can be, you can be sure the next generation will step up to the challenge. As Hanson puts it, “If you decontextualise your skateboarding through nature, you realise the shapes and features from cities have been here forever.” Check out this video of guys from across the world shredding in the Utah desert:
That Super Old Skatepark Deep in the Sierras
Three buddies head off towards Lake Tahoe, California for a camping trip. Hiking boots strapped on, backpacks loaded, fishing kit packed… and a skateboard too. This backcountry skateboarding flick starts out just like this, leaving you wondering exactly what’s going on. Stick with it though, because on their way up to Angora Lakes they find a sick backcountry skate spot. So now skateboarding joins their list of activities on their trip, jumping gaps, sliding ridges and carving the smooth rook surface. The small spot serves up a variety of different terrain for the skaters to test out, and they’ve got it all to themselves with no one else in sight. Watch skating in the Sierras below: