INTERVIEW: NEW TRANSITION - F51
We speak to F51 Project Officer Alex Frost about the impending arrival of what is believed to be the world's first multi-storey skate park
Folkestone Pier Pressure 2021
It is fair to say there have been fixed feelings from the skateboarding community about the sport’s inclusion in the Tokyo Olympics.
The irony of bringing it into the mainstream sporting sphere is not lost on those who have spent years being told to ‘move on’ by the powers that be. But, it’s all positive for those who are truly dedicated to the craft, with more money entering the game.
With campaigns for new skate parks across the south-east well under way, skating in Kent is in its healthiest state for years, and a big part of that push is coming in the form of F51 in Folkestone. We caught up with the F51 Project Officer Alex Frost to find out a little more.
Hi Alex, how did you get involved in the F51 project? We understand you are a local skater and also a local artist..
Originally F51 reached out to ask if I wanted to help create some illustrations/artwork for the building/website as a lot of my drawings are rooted in features related to skateboarding (@shitpencil). I think we'd had a few chats on Instagram before we met in person. After a few months of working with them voluntarily (only little bits like helping the team get local skaters in for focus groups and other outreach events), a Project Officer job role popped up, and I haven't looked back since.
And, now, after years of planning and hard work, the F51 skate park is due to open in winter 2021… how do you feel about finally reaching the milestone?
It is beyond exciting. It really is incredible that this is currently sat in the heart of Folkestone. We have so much planned that we can't wait to unveil. I can't wait to see and hear people's reactions after walking through our doors for the first time, it really does exceed any preconceived expectations you might have.
Okay, so, what is the first thing that will catch the eye of skaters as they walk through the doors?
The suspended concrete bowls - these are bulging out the side of the building and are unmissable. This is the first time concrete bowls have ever been poured in this manner.
Sounds epic. Can you outline the different areas of the skate park for us? Including the techy bits!
Yeah, the skatepark is split into three main levels: the bowl, street, and flow floors.
The Bowl Floor…
The Bowl Floor, which was designed and poured by Maverick, contains two incredible concrete bowls. The first, the pool, takes influence from backyard pool skateboarding in America, this bowl is for the more capable transition skater who has previous experience in bowl skating and pool coping. This bowl is equipped with waterfalls, tiles, vert, a 1.65m shallow end and a 2.65m deep end. The second bowl, dubbed; the modern bowl, is geared more towards those developing their transition skating ability. Taking a more creative approach, this bowl features skateable pillars, a vert escalator extension with 300mm of vert, an oververt corner bowl extension with 400mm of oververt and traditional skatepark coping.
The Street Floor...
The next floor up is the street floor, this is home to 700sqm of skateable surface and is home to a range of street-furniture-inspired obstacles. On this floor you'll find the flattest and most mellow areas of F51, providing beginners with a solid and varied space to learn while still offering plenty of challenges and inspiration to experienced riders and skaters. Obstacles on this floor include stair sets, handrails, a bank to wall, a jersey barrier inspired ledge, hips and more.
The Flow Floor...
The top level of F51 is home to our flow floor. The flow floor features 650sqm of skateable timber surface. Not only will this floor offer plenty of challenges for experienced skaters and riders, but it will also be perfect for beginners learning to ride transition. This level includes waterfalls, blends, humps, bumps, corner bowls, volcanoes, a vert wall, skateable pillars and more.
We understand that you will have a climbing wall and boxing facilities on the site… tell us more.
I can't share too much information on the boxing gym right now (but I can confirm its existence).
The climbing walls… F51 is going to be the tallest climbing venue in the South East with a 15m high lead wall and over 350 sqm of climbing surface. The main wall includes 15 climbing lines and over 30 graded routes with vertical, slab and steep overhang roof sections. It also includes two dedicated speed climbing walls with auto belays and speed timers to test speed and endurance. There is also a dedicated boulder area with over 230 sqm of surface to tackle graded routes and blocs up to 4m high. There will be something for every age and level of climber to tackle.
Once it is opened, there will be a handover and we understand that The Shepway Sports Trust will run it?
The Sports Trust has been encouraging people to try new sports in Folkestone for more than eight years now. The charity already works with a number of communities, sports clubs, and athletes, so F51 will be run with the intention of getting as many local people into one of the various action sports we'll be offering. The Sports Trust has locally delivered skateboarding lessons, pop-up skatepark sessions, and skateboarding events over the last few years.
Their mission is centered around creating inclusive, friendly and inspiring environments for people to enjoy sport and you will see and feel this the minute you walk into F51.
So much of Folkestone is very inclusive, how will you be looking to attract skaters both locally and regionally to the park?
Skaters tend to sniff out new projects, skateparks and spots as if it were second nature. This is likely rooted in having to seek out skateable furniture, spots and spaces in many towns which are far from being skate-friendly. Through this curiosity and constant, ongoing marketing campaigns, we've already had a lot of international reach over the last handful of years. A few years ago, I was in an indoor skatepark in Calais and the owner was quizzing me on F51 as soon as I mentioned I was from Folkestone, so it's cool to know our neighbours across the channel are just as excited as us.
We've also had tons of national interest for previous events we've put on before, our Pier Pressure event which we've hosted on the Harbour Arm for the past few years attracts a range of skaters from all over. We had people travel for the last one from Brighton, Sheffield, Birmingham, and Nottingham to name a few places.
Putting focus on locals is just as important to us as gaining regional attention. Believing in locals is one of our brand values and something close to our hearts. An indoor skatepark is as strong as its local scene, these are the users who will be carrying the park's ethos, inspiring the next wave of local skaters and welcoming regional skaters to the park. The local skaters of Folkestone mean a great deal to F51.
Folkestone Pier Pressure 2021
Will you be working with locals on artwork within the park?
Yes! We are featuring the artwork of a handful of locals within the park.
What are you most looking forward to once the park opens?
There are so many talented and creative local skateboarders in this town, I can't wait to see how much the whole scene develops once they're given this hub. We've already made huge strides with the new skateable art installed by Assemble on the Harbour Arm, a truly massive step in becoming a more skate-friendly town.
And finally, Who will be the first to officially skate the park?
I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.
INSTA: @folkestone51 WEB: f51.co.uk/
Folkestone Pier Pressure 2021
