Above: Zach Shaw, riding the pool like no other at Rom Jam 2017.

Intro by Robin Pearson
Photos by Ed Ballingal

ROM is a very special place. Crafted in 1978 at the peak of the early skateboarding boom, its weird and wild curves have lived on with such significance that it was granted listed status by English Heritage a few years ago. For a skatepark to gain such official recognition was previously unheard of – ROM is unique.

It’s so well regarded and has so much history that there’s even a film being made about the place, called ROM BOYS: 40 Years of Rad. Wait… 40 years of rad? That’s amazing! What an achievement.

We at Ride UK love ROM and the annual jams that go down every summer. Always well attended, always funny, always rad as f–k. Our man Ed Ballingal was down there with his camera and shot a few highlights.