skating santa cruz

A lil’ bit in the boonies, tucked in a shady area off of Highway 9 past Scotts Valley, Jim Keefe Skate Park is a well-balanced skate land for intermediate and advanced riders. At the end of the day, it’s really about the park’s bowl. That’s why many skaters choose to spurn always-crowded spots like Skypark and take the meandering drive to the 8,500 square foot concrete structure.

Jim Keefe is rarely crowded so you’re sure to have first crack at the bowl and solid mix of street features. There’s a cool little fenced off area for beginners with a long and low flat rail and a few low-to-the- ground ledges perfect to practice grinds and other basic tricks. Jim Keefe is an under-utilized skatepark, and well worth the trip for an afternoon of free and unencumbered shredding.

Mike Fox Park boasts a divine mix of street skating, pipes, and bowls that make it a must-shred-destination for locals and Valley-folk alike. Prior to the grand opening of local-legend Zach Wormhoudt’s impeccably designed 15,000 square foot skatepark– he’s designed over 100 skateparks around the globe! – Today, the facility, hugging a gentle and picturesque curve of the San Lorenzo River, is packed by newbies and vicious shredders every single day.  

Many skaters, some from as far away as Europe, make the pilgrimage to downtown Santa Cruz, just to ride the park’s rails, bowls, and stairs, and try to conquer the first full pipe in Northern California.

The park is named after Zach Wormhoudt’s dad Ken, who designed and built the world’s first public skate park – legendary Derby Park— in Santa Cruz County in 1974. Zach took over the Mike Fox Park project when Ken passed away. Ultimately, the biggest challenge Zach faced was constructing the 16-foot-tall full pipe. It was an engineering feat and a true work of art, crafted it in a way that mimics an ocean wave. It’s not just about the pipe though. The well-maintained and carefully cared for bowls and a wide array of street skating features elevate Ken Wormhoudt Skate Park into the upper echelon of skating destinations.

At 4000 square feet, Jose Avenue Skatepark is far from the largest park in Santa Cruz County. But it’s still a fun, and popular destination for skaters in the Live Oak area. There are no vertical elements to be had here, just a ton of great street features. The concrete is always super smooth and the skatepark, just like Jose Avenue County Park, is well maintained and carefully cared for.

The gleaming, brand spanking new Seacliff Skatepark is a dream come true for the long-neglected skaters in mid and South Santa Cruz County. With views of the Monterey Bay and “skateable art” the pristine skate land is jam packed with skaters of all levels each and every day. Located just off of Highway 1 along McGregor Drive, the park is in a perfect spot,—just steps away from Seacliff State Park. Local artists provide swaths of vibrant color and intricate design features in the skatepark, picnic areas, and along the park’s snaking walking paths. Local skaters can thank lifelong Capitola resident, and founder of the legendary skateboard company NHS, Richard Novak for footing most of the bill — for what is now one of the hottest skate spots in the County.

The legend. The Icon. Derby. Originally designed by Wormhoudt Inc. in the 1970’s, Derby Park is one of the oldest public skate parks in the world. The skate spot is located on the Westside of Santa Cruz County and is a true landmark of skateboarding history. The park is a survivor, weathering numerous dips and rises in skateboarding’s popularity and some ultra-dark periods of widespread skate park closures. Many parks closed permanently in the 1980’s due to skyrocketing insurance costs. Long known for its wall to wall graffiti and rough rides, Derby Skatepark recently received a much needed (but somewhat controversial) facelift. Santa Cruz County public officials believed the historic park to be too dangerous to skate and demanded that significant changes be made. Some nostalgic skaters fought hard against the proposals, but in the end acquiesced. The County turned to the park’s original creators, Wormhoudt Inc. to make all of the alternations and to add new (and smooth!) concrete and four inches of rebar. Some of the changes to Derby include a “rocket pocket” at the start of the snake run and a 40-foot section of original style double-sided lip at the top of the snake run. Wormhoudt Inc. took extra care to keep the original form of the legendary park. Derby is a bucket list destination for all skaters. No doubt about it.

Our Favorite!!!

At 22,000 square feet, Tim Brauch Memorial Skate Park in Scotts Valley’s Skypark is the largest skate mecca in Santa Cruz County. With buttery smooth concrete and impeccable craftmanship, the park offers a wide variety of terrain for skaters of all levels. Over 500 people turned out to the unveiling. Most were blown away by the park’s sheer vastness and superb collection of skateable features.

The park’s wide and varied selection of bowls – of all varieties and sizes – is unmatched. Conquer the 2-foot-deep micro bowl and then skate on over to the super-speedy and kidney shaped 4-foot-deep mini bowl. Once you’ve had enough with the mini’s metal coping and fun lines, take the dive into the 8-foot-deep clover shaped big bowl. The bowl’s ultra-smooth and perfectly maintained concrete and slick metal coping make it one of the park’s most popular features.

Skypark is all about space, and you’ll have plenty in the park’s fun and extensive street course. A selection of quarter pipes border the street zone — containing a collection of stairs, steps with rails, and yet another oval bowl. Dozens of skaters show up to shred Tim Brauch Skate Park each day. The park can get crowded, but with over 20,000 square feet of skateable terrain it hardly feels like it. Don’t show up to the park without a helmet unless you want to get a ticket from the always hovering Scotts Valley coppers. And watch out for the swarming army of grommets on their razor scooters.