Eric Smith

Idolizing Industrial

  "We work with what we got." Wise words from local Omaha, Nebraska skater Heath Hoefener. Most of the Omaha sake scene is based around random spots spread around town. Others like Heoffner say that most of the skate parks around, such as; Seamore Skate Park, Vinny's Skate Park and Elkhorn Skate Park, are all too boring. Hoefener says, "It is all about the random spots that makes a good skater. Just take a look around and you will find that the world is just one huge skate park."

  You may ask yourself, "Where are these so called local skate spots located?" The truth is they can be found in your own backyard. According to most skateboarders it takes a keen and creative eye to locate these spots, but if you get on a board and ride around it should not be that hard.

  Local skater Shane Manchester from Omaha, Nebraska says is favorite industrial skate spot was called the Safe Spot, Skate Spot. "It was an old abandoned warehouse that many skateboarders turned into a skate park. They built ramps, rails, manual boxes and even a quarter pipe. It was like heaven on earth." Manchester says. Now we do not condone the action of trustpassing or vandalization, but sometimes the best spots are found in your head. Hoefener and Manchester both agree that imagination is the key to find sucessful skate spots around town. Hoefener quotes, "Sometimes it takes a little elbow grease to make imagination a creation."

Back to square one (the streets)

  "It's all about the street!" says Jake Vest. Vest views skating in the streets, rather than in the skate park, handsdown is the best experience any skateboarder will have. "There are way more things to do skating the skaing the parks." Vest says. 

Sure there are more risks skating the streets, rather then the parks, such as; heavy traffic, pedestrians and of course the police officers who potrol the streets. "Even though the cops out there go out of there way just to stop skaters from skating on private property there is no possible way i could ever choose skate parks over the streets."

Article and photos by: Eric Smith

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Heath Hoefener kickfliping a gap behind a warehouse in South Omaha.

Shane Manchester ollieing six stairs outside Gretna High School in Gretna, Nebraska.