Words and photos by Dunk

As if Bristol and the surrounding area didn’t have enough skateparks already yet another creation has popped up just north of the city in Bradley Stoke (which is actually in Gloucestershire). Finished perfectly in time for the summer the outcome is a decent size but not massive design, whose main feature (in my opinion) is the bowl. The street course has a decent vert wall one end and a long driveway in the centre with a mix of ledges, rails and steps in various banked, wavy and straight configurations ideal for the tech grinders out there.

The Bowl is well thought out, although in some parts the thinking time is a little short. Nothing a few sessions can’t fix though. With its multiple hips, vert corners and quarter to bank setups there are endless lines and it definitely flows. It also has a volcano in the middle for added spice and once you have the lines you can tear around the place to your heart’s content. I really like the addition of the U shaped ledge and dip situated on the far side of the bowl. It makes great use of what could be dead space and helps to create some cool manual lines.

The location is easy to get to and placed right behind the leisure centre, so you can always follow the signs for that. There is a free car park right next tot the skatepark, although I’m not sure if this is temporary as most leisure centres are pay and display. Best bring some change just in case they add ticket machines later on.

The place definitely feels modern, it looks cool and well worth a visit if you’re doing a tour. The only down side at this moment in time is that the surface still suffers from ‘new concrete syndrome’ and can feel a little slippery in places, but this isn’t too much of a problem if you’re aware of it. With an extra half a foot the bowl would be unreal, but of course the councils only have a limited budget. So Bradley stoke is a good park, it will suit many types of rider and it’s a welcome addition to the Bristol area!