Skate culture took Southeast Asia by storm in the 1980s, an underground scene that has become popular over the years. Over the last decade or so, skate parks – indoor and outdoor venues that integrate street elements with style and flow – have been sprouting up across the region.
Today, there’s no shortage of spaces that cater to old-school skateboarders, inline skaters, and surfskaters.
Putrajaya Challenge Park, Malaysia
Considered one of the best in the region, Putrajaya Challenge Park – by renowned skate park designer Tim Altic – is built for skaters of all levels. You’ll find everything in this expansive open-air park, from handrails, grind ledges, and ramps to bowls and smooth, concrete pump tracks enjoyed by skaters and bike riders alike.
There’s also an amphitheatre adorned with cool street art graffiti where newbies can practise their skills on flat concrete surfaces.
Wavvy Hub, Malaysia
This newly opened 465-square-metre indoor skate park occupies the third floor of the Evolve Concept Mall in Ara Damansara. Surfskaters and inline skate enthusiasts strut their stuff here on multiple wooden pump tracks, quarter-pipe ramps and a rad portable wooden wavebank – touted as the first in the country. Wavvy Hub also functions as an event space where surfskate classes and skating-related workshops are held.
Hua Mark Skatepark, Thailand
This spacious, industrial indoor skate park – the largest in Bangkok – has hosted numerous pro skating competitions and demos through the years. Hua Mark Skatepark is decked with top-notch obstacles like fun boxes, stairs, ledges, quarter pipes, and jump ramps. Even if you’re no pro skater, it’s a great place to watch thrashers perform some sick tricks and manoeuvres.
Pumptrack SlideAway, Thailand
Designed and built by Thai BMX champ Chakrit Tongon, Pumptrack SlideAway sits 45 minutes from Bangkok in Pathum Thani town. The open-air park features a sleek, looped pump track filled with smooth berms and flowy rollers––heaven-sent for Bangkok’s surfskaters and bikers of all ages. Skateboarders will also enjoy the park’s large, elevated skate bowl overlooking the pumptrack.
Amplitude Skate and Bike Park, Indonesia
Situated less than 8 kilometres from Bali’s capital of Denpasar, Amplitude Skate and Bike Park is one of Southeast Asia’s largest and most comprehensive. The 3,000-square-metre facility is split into two sections. There’s an open-air dual slalom pumptrack consisting of rollers and berms, a perfect loop circuit for surfskaters, inline skaters, and BMX bikers.
The other area is dedicated to skateboarders, who can look forward to big thrills on the array of ramps, ledges and rails, and the park’s 2.7-metre deep concrete bowl with pool copings – the deepest in Bali.
Elbricks, Indonesia
Elbricks in East Jakarta is a cool, hip space surrounded by brick walls, potted plants and towering trees. Skaters will find multiple obstacles in this park fitted with mini vert ramps, fun boxes, rails, quarter pipes, and small bowls painted in yellow and turquoise hues.
There’s also a chic on-site cafe if you need your caffeine fix and a store where you can purchase skateboards, wheels, helmets, and other skating apparel.
Xtreme SkatePark, Singapore
Xtreme SkatePark is an open-air 1.4-hectare park nestled by the sea on Singapore’s East Coast. Novice skaters and grommets can explore the area dedicated to beginners, with its gentle banks, low ledges, and small ramps aplenty.
Advanced skaters can opt for the park’s more challenging obstacles like the combo bowl, which fuses vert walls within a bowl, or the adrenaline-inducing 3.6-metre deep bowl with a 90-degree drop.
Hanoi Skatepark, Vietnam
Hanoi Skatepark, a recent setup in the bustling 1,000-year-old Vietnamese capital, is the ultimate playground for the city’s skate community. Spanning 1,500 square metres, the brightly lit indoor park, which features obstacles such as ramps, vert walls, stairs, rails, and ledges, welcomes skaters of all ages and skill levels.
The ultra-mod space also boasts a cafe where you can fuel up for the day and a skate shop that carries some awesome gear.
GOMO Skate Park, Philippines
Occupying the space that was formerly the Santa Ana Race Track in Metro Manila is Circuit Makati, a mixed development that also includes a 1,000-square metre open-air skate park. To celebrate their second-anniversary last year, telco giant GOMO, in collaboration with Circuit Makati’s developers, invited artist Raco Ruiz to spruce up the park with his vibrant artwork.
Now known as GOMO Skate Park, the visually stunning place, with its many vert walls, rails, bowls, and mini ramps, is a street skater’s mecca.
This story by Kerry-Ann Augustin was originally published on AirAsia. Zafigo republished this story in full with permission from the publisher, simply because good stories should be read by as many people as possible! If you have stories that will be of interest and useful to women travellers, especially in Asia, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
