WHERE TO SKATE AROUND PACIFIC OASIS

The skateboard community in the region of Santa Elena is alive and thriving every day. Although the cost of such a hobby is still relatively high for the middle-lower class , skaters always find a way to ride. Used hard goods, cheaper china imported decks and locally made products are key for a local rider. A simple pair of shoes that cost around 80-90 USD in the USA ends up costing around 130-150 USD in the domestic market. Generally, skateboarding in Ecuador is not as affordable as other part of the world. Regardless, skaters shred like anywhere's else.

In the last decade the region of Santa Elena has seen a rise in number of publicly and privately available skateboard infrastructure, all within reach of Pacific Oasis Club.

From Pacific Oasis Club, which is located right on the coast as shown in the map above, many options can be taken to find some skateable ground.

For instance, just 10 minutes away from Pacific Oasis club, there is a small and very wide mini ramp in a public park right behind Ballenita's beach. Fun for couple grinds after beach day and safely located behind a touristic parking lot.

Still within the 15 mins commuting time, Santa Elena has its own public skatepark that includes a bowl and a street section and it is the largest of the area.

Going south towards the tip of the peninsula, there is Libertad, around 20 mins south from Pacific Oasis, which also has an old skatepark that provides enough terrain to have some laps. Not the safest spot yet is there for the daring ones.

The peninsula ends at Salinas where another public skatepark can be found in the newest public park or better known as "policentro deportivo". It looks like it was made by Lego due to the incredibly small structures and closeness of obstacles, yet very smooth floor finishing and overall great place to learn basics. Thanks to local Marco not only is the place clean everyday, but also ledges and rails have enough wax that no speed is actually required to grind or slide.

Last but not least, Salinice's garage. The very first private bowl in the region, and probably the steepest, run by local surfing legend Sebastian. A must to visit, fast and challenging design.

Moving down South/East alongisde the coast from Salinas/Ancon another spot can be found in the small town of Engabao, in this case a wonderful diy park made by a Swiss no-profit organization. Although this particular area enjoys some of the highest criminal rate of the region, the skatepark is relatively safe and beautifully placed in front of the beach where also great waves can be found. Two birds with one stone!

Going north from Pacific Oasis means taking the scenic Ruta del spondylus, the only semi-highway that goes all the way up to Esmeralda, the last Ecuadorian's region before crossing to Colombia. Within less than a hour drive north a hippy/surfers/Israel town called Montanita is found. Very likely the most famous surf spot/town, it once had a fun little concrete miniramp that unfortunately was recently demolished. Rumors appears to say that a new skatepark is underway, hopefully not designed by Carver' riders or in-line skaters.

By crossing the small hill that ends Montanita's beach the road connects with the next town named Olon. A cozy and relatively wealthy town with good night atmosphere and terribly high prices, also has a skatepark located within the property of a residential area. The park is quite large and has very mellow transitions. Although Grant Taylor might find it a bit boring, for most average skater its another terrain to shred at high speed.

The region of Santa Elena ends just a few kms north of Olon and the road takes to Manabi . Even if it is not within Pacific Oasis's region, Las Tunas town is reachable within 1.5 hours and it offers an incredibly fun skatepark always built by the same Swiss no profit organization of Engabao. The town is extremely laid-back style, has the best restaurant, Jimnys , and has endless waves to surf. Communism is the main religion there hence avoid deep conversations with caucasian locals.

All in all, the region of Santa Elena has positioned itself as a future mecca for skateboarding and surfing, and by continuing to push for construction of small to medium size skateparks or skate-plazas there will be a higher number of individuals that practice, live and nurture the culture that surrounds this art form called Skateboarding.