Skatepark of Tampa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Skatepark of Tampa
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | Tampa, Florida, United States |
| Opened | December 28, 1992 |
The Skatepark of Tampa is a super cool place in Tampa, Florida, USA, where people can skateboard. It's often called SPoT for short. Many people think it's one of the best skateboarding spots on the East Coast of the United States! SPoT is famous for hosting two big skateboarding contests every year: Tampa Am and Tampa Pro.
Contents
The History of SPoT
SPoT first opened its doors on December 28, 1992, just for the people who worked there. A few days later, on January 2, 1993, it officially opened to everyone. The very first professional skateboarding contest held at SPoT was in April 1995, and a skateboarder named Mike Vallely won it.
On April 1, 2012, SPoT played a fun April Fool's joke! They announced on their website that the famous rapper Lil Wayne had bought the park. It was just a prank, though, and everyone had a good laugh.
Awesome Skatepark Features
SPoT has different areas for all kinds of skateboarding.
The Pro Course
This area is like a special playground for advanced skaters. It has a "pro course" with cool features like a pyramid, rails to slide on, and ramps (called transitions) to jump and flow over.
Outdoor and Beginner Areas
Outside, there's a concrete course with more ramps and a unique "pizza oven" obstacle. If you're just starting out, there's a "beginner's course." It has smaller rails and ramps to help you learn and improve your skills. This area also has a famous bowl, which is a curved area perfect for riding.
The Street Course
The "street skateboarding" course is special because it gets a new design every year! This happens just before the big Tampa Pro and Tampa Am contests, keeping things fresh and exciting for the skaters.
Tampa Pro Competition
The Tampa Pro is a huge annual competition for professional skateboarders held at SPoT. Skaters from all over the world come to compete and show off their best tricks. Winning Tampa Pro is a big deal in the skateboarding world!
Here are some of the past winners of the Tampa Pro competition:
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Mike Vallely |
| 1996 | Eric Koston |
| 1997 | Andrew Reynolds |
| 1998 | Andrew Reynolds |
| 1999 | Gershon Mosley |
| 2000 | Kerry Getz |
| 2001 | Kyle Berard |
| 2002 | Eric Koston |
| 2003 | Tony Trujillo |
| 2004 | Bastien Salabanzi |
| 2005 | Dennis Busenitz |
| 2006 | Greg Lutzka |
| 2007 | Eric Koston |
| 2008 | Greg Lutzka |
| 2009 | Greg Lutzka |
| 2010 | Paul Rodriguez |
| 2011 | Dennis Busenitz |
| 2012 | Torey Pudwill |
| 2013 | Luan Oliveira |
| 2014 | Nyjah Huston |
| 2015 | Luan Oliveira |
| 2016 | Shane O'Neill |
| 2017 | Louie Lopez |
| 2018 | Jagger Eaton |
| 2019 | Carlos Ribeiro |
| 2020 | Nyjah Huston |
| 2021 | Shane O'Neill |
| 2022 | Jamie Foy |
| 2023 | Yuto Horigome |
| 2024 | Yuto Horigome |
SPoT's Skateboarding Team
SPoT also has its own team of talented skateboarders. Some well-known members include:
- Elissa Steamer
- Peter Kryger
SPoT as a Music Venue
Besides skateboarding, SPoT is also a cool place for live music! It has hosted many concerts and events over the years.
Transitions Music Venue
In March 2017, the SPoT Snack Bar was changed and rebuilt into a full music venue. It was renamed "Transitions." This new venue has a stage, lights, a sound system, and a new bar. Transitions held its first show during the 23rd Annual Tampa Pro contest, featuring music by Ray Barbee.
