ARROW PARK - SKATEOPIA WOLVERHAMPTON

[china]

Anyone out there have memories of the two 70's parks based in Wolverhampton?

Arrow indoors, two or three floors of no stop joy...well it was then back in the 70's.  Skateopia just down the road and outdoors.

I am searching for some photos of the parks (have a few from old Skateboard Mag, with a review) but would like some more info.

China

[Dogbones]

Hi there, I was Skating at Arrow and Skatopia in the late 70's, but sorry to say I can't offer any pictures of either Skatepark.

If you have found any pictures, I'd be really excited to see them. Arrow was amazing - the sexiest plywood-sculpture I have ever been inside. I can't remember the exact dates (I was young) but I learnt to skate at Arrow. I met and got my pads signed there by Stacy Peralta when he was over for a promotional tour. When it got closed, it was squatted for a while and we carried on, but it got burnt down shortly after. A sad day.

I won a Skatopia Skatepark competition just after it opened - I was convinced that the guy who came second actually skated better though.

If you know the dates of existence of either park, or can direct me to any pictures - I would be most grateful.

Dogbones

[china]

Dogbones,

I have a few pics I may be able to scan in (don't hold your breath) of Arrow just after it was finished and being tested by Skateboard Mag.

I can recall going there in about 77 - 78 (I think) and even today, when I go in anywhere which has new wood fitted, the smell brings back so many memories.  Skateopia on the other hand was good, but had a deathly bowl with about six foot of vert...!  Seen some guy fall in the bottom of this one day and his femur popped out of the top of his leg, not nice.

We used to come down on the train from Chester and go to Skateopia first, then lead onto Arrow.  Skatepopia Was dead easy to get in without paying, as if one paid, they would pass the ticket over the fence for the next guy to go in (the attendant was about 80 at the time).

China

[Dogbones]

China,

Thanks a lot for the scans, appreciate your effort. Back in the late 70's, things weren't documented so much, nowadays I suspect there would be pictures and videos galore posted on the net.

Arrow was an absolute labrynth across 3 floors and they kept on adding to it after it first opened.  I'm not in posession of the geometric terms that could describe some of the shapes of the tunnels and bowls. There was one deep, oval plywood bowl - a bit like a ship's hull turned inside out - that was tough to get out of if you wiped out - it's walls were so high.

Skateopia was certainly a little ungraceful in places and the concrete showed no mercy compared to the plywood of Arrow. The Midlands climate wasn't like California either. I think I remember that guy popping his leg and the ambulance taking him off. Either that, or it was such a topic of conversation that I have false memory syndrome.

Cheers and if I ever track down any pics, I'll keep you posted.

Dogbones