We recently received funding to deliver weekly skate sessions at various places across the city.  The aim is to work at a number of areas in Manchester that don’t have many easy to access facilities/activities for young people, aged 13-19 years old.  We hope to engage people, maybe even for the first time, in the wonder that is skateboarding!

It is aimed at pure beginners, and the funding means that we can do the sessions totally free of charge!

The lessons have been on at Coverdale Baptist Church hall in Ardwick for the last couple of months.  We will be starting weekly sessions at Wright Robinson College 7pm-8.30pm from 20th Jan, and will be there every Friday until 30th March.  We’ll maybe see you at one of the sessions soon.

We will have a new venue to move onto after finishing our time at Wright Robinson, so watch this space… and now go skate!

We thought everyone would like to know when we will be closed over Christmas and New Year 2011…. So, here you go!

• 24th Dec – CLOSED
• 25th Dec – CLOSED
• 26th Dec – CLOSED
• 1st Jan – CLOSED

For rest of the Christmas holidays we will be operate our usual holiday opening times i.e. from 1pm each day.

Thanks to everyone who came down to make the day such a good one.  Big thanks to the sponsors for all the prizes we were able to hand out – Emerica, DC, Deadmen, Vans, SuperToxic, Projekts, and Superdead!  Results for the comps are below…

Under 16’s – Rails/Blocks Jam & Small Hip Jam

1. Charlie Birch
2. Jay Johnson
3. Jake Potts

Over 16’s & Sponsored – Rails/Blocks & Big Quarter

1. Max Pouncey
2. Lewis Threadgold
3. Leon Karakashian

Over 16’s & Sponsored – Big Hip Jam

1. Jake Potts

Best Trick prizes went to Max Pouncey for his backside 270 kickflip and bigspin flip to frontside boardslide, and to American Connor for his fullcab heelflip!

Best Slam prize went to Lewis Threadgold for his impressive faceplant!

Under 16’s Line Comp

1. Sam Bottenberg
2. Jake Potts
3. Matt Kelly
4. Jay Johnson

Over 16’s Line Comp

1. Dom Henry
2. John Bell
3. Tyrone O’hanrahan
4. Jay Stone

Check out the gallery for photo’s from the day which we’ll put up later….. See you down here soon!

Peace

• Mondays, 3-4pm at Chorlton High School M21 7SL
• Tuesdays, 3-4pm at Whalley Range High School M16 8GW
• Wednesdays, 3-4pm at Our Lady’s High School community sports centre M9 0RP
• Thursdays, 3-4pm at Projekts skatepark (with Abraham Moss school) M1 2PG
• Fridays, 4-5pm at Communications Academy M40 8NT
  

ProjektsMCR has been commissioned by the Active Lifestyles department of Manchester City Council to deliver 5 skateboarding sessions a week at various sites across Manchester….. for the next 8 months!

Throughout the summer school holidays you can find us at the following locations (if no indoor venue is listed, the session will be cancelled if wet):

• Monday 2-3pm at Manchester Enterprise Academy, Wythenshawe, M22 9RH
• Tuesday 2-3pm at Plant Hill Skatepark or if wet at Our Lady’s High School, Blackley, M9 0RP
• Wednesday 11am-12pm at Platt Fields Skatepark, off Mabfield Rd, M14 area
• Thursday 1-2pm at Gorton Skatepark, M12 5PS
• Friday 12-1pm at Chorlton Skatepark, M21 7FZ

These sessions are part of a scheme they call Urban Mania, its aimed at 10-16 year olds, and once a form is filled out to join the scheme it costs only £1 per session

There will obviously be new times, and some new venues from the start of school term i.e. week beginning 5th September.

We hope to see you at one of the sessions soon!

Of all the hundreds of photos taken during Supra’s epic three hour assault of the Pump Cage, for me this one told the best story. Ever smiling, Muska takes a slam and Olly Tyreman disengages from the crowd to offer a hand.

I suppose it says that even the best need some help sometimes. And Muska really performed like one of the best. Yeah, his skating was incredible, but it was the interaction with everyone else that put him on top. He never stopped smiling, he constantly encouraged all the skaters (locals and Supra Team alike) and anyone else who was there, really. No Muska fan left the Cage unsatisfied, I’m sure of that!

Keelan Dadd, Terry Kennedy, Boo Johnson, Lizard King and Spencer Hamilton skated for hours and were all amazing! Keelan Dadd executed a particularly memorable nollie front side heelflip over the big hip, which you can see on the Flickr page. Without a doubt the Supra Team set a bench mark at the Cage that will be very hard to match.

That said, the locals pulled out an impressive performance, too. Rob Smith drew a massive crowd after pulling off an unbelievable 50:50 grind up the vertical fence post, next to the miniramp. He erupted out of the quarter with such a speed that he finished his grind less than a foot from the top of the five metre high fence panel. Then fakie, back into the quarter and rolled away into the screaming crowd.

It was great seeing everyone skate together and I hope if Supra are ever back in the UK they drop by the Cage again, and if they’re reading this: It was a privilege having you with us! I hope you enjoyed your time in Manchester. Thanks for coming.

Check out this video from Caught in the Cross Fire for highlights of the day:

http://www.caughtinthecrossfire.com/skate/skate-news/supra-demo-footage-from-the-pump-cage-in-manchester/

…and our Gallery and Flickr pages for more photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/projektsskatepark/

http://www.projektsmcr.com/skate-gallery/

Melanie C dropped by the Pump Cage last week to shoot a music video for her new single Rock Me! She also hired three local skaters, Rob Smith, Olly Tyreman and Lewis Brownlie, to do some tricks in the background.

Apart from Olly Tyreman smashing his skateboard into the side of Melanie C’s ankle, everything went smoothly. Looking forward to seeing the finished video.

Projekts Skatepark opening times during Easter Holidays:

Mondays- 1pm to 8pm
Tuesdays – 3pm to 8pm
Wednesdays – 1pm to 4.30pm normal session
– 4.30pm to 6.30pm beginner session
– 6.30pm to 8pm normal session
– 8pm to 10pm BMX session
Thursdays – 1pm to 8pm
Fridays – 1pm to 8pm
Saturdays – 12pm to 7pm
Sundays -10am to 12pm Beginners Session
-12pm to 5pm Standard Session
– 5pm to 7pm BMX Session

All weekday standard sessions cost £3
Wednesday beginner session costs £2
Saturday sessions £3
Sunday beginner sessions £5
Sunday standard session £3