Escape to Hoser Island

zackbishop / 0 Comment

Every choice that you make in your life paves a path leading to a new destination. Skateboarding is something that us few choose to do, and we all know that some times the path can lead us to some extraordinary places. Choosing to take a ferry to Bainbridge Island was a prime example of that.

Travis Usselman warms up with a Blunt Fakie

After a mellow start to the day and a 30 minute ferry ride across the Puget Sound, we made it to Bainbridge Island. Strawberry Hill Skatepark isn’t far from the terminal and we found it quite easily. The old park has uneven transition and the pool coping sticks out at different measurements. To say the least this park is old, and is definitely hard to warm up at. After about an hour of warming up, we were greeted by a few island locals.

Janky Lorimer Backside Feeble

Janky Lorimer pulled up in his Honda Civic. Covored in stickers and low to the ground, the car door swings open and Bill Moore and Tyler Horner step out to join Janky into the park. I have met Janky before but the other two were quick to introduce them selves and they seemed hyped to skate with some new faces at the park.

Bill Moore Tail Grab

Some of the locals were holding the argument that this was the first park built by Grindline Skateparks. Even if it isn’t the first, It still is the only park on the island. I could tell that these guys have been shredding this park for the past few years. All very comfortable and fearless to skateing the park. Bill Moore skated at top speed, and was shredding every nook and cranny that the bowl has to offer.

Tyler Horner Backside Desaster

These guys like to say “hoser” a lot. I caught on and started speaking in a Canadian accent and got a couple of weird looks. Later do I find out, that none of these guys actually know that as Canadian slang! Tyler used to call kids posers all the time and started feeling bad so he switched it to hoser. After a few good laughs tyler did this big ol’ Back D for the camera.

Travis Usselman Nose Pick

After a Long day at the skatepark we had the island locals show us some good food before we catch the boat out of town. Janky insisted on showing us their DIY spot. after a gorgeous drive along the water front with the City view across the Sound, we pulled in and parked at a gravel parking lot. We crossed the street and headed down a trail. Across a field next to a beach sits an old logging plant of some sort. the place was covered in graffiti and the inside had wall rides over channel gaps, and a pretty bumpy looking bank. It was awesome and has some real potential! we hung out there and thought of new ideas for the place, and just walked around and enjoyed the spectacle in complete awe before heading home. I would have never met up with these dudes if I didn’t go to the Island today, and I would have never seen that amazing place the way I did today if I decided not to ride my skateboard. Thank you to all the dudes that showed us a great time on the Island today!

Words and Photos by Zach Bishop