By Michael Dorausch, DC

Two things that are really near and dear to my heart, skateboarding, and the city of Venice, California. I was a kid skating Long Island around the time DogTown skateboard paraphernalia (mostly artfully done wooden skateboard decks) begin appearing in the New York suburbs. I figure that was around 1976 or 1977, and in Los Angeles, the skateboard movement had already long been underway.

GPS Latitude: 33 deg 59′ 14.37″ N GPS Longitude: 118 deg 28′ 31.33″ W

Today was a historic day in Venice Beach California, with the opening of the City of Los Angeles Venice Beach Skate Plaza and Skate Park. I posted latitude and longitude coordinates above for those of you geeks that want to find the skate park via your GPS gadgets, since it won’t yet show on any map. The park is part of the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and it’s official address is..

1800 Oceanfront Walk, Venice, CA 90291

skateboarding the pool in Venice beach while crowds cheer

Venice Beach’s 16,000 square-foot skate plaza has four main components; a deep pool (shown above), street terrain course, snake run and flow pool.  The $3.4 million plaza’s unique design combines street and vert skating, allowing skateboarders to flow in and out of the different styles. With a maximum vertical differential of up to 9 feet, the deep pool allows for lots of speed in a single entry/exit run. The street terrain course simulates a streetscape environment with steps, rails, planters, curbs and driveways. For an old-school skateboarding experience, skaters can carve from bank to bank through the snake run. The flow bowl provides maximum momentum for continuous multiple entries/exits in a single run.

We used to have POP in Venice Beach, but after that burned down, the place became a Dogtown. Now there’s a new skateboard park in 90291.

For Venice Beach locals or those interested in skateboarding in the area, check out my Venice Beach Skate Park photo set on Flickr. You’re welcome to use the photos on your websites or blogs, but I’d appreciate link attribution back to the photo page or this post.

Dog Town

Many thanks to the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Ruth Galanter and other elected and former council members and Los Angeles politicians, and most especially to the long-term dedication of the skateboarders that got this whole movement started more than 30 years ago. My many skateboard related injuries over the years indirectly played a role in me becoming a chiropractor. Who’d a thunk it?