The arrival of the concrete transistion banks we have down the park today did not arrive overnight by any means. It took a few years of meetings with the police and council leaders, the main thing it came down to was money, the guy who took hold of the whole affair was Simon "jester" paton, he pretty much had a 2 handed say in the project. We (riders and skaters) all used to go to the meetings held down at Smethwick police station every time there was one scheduled to put over what we wanted to have to session, It all came about because we used to ride the car park at the back of safeways which was on Bearwood high street, we used to carry the fly offs we built down to the car park on the evenings to ride, as time got on and we learnt by trail and error how to build some good solid ramps, These ramps were placed up against the walls which were quite tall and long, making it a perfect place for wallrides.
You can imagine safeways management was not to happy with youth's riding and skating about while there was shoppers trying to go about there day, we was moved on quite a few times by the police and we would protest that there was no where for us to go, hence the police and safeways funding some money towards the anneka's challenge of building Bearwood a skatepark. There used to be a tree in the park just by the entrance to the bus station, this tree was about 2 feet wide and slanted back and became known as the fakie tree, all that rode the park would of once had a go to learn how to fakie on this tree. The fakie tree no longer stands anymore as it was cut down a few years back, some good sessions were had on that tree, as time got on and skills were a little bit better it was not unsual to see tree rides to 180 out instead of a fakie, now this was back in the late 80's. Can be said with confidence that the locals at Bearwood were a little ahead of time when it came to riding, Now take the start of the brakeless time of riding back in 1990, It was a few years after there was any news of riders going brakeless, nowadays there is a whole scene going where riders are riding real amazingly without any brakes.
There have been riders that have said Bearwood was the pioneers of Brakeless riding, but that alone is quite a heavy statement to accept, especially when the whole thing for us came about because of buckled wheels and lack of money to buy new parts, Bearwood was never set out to pioneer anything as we were just about having as much fun a possible on our bikes, So when i say being ahead of time that can be seen on the riding without brakes side of things, like i said in the previous blogs, there was many scary times with being brakless and would of not had it any other way, scary times = many a good times and laughs.
Much Peace to all the little Bears who keep Bearwood's spirit alive by smashing the place to bit's when they session, Really enjoy watching them Bear's session alot.
Much Goodness To The One KennyKen The Bear In Yorkshire, Peace Bro.
Til Next Time Much Peace and Blessings to each and all.
BLF.
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