Closing Bell: Snowboarding on the Urban Slopes
From jsjcreative comes a video of people snowboarding in Fort Greene Park, the day after the big storm. More experienced boarders are teaching younger kids, and everyone is having a great time playing in the snow, and life is good. Unfortunately, it seems that it is illegal to snowboard in New York City parks, and…
From jsjcreative comes a video of people snowboarding in Fort Greene Park, the day after the big storm. More experienced boarders are teaching younger kids, and everyone is having a great time playing in the snow, and life is good. Unfortunately, it seems that it is illegal to snowboard in New York City parks, and rangers come over to let everyone know. Talk about taking the wind out of your sails. The people who were snowboarding, and the filmmakers who made this video, want to petition the city to change this policy. I can see where boarding off Riverside Park onto the West Side Highway would not be a good thing, but surely, there should be places in many of our parks where snowboarding could be allowed. What say you?
And in defense of the Park Police, we had another jump built (using plywood from the Ranger Station) and they made us dismantle it. I told them I built it and they were cool enough, said we were free to ride but no jumps or using park property.
Looks like when confronted they got attitude and misspoke… on camera.
That was a fun day and I think the real story is being missed here. Kids who may or may not have the means to go boarding were incredibly stoked to try it.
After that day (the kid at 1:55 is on my board) I found Burton’s Nonprofit Chill Foundation which helps get underprivileged kids out of the city and on the mountain. Check them out if it’s something you like the sound of (I don’t work for Burton).
Hoods to Woods© is a documentary based on the story of Brian “Deka†Paupaw and his journeys from the inner city streets of Bed-Stuy Brooklyn to the deep powder backcountry mountains in North and South America. Through Brian’s self told story, we experience how the culture of snowboarding transformed a life, once stifled by the social constraints of the streets, into one which is only bounded by the edge of a mountain.
With your help we can bring Snowboarding to at – risk youth in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. The Hoods to Woods Foundation offers a FREE 6 week Snowboarding Program that promotes leadership, health, well being and introduces our youth to the great outdoors. We are also looking for volunteers who know or want to learn how to Snowboard.
spread the word!
We have two screenings of Hoods to Woods
Wednesday January 6th 7:30p
Wednesday January 13th 7:30p
suggested donation $10
Cloud
281 Macon Street, Ground Floor
Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn NY
Media Links
http://radcollector.com/columns/brianpaupaw/2009/12/29/blk-ops-session-fort-greene-park/
http://www.vimeo.com/3245501
http://espn.go.com/action/snowboarding/blog?post=3937858
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Brian Deka Paupaw
Hoods to Woods
Funny thing is, I was sledding (on a big nylon/vinyl tube) in the park- near where this video was shot. Actually, it was on the 3 levels stairs- I was going way faster (and probably way more out-of-control) than the ‘boarders. I say, let them have their fun… that’s what snow in the city is all about. For the record, I had a blast.
that’s just freakin awesome. right on. I figure if there are mountainbike trails in NYC (queens and inwood I think) it can’t be a liability issue since mtbing is far more dangerous… anyway, that made my day 🙂
BSD, no dude, this one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRIhhSaTGWY
Not sure if its amateurs or pro’s shooting this.., but i love it anyway!!
“no laws against white people in yuppie snow-gear cross-country skiing in New York City parks”
Oh, you gotta be white AND in yuppie snow-gear? Did not know this.
Abeni, it was a small independent group that never took off unfortunately.
Your video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8sAUZP__nI
I’m guessing vodka was involved.
BSD I know his website is: http://www.guerillaartist.com/ and he has a “Hoods to Woods” fan page on facebook.
Did you volunteer with Burton’s Chill program? I did a few years back.
So is it really a law as bkre says? LOL! I have to find the video of this kid being pulled behind a moving train on his snowboard. Now that was criminal and funny!