Welcome to: Benny's Brisbane Skateboard Directory The site for skaters in Brisbane, Australia Compiled by Mark Brimson     Inala   West Brisbane area   There are two places to skate in Inala, both being from about the mid eighties skateboarding boom.   Swallow Street Park, Swallow St Concrete bowl   E. B. Playground, Japonica St Metal halfpipe   Both constructions have had their fair share of skating from time to time, but they differ greatly now. The concrete bowl is set in a mild slope in the Swallow Street park, but every time it rains, there is a run off of dirt, rocks, sand and other debris that makes this place almost unskatable if you don't have a broom or the time to sweep it out. It is a four sided bowl with a gap in the bottom corner so some of the wash does get away. One side has a bar of coping half set into the lip, almost as this was an after thought or some local skater has come along with a few tools. The top end transition (1 to 2 ft) is about half the height of the bottom end, with the flat bottom in the middle following the slope the bowl was set into. This can be ok, but it means most tricks are in "one off runs" as in drop in the small end, do a trick in the big end and then don't even make it up the top of the small again. It is good for trying that trick that you just can't get right anywhere else, because here you can do it over and over again until you get it, most likely with no one to bother you.   The metal half pipe in Japonica St is still the same as always, being the big construction that many suburbs got early on in the "metal ramps are better" eighties. About six to seven ft tall and quite wide enough to do anything normal on, this ramp is just plain fun for those who can skate big. Like all these stand alone ramps, there is not really much room for those who cannot skate them, being very much a "do it, or don't do it" situation. I guess I am just lucky that I grew up skating these kind of things and I like it and know how to ride it. For all those others of the "Street New Breed" try the local shopping centre, as there are lots of nice curbs and bumps for you to do your flips over.   If you know the reputation of Inala, the suburb itself, you might not even come anywhere near here, but really these ramps are here to be skated on. There are not really that many people who would bother you if you didn't just ignore them or not say anything back to them if they did try something. Maybe take a few friends, or get a car load of skaters, but please, enjoy what the council has provided for you.   The concrete bowl   The metal half pipe     email me at:   mbrimson@yahoo.com ***** (click here to send me mail) *****   Click the "BACK" button to return to the previous menu.