Most skaters skate what’s available. In my early teen years that meant a school parking lot and nearby ditch during the week, or the end of our alley where the curb cuts and sidewalks formed little skateable spots, or the alleys behind our houses where the driveways were banked and formed dirtbag snake runs. On the weekend I’d get one trip to the nearby skatepark. $5 for a 2-hour session. $5 was worth a lot more in those days.

In my late 30s and early 40s I thought having skateparks again would be the ultimate. For me, however, it is not. For many skaters a skatepark, no matter the quality, is what they have to ride. If you live in a place like Dublin, Ireland, it was my observation during my trip there last fall that you’d better have an indoor skatepark, as I didn’t find a single place that looked remotely skateable, and the weather is a bastard.

I still prefer naturally occurring skate spots. I’ve been lucky to live in places where there are good ditches for skating. That may be the only good thing about Texas, but to me it’s important.

Here’s another poorly shot image of my friend Dale at such a spot. Even on a bright day, skateboarding is best in the shadows.