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BMX pro Bas Keep's favourite UK skate parks
Red Bull’s very own Sebastian ‘Bas’ Keep reveals some of the best BMX parks in the UK.
Red Bull BMX pro Sebastian Bas Keep is the king of summer. In 2018 he managed to find the time to ride the world’s biggest tunnel in Lisbon, alongside running his bike company Tall Order BMX, swimming in the sea twice a day, and starting a family.
Thankfully, among the chaos, he found time to fill us in on the best skate parks in the UK. Some are local spots with a deep connection to Bas’ teenage years, others are some of the biggest and most well known parks in the country, and all are awesome
Whether you ride two wheels or four, there’s something here for you and your friends to make the most of your summer.
1. Unit 23, Glasgow
Matt Jones, Jono Jones and Kriss Kyle carving the wall ride at Unit 23
© Dave Mackison / Red Bull Content Pool
It’s huge, with lots of different rooms. There’s something for all skill sets there, including smaller ramps and big ramps. You can tell a lot of thought has gone into the ramps and their layout. Best of all, there’s a foam pit to help you practice tricks without getting hurt. The locals are really friendly, so you’ll always have a lot of fun there.
2. Ramp 1, Warrington
Simone Barraco performs during the Red Bull Local Hero Tour at Ramp One
© Rutger Pauw / Red Bull Content Pool
This has really, really good sections, and is built by a company called 414, who build a lot of really good skate parks. Every time they build something they seem to get better at what they’re doing. They’ve done such a good job here. The ramps ride so well. Every time I go there it’s difficult to stop riding once I start. It’s good for kids and pro-level too, so they did a good job.
3. Mount Hawke, Cornwall
This is a massive indoor skatepark with really well-built ramps, and everything you could want, really.
4. Livingston, West Lothian
Local rider Kieran McCarroll at Livingston Skate Park
© Michael Walker
There’s a lot of outdoor concrete parks in Scotland. There’s a famous one in Livingston which is really good. It’s an old outdoor park and is really respected in our community. People make the effort to go see it. It’s been in a lot of BMX videos over the years. There’s a lot of heritage there.
5. Adrenaline Alley, Corby
Anthony Perrin at Red Bull Local Hero Tour at Adrenaline Alley skatepark
© Rutger Pauw / Red Bull Content Pool
This can’t be left out. It’s one of the best skate parks in the country. Everyone goes there. It has a really good bowl. It has foam pits and all the training facilities are built perfectly. Kids love it, they can go there and learn all the tricks. It’s really good fun.
6. The Base, Bognor Regis
This one is just full of really friendly locals with well-built, new facilities. It’s just a good, fun skatepark, with something for everyone.
7. My local haunts, East Sussex
Bas Keep in Hastings 2015
© George Marshall / Red Bull Content Pool
I grew up riding in a little, sleepy countryside village known as Crowhurst. There's a park there which has smaller ramps for beginners and big ramps for those who have been riding a bit longer. A bit of everything. An old friend of mine built the ramp 30 years ago and we’ve ridden it ever since. It’s still there now, rusting away, but it’s in a beautiful spot. It’s a sanctuary for me to go to and just ride my bike in the peace and quiet.
But if you do want something a little faster and more complex you can always visit Source, a sprawling BMX and skate park an hour away in Hastings.
