Garage Days
In his new park, aptly named 'The Garage,' the Vic's crew managed to utilize every square inch to its fullest potential.
As many of us who have been skating for a few years know, indoor skateparks in Seattle just can’t seem to stay in business for more than a couple years. Paradoxically, in an area of the country that rains almost nine months out of the year, it is overwhelmingly difficult to create a sustainable business model when it comes to running an indoor skatepark. Even Innerspace, which I want to say was the longest running indoor skatepark in Seattle’s history, eventually had to close up shop and send the little dunnies to the local parking garage to skate for the rainy season. As an old friend once put it, “The skatepark equation simply does not compute.” I have to say that I fundamentally disagree with this statement in practice and in principle. The “skatepark equation” obviously can work, it just needs to have be executed by someone who breathes, sweats, and bleeds skateboarding.
Punk wall.
Enter Jordan Sanchez.
In a meager attempt to describe him accurately, without sounding too cliche/high school yearbook-esque, I think one word that works well to sum up Jordan Sanchez, is dedication. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Jordan for ten years or so, and for whatever aspect of life he is focusing on at any given minute, whether it be skateboarding, work, family life — the word dedication always comes to mind.
So when I heard that he was planning on taking on the seemingly insurmountable challenge of opening his own indoor skatepark, I though — okay, this might just work. Then, when I watched in amazement as he was able to get funding (thank you to all who donated), finish the full build-out, and have the grand opening in a astonishing three short months, I thought — well obviously this is going to work — it’s Jordan Sanchez.
In the countless skate missions I’ve been on with Jordan, it seemed like every time I met up with him, he would always have something cool in mind to skate or shoot. Usually it was a completely insane spot, with a trick to match, neither of which I thought were possible at the time, yet he never come away empty handed. This is the parallel to which I draw to his current project The Garage. Because anyone who has had the pleasure of watching Jordan skate, knows that he has plenty of tricks up his sleeve.
Bump to bar.
In the words of the Sk8rat, "Ooowwie."
The layout.
Photo: Hollyanne Faber
Smotag. Photo: Hollyanne Faber.
Noel Sinclair Boyt. Photo: Hollyanne Faber
Jordan and his wife, Anah. Photo: Hollyanne Faber
The question often associated with the Pacific Northwest, more specifically Seattle, is the typical, “Oh, you’re from Seattle? Doesn’t it rain a lot there?” The answer, more often than not, is a depressing, “Yeah, it sure does.” What is even more depressing is the fact that a state which is home to such a great skate scene, and receives as much rainfall as Washington does, cannot seem to have an indoor skate park that is healthy, and able to keep its doors open. Jordan Sanchez has taken things into his own hands and he is doing things a little differently.With the help of his Kickstarter and everyone who donated money, Jordan and the Vic’s Market guys managed to open a park for skaters to escape the rain, only a couple months after presenting the idea. The Garage’s grand opening on March 2nd had a huge turn out. There are many positive things that can be said about the Vic’s crew and that is because they are talented, creative, driven, they have two Sanchez’s, but above all else, whatever Jordan and the Vic’s guys do, they make sure to do it right.
- Ethan Anderson”
Photos: Hollyanne Faber
Check out Sk8rat’s Garage Grand Opening video. Killing it as always!
The Garage Indoor Skatepark
2927 Rucker Ave.
Everett, WA
Open daily from 12pm-8pm
for more information visit their website.
Big thanks to Shane Auckland, Hollyanne Faber, and Ethan Anderson!!!
