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Bilbao Exposed – UK crew in the Basque Country

Photos by Paul Graham

Intro by Paul Graham, captions by Jono Coote

In June of last year, three carloads of us descended on Bilbao and surrounding areas to hit the area’s legendary ‘crete. Despite torrential rain for three days out of four, no filmers and a well and truly dented hire car within ten minutes of leaving the airport it was still a fucking belter of a trip.

Thank fuck for the local’s hospitality, their indoor bowl and Moana Skate and Surf Hostel! On the last day the weather relented and we hit all the concrete we could fit into a single day – the enforced tourism had been nice, but by then everyone was ready to hurt themselves in the Basque sun!

In the van; Blinky, Joe Howard, Felix Parker, Jordan Kaye, Paul Graham, Becky Jaques, Ben Cook, Jono Coote, Beanie Tom, Garry Giomarelli, Leo and Willy.

All photo’s by Paul Graham unless stated

After “sleeping” in front car seats, wet fields and underneath squat lean to’s, we headed to Guretxoko indoor park. Back then it was a tiny, fun bowl with a whippy vert extension which Joe proceeded to backside air and texas plant while we took advantage of the beer which came with our entrance fee!
Ben Cook throws a frontside feeble to fakie in a tight situation.
Some top notch platform lurking with Basque tinnies.
The car which contained Leo, Joe, Paul and Willy managed to squeeze in a partially dry session at Urduliz, leaving the rest of us fairly envious.
Paul Graham ventures out from behind the lens to pivot fakie through soggy crust. Photo by Joe Howard
Paul and Joe swap places for Joe to tweak out this crailblock, proper 80s style shapes for an 80s park! Willy provides background encouragement…
Leo, Willy, Joe and Paul slept on a covered patch of concrete outside this squat.
On the second or third afternoon we drove for a couple of hours up into the mountains where we’d heard about an indoor park. The park wasn’t brilliant and there was a helmet rule, but the Sunderland crew got stuck into a spine session and the crusty dreadlocked owner sold us some weed so it wasn’t all bad. Ben Cook, one foot over.
Taking shelter from Basque storms, Joe Howard sends a laid back boneless over the golden bannister to pass the time.
After three days of downpour, our last full day saw the skies clear and skateparks start to dry. Blinky kicks off our first proper La Kantera session by grabbing mute.
Scenic one footed invert.
Jordan Kaye exits the iconic bank to QP area via a front blunt…
…while Garry Giomarelli goes with a front board. The original caption for this says ‘impossible front board’, which I don’t remember him doing – on the other hand, if anyone was going to throw that one down it would be the Rochdale Wizard!
Joe tests out the vert ramps coping with a back smith grind.
Channel miller flip.
A surprisingly spherical hat for a wizard…
Onto the next one! Becky Jaques rock fakies at Plentzia.
Ben Cook beanplants to fakie.
Front rock with the usual levels of uncontrollable flail.
Blinky liens to tail – can you tell we all loved the whale tail?
One last stop off at the rad Leioa Skatepark before heading back for a mellow one at La Kantera.
Willy with Ivan Rivado’s dog. Seeing Ivan skate Leoia was an eye opener to say the least…
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