4 impressive skateparks in the south of Russia, where every extreme skater should ride

Adler

The park in Adler is located in one of the central squares. The location obliges it to be more than just a skate park and become a visually attractive public space. The perfect shapes of yellow concrete are tied together by lines that open up to everyone in their own way. But what is visible to everyone without exception is the visual aesthetics. In addition to the figures, we cast concrete benches in the same style as the park and installed lights so that the park can function at any time of day.

A bank in the shape of a surfacing whale decorated both one of the corners of the park and the center of Adler itself. We created the picture, but it is up to the observer to interpret the objects in it. Our park in Adler is not a trendy “blockbuster park”. We went the opposite way, imagining what we don’t like about modern public spaces.

Krasnodar

The first major collaboration between XSA and Sons of Concrete resulted in Russia’s first concrete plaza, which allows you to prepare for SLS (Street League Skateboarding) competitions. The massive park contains more than 40 elements tied together by lines, and is divided
into three main ones – from the most basic techno-figures to a high set of steps with a straight and kinky railing. Already at the opening, a squad of the country’s strongest skaters gathered in the plaza, and later it hosted the Skateboarding Federation’s training camp and the official Russian championship. During the season dozens of riders move to the city to prepare here for competitions.

Certain parts of the park are made of white concrete (for example, the steps and massive in essence but light in shape faces). The entire park adheres to a strict color scheme – gray-white-white-blue – into which are woven golden railings that play particularly well in the setting sun.

Evgeny Arseniev

rider, creator of Unlocalboards

When you see this park, you can 100% recognize the handwriting of the creators. I really like the guys’ creative approach to creating spots, integration of different animal figures or elements of urban environment in the figures. Their creativity and creative approach is very much to my liking. For this and for their contribution to our skating a big thanks. If you remember the legendary BackYard in Krasnodar, built in the forest, it’s hard to even believe that it was a reality. In general, bold ideas and their realization have always aroused respect and admiration in me.

Sochi

At the beginning of 2021, a new park appeared in Sochi to replace the old wooden one. It has a lot of zones and different textures – vert with a bowling alley, a section of steps and railings, brick chinabanks, the longest railings, books with gaps, concrete waves similar to the Chinese wall, a quarter wave and objects that are difficult to give a name to.

Before the reconstruction, everyone came here: gopniks, moms with kids who absorbed the rules of the land from a small age – and all this mixed with fearless riders who survive every day in the wooden skate park in the hope of not getting into another showdown.

Now the park is like a river flowing in the shade of massive trees, and evokes the feeling of a place that is not synthetic but alive. It combines a variety of textures, it’s just nice to be there or to look in passing. This is especially noticeable at night when the streetlights are turned on and the park begins to glow. Local and non-local, Sochi residents and Krasnopolyans, Muscovites and St. Petersburgers, non-systemic creators and efficient athletes – people from all over Russia have flocked here and pushed the previous inhabitants out of the park in search of new dark corners of the city.

This is how modern urbanism works – working with architecture to change society, and we are happy that we can put the theory into practice. It is important for us to be part of this movement and change the world bit by bit.

Alexander Markelov

Unlocalboards pro-rider, skateboarding coach

The park in Sochi is very interesting, one of the best street parks in Russia. There are pieces there for all levels of skating and further progress. But unfortunately, the park is quite dirty, due to the fact that the adjacent landscaped area is “maintained by the city”. Places where there should be lawns are just dirt that spreads over the park after every rain, and that’s along with trash from teenagers “wiping their pants” there. A perfect park is very cool, but if it is not maintained, a ghetto remains a ghetto.

Simeiz

Minimalism in design allows the park to fit very organically into the landscape. On one side – the legendary Diva Rock, on the other – no less legendary Koshka Rock, on the third – the Black Sea. The park does not overload the surrounding space and becomes a zone for meditative measured skiing in simple forms. Waves, faces with pipe-coopings, banks and quarters with radii of different levels – all this can be looked at as exhibits. Everything together acts as a single harmonious composition, complements the architecture of the city center and makes the park a place that is simply a pleasure to be in.