Skatey Things in San Francisco, Part 2

In San Francisco there's a really big park called Golden Gate Park. It's bigger than Central Park in NYC, stretching from the middle of the city to the beach. It's big enough to have a museum--well, the California Academy of Science anyway--and a Polo Field and even a (yes, get this) bison enclosure in it. It also has lots of biking and running trails, so it sounds like it has outdoor skate potential.

That's a whole lotta park.

I haven't skated it yet, but I was walking through it the other day and came across a map of the park with one of those "you are here" thingies and pointing to different park attractions like the rose garden and the duck pond and the Skate Area.

What? So, apparently there's a thing on the map that says "Skate Area". There's apparently a big inline skating culture in this area. There are a couple of bike-and-skate rental shops around the park that rent out quads and fruit boots by the hour or day, so yeah. Of course, I had to go check it out.

Haha, it even specifies Roller Skating Area. :D

Actually, I heard the place before I even saw it. There was really old time 70s and 80s roller disco music playing from what turned out to be a wheelie suitcase boombox. The Roller Skating Area turned out to be just that. It was a flat, painted concrete area (but it'd be sooo nice to skate on) near JFK Drive and 6th Ave., on the edge of the park. and when I got there it was pretty much empty except for an old black guy who was dancing on rollerblades and a middle-aged lady who had handpainted old-timey skate boots who was skating in circles and twirling ribbons. (I couldn't get a photo of her or her boots or her ribbons because she kept flailing around too fast for my camera phone to handle.)

Surface, plus rollerblade-dancing old dude.

There's a derby-sized track line (at least for inside track I think) painted on the ground, so I might have to have a proper skate in the city one day.

I also found out that Sunday is the day to show up on skates in the park, at least for random wheeled shennanigans. From what I understand you just BYO skates (or whatever you have) and just go nuts in the park. SF Citizen had this to say about it:

Kennedy Drive in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is closed to auto traffic. The roadway is transformed into a 21st century recreational paradise where skaters, bikes, runners and other park users use the asphalt to have a great time. There is a special area at 6th Avenue and Kennedy Drive called, “Skatin’ Place”. Here skaters boogie to the music all day long. They glide with style and grace. Some work on skate dance routines. Others hone their skills on the slalom course. Many sit on the hillside and watch in awe. It is the greatest example of a public outdoor roller rink in the middle of Golden Gate Park.  (from this link)

(Picture: San Francisco Citizen)

Oh, yes. And some will work on their derby skills, while trying to steal the furry red leg warmers off that dude in the picture.