Exclusive Interview - SkatePark Caldas da Rainha

Exclusive of Site Nacional de Skate
Introduction

Portuguese Skaters have been following with great concern the dramatic situation at the Caldas da Rainha Skate Park, whose infrastructure is in charge of the Municipality with the collaboration of the Union of Parishes of Santo Onofre and Serra do Bouro, and with the ADJCR.

Built in 1998, it has a total area of 1600 m2 and is one of the oldest in the country, but it has reached such a serious level of degradation that it puts the physical integrity of all athletes in this Olympic sport at serious risk.

With the Municipal Elections approaching, we listened to what the Caldas da Rainha City Council proposes to rehabilitate this Skate Park, and we also recorded statements from Skateboarding athletes from the local community.

THANKS:

To Caldas da Rainha City Council for the availability they demonstrated in responding promptly to our questions.
To all the skaters who contacted us over several months, alerting us to the urgency of the situation, and who collaborated with us.

NOTE: We tried to include all points of view in this report but some did not reach us in a timely manner, so obviously it was not possible to include them, however we are sure that there will be more opportunities in a possible follow-up.

Statement from the Caldas da Rainha Skater Community

Site Nacional de Skate: What is your name, and what do your friends call you?
– Lourenço: Lourenço Martins, Lourax https://www.instagram.com/lourax_sk8

Site Nacional de Skate: How long have you been skateboarding?
– Lourenço: 3 years.

Site Nacional de Skate: What area in Portugal are you from?
– Lourenço: Caldas da Rainha.

Site Nacional de Skate: How is the panorama of the Caldas da Rainha Skater Community?
– Lourenço: There are few skaters, probably due to the conditions of the Skate Park.

Site Nacional de Skate: Tell us a little about what you know about the History of the Caldas da Rainha Skate Park.
– Lourenço:The Caldas Skate Park was made of wood, then they decided to make it out of cement, and since it was made it hasn’t had any rehabilitation.

Site Nacional de Skate: Who do you contact, and what type of response do you have when there are situations in your Skate Park that require intervention?
– Lourenço: We contacted the City Council, but most of the time we didn’t get a response.

(in Portuguese)

Site Nacional de Skate: Are there currently any situations in your Skate Park that require attention?
– Lourenço: Yes, there are several holes in the Skate Park, and we do not have any drinking fountains or lighting.

Site Nacional de Skate: Has the National Skate Site and/or other skater communities, etc., helped you in the past in any way in publicizing your problems? (If yes, which ones and how?)
– Lourenço: i don´t know.

Site Nacional de Skate: Do you think it is important that the Site National de Skate is a reference site where all “anonymous” skaters can make their voices heard? Why?
– Lourenço: Yes, because this way we have a better chance of receiving help from the City Council.

Site Nacional de Skate: Do you want to leave us any suggestions or challenges?
– Lourenço: I would like them to help rehabilitate the Skate Park, and also add a cement box.

Site Nacional de Skate: Thank you very much for your time.
– Lourenço: Thank you.

C.M. das Caldas da Rainha recognizes the situation of Skate Park

Given the seriousness of the situation, we contacted the Caldas da Rainha City Council, which immediately offered to provide the following clarifications through its Press Office:

1st – Mr. President has not been contacted personally regarding this matter in recent times.

2nd – C.M. is aware of some complaints regarding the Skate Park, but through other means (it did not mention which).

3rd – The Sports Councilor Pedro Raposo personally went to the site to find out about the situation, together with a specialized company (he did not mention which one).

4th – This visit resulted in a Repair Plan that is being prepared (no estimated date for presentation was mentioned).

(in Portuguese)

Later we also received an indication that the matter was forwarded directly to the Sports Department, which did not add statements in a timely manner (perhaps because we were on vacation), but as soon as we receive any additional clarification we will report it.