Thanks to the Papillon Skateparks crew for another new skatepark on the Island. This full makeover of the infamous Ahuntsic skatepark is definitely the best park in the city.
Ahuntsic skatepark has always been kind of legendary in its own terms. A lot of Montreal skaters came up at that park, like Olympian Annie Guglia. Not much for its prefabricated street course, but for its 3 mini ramps. A lot of Montreal skaters learned how to skate on those ramps and it was for sure a staple in Montreal’s skatepark scene for years.
That said, it’s been a few years since the Ahuntsic skatepark was last used regularly as the ramps were disintegrating and weren’t really skateable anymore. It was definitely time for a change and the crew at Papillon Skateparks, with the help of Empire rider and architect Charles Deschamps, took charge of the project and built one of the finest parks there is on the Island. The cool thing is that they kept what made people visit that park in the first place: The ramps. This time, the 3 levels of mini-ramp are made out of concrete, making sure they will last longer the the previous wooden ones.
Oh yeah, and the street course is for sure one of the best we’ve ever skated, if not the best. Congrats to the Papillon crew, Charles Deschamps and all the skaters involved for bringing another state of the art park on the Island.
HOW TO GET THERE
One cool thing about the Ahuntsic skatepark is its location. Close to Henri Bourrassa Metro Station, restaurants, cafes and convenience stores. It’s so easy to go there if you live on the Island as it’s acutally right next to Henri-Bourrassa Metro station. In case you’d like to go there by car here’s how to get there.
THE STREET COURSE
The street course at the new Ahuntsic skatepark was designed in parallel lines so users don’t cut each other while riding its obstacles. As usual with the Papillon building crew, the ground is extremely smooth and the obstacles are disposed perfectly so you always have enough speed and time to set up before hitting them. Other than all that, the park is huge and has enough features for you to need a few sessions to try them all out.
On the West side of the park, a small bank with a parking block on top from where skaters drop in. After a quick flat section, you have your classic medium sized down rail + ledge with flat ledges and rails on top that you can hit coming from the other side. There's a lot of options going on around the first few central features like banks, bank to ledges and manual pads as well.
In the very middle part of the park you have the already famous long pyramid with flat bar and flat ledge going from side to side. This type of obstacle is rarely seen these days and is a great reminder of early 2000s Euro contest skatepark courses. You’ll also find banks, ledges, bank to ledges, a-frames and other original features while cruising through this section of the park.
At the East end of the park you’ll find a vast street area where you can practice your flatground. Features in this area include a flat bar, flat ledge and a bumpy ride ending with a small bump over obstacle. Simple, but efficient. Next to the flat area is a smaller street course with manual pads, small stairs, rails, ledges, bank to ledges and everything you really need in a skatepark, in small size. A very complete street course and a really fun one too.
THE TRANSITION SECTION
Transition lovers, you will definitely get your fix at the new Ahuntsic skatepark as there are transitions for all types of skills and tricks. Big, medium, small, funky and weird or classical, you’ll find something for you at Ahuntsic if that’s the type of stuff you like to skate.
First off, let’s start by the mini-ramp. To honor the Ahuntsic park heritage and its old mini ramps, the builders decided to include this aspect in the new park by putting 3 different levels on a very long mini ramp. At one end, the small part, medium in the middle and bigger ramp at the other end. This is a great spot to warm up before starting to skate the park, but this is the ideal setup to learn transition tricks and take them to a bigger size ramp, like the old Ahuntsic park.
Other than the long mini ramp, the park features a lot of different transitions to please the ramp lovers. One end of the park is actually side to side transition with 2 corner pockets, extensions and banks. To get tricks, speed or just to pump back towards the middle of the park, these are ideal. There is also a dope volcano that’s awesome to do tricks on, but also to redirect you in the park. All in all, you have plenty of options and the new transition section of Ahuntsic’s new skatepark is far from being boring.
