Saturday 26 November 2016

Ontario's Best Bowls

Ontario's Best Bowls
I thought I'd throw together a post of Bowls and Pools for those who love transition. Not included are Ontario's Worst Bowls, Vert Ramps(CJ's & Muskoka Woods), Mini-ramps and bowled out corners of skateparks(There are lots of them. Here's That POST). My top 3 are listed first and another 30+ are listed.
This is a living document and more parks will be added as they are completed (and skated).

Campbellford




My favourite park and one of the best bowls. The roll out has a small Q. The deep end goes to vert and then some. The shallow is a great mini-ramp with a tight pocket end. There is also a love seat and the steep bank extension has marble ledge coping. Full Review.


Marina Park Plaza

Thunder Bay's Marina Park Plaza features one of the first Pool replicas in Ontario. By New Line.

Picton


I have to list Picton, ON in my top 3 as it's possibly the greatest mini-bowl ever. Extentions, spine, roll-in, love seat and more. I've never heard a bad word about this park. It's totally worth the trip. Full Review. 

Top 3 out of the way, Ontario has a great selection of transition if you're willing to travel a little. Some of it is pretty gnarly and some is fairly tame. Hopefully you find something you like below. Click the link to see the rest of the park.

Toronto
Ashbridges Bay - Deep bowl added to the park as a phase 2. Pool coping and embedded ladder. Added the 2nd photo because it's way better, but it's not mine. Contact me for credit or removal.
8th Street - Shallow peanut.
Vanderhoof Bowl - Extensions, cradle, pool coping and an annual contest; Hoedown at the Hoof.
East York Skatepark - Tight and Fast.
Check out all of Toronto's Transition HERE
Check out the rest of Toronto's parks HERE

Hamilton
Turner Park - Major fun at this one. Concrete coping in the deep end.
Waterdown Bowl - Big roller, extensions, pocket and a spine. There is now a up ledge by the spine. 
Check out all of Hamilton HERE

London
Medway Bowl - Huge bowl with a bit of everything.
Wolseley Barracks Skatepark - Tight & fast peanut with a deathbox.
Check out all of London HERE

Audley Rec. Centre, Ajax, ON - Pool extension and a pocket. 

12 Oaks Skatespot, Vaughan, ON - Transition based skate spot.

'3' Bowl.  3 Muskatears Skatepark, Acton, ON

Bancroft, ON - Roller wall, extension and a steep bank. Coping is sticky.



Courtice, ON - Triple lobe bowl with hips and an extension.

King City, ON  This one's a gnarly one. Deep, Steep and pool coping that barks.

Uxbridge, ON - Smooth bowl with a steep bank surrounded by quarters. There's also extensions, a deep end and a big roller.


Riverside Skatepark, Cambridge, ON - 'Drop of Death' in the last place you would expect it but that adds to the challenge. Spine, transfer visor(?) & steep bank.

Memorial Skatepark, Stouffville, ON - Smooth with a fly-out to bank and extensions.




Richcroft Rec. Complex, Kanata, ON


Aurora Family Leisure Complex. Bowl has some seepage issues but mini-bowl is great. Aurora, ON
UPDATE - The park has been slated for a complete re-build after a review found it was not built properly, resulting in the seepage and other issues. 

Elmira, ON - Perfect for ripping or just getting your feet wet in the pool. Steep shallow end with a roll-in, stairs and a great deep end with a deathbox. Pool coping all around.

Kenora, ON - Extension, smooth concrete and a spine transfer to the rest of the park.

Port Dover, ON - An OK peanut. It's mellow and the coping is flush with the concrete but it won't make my list of worst bowls.

Niagara Falls, ON - Bowl with a roll out to the rest of the park.

Silvercreek Skatepark, Guelph, ON - Big bowl connects with an open snake-run that goes the length of the park. 

Milton, ON - Milton Community Park. Brand new (fall 2016) deep bowl with pool coping, steps and a deathbox.




The pool and mini-bowl at the Gellert Community Skatepark can be skated in a line.


The bowl at Lake Wilcox Youth Park in Richmond Hill features a mini, extensions, a pump bump and a deep end with pool coping and a 13foot capsule.
More shots HERE


William Rose Bowl - Oakville

Newcastle - The new park has a mini that flows into the bowl.

New CJ's Bowl. 
EDIT - RIP

This bowl is a blast with 2 depths, extensions, hips and in/out transfer walls.
North Dumfries Skatepark in Ayr, ON

Mold Master in Georgetown replaced to old park and got a bowl.

800 Mulock Dr

970 Paramount Dr




It's not great but I wouldn't call it 'worst'

A little better than Strathroy, but there are still issues.

A big flowy moonscape bowl






There's a lot of quarter pipes all over Ontario.
Check them out!
Ontario's Mini Ramps - Basically a listing of everything else for transition lovers

5 comments:

  1. Love your work I have also travelled heaps documenting skateparks check out my collection on Skateboard.com.au matt@skateboard.com.au

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  2. Can't believe you didn't include the sweet bowl at Forest Glade, haha

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  3. Awesome post! I hear there is a bowl coming to collingwood? Have you heard anything about that?

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    1. Hi Brendan. I haven’t heard about a new bowl specifically. The Heritage Park master plan concept image had a place holder skatepark image that included a bowl and the Parks & Rec master plan recommends more skate spots ( including one in Red Maple park, a new development). If you hear more I’d love to know.

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