Skatelab, Simi Valley

From the ground up, Skatelab's indoor and outdoor parks were designed with skaters in mind. In 1997, the original park was designed by Team Pain, a professional company staffed with experienced skateboarders, and then built by a volunteer crew of local skaters committed to creating a space where they could practice and push the limits of their sport. Boxes and ramps crafted from Finland birch fill the park's four distinct sectors—two air-conditioned indoor zones and two outdoor areas—for all skill levels. For instance, in Sector B, beginners and street skaters drop into a wide arena where they can grind on rails instead of on arguments they had with their best friend in seventh grade.

With 5,000 items on display in the in-house skateboarding museum, Skatelab honors the sport’s past while training its future by hosting weekly skateboarding classes for newcomers. Each class covers the basics of safe and technically sound riding and provides pointers for performing tricks for experienced skaters.