Reykjavík Grapevine - 13.07.2012, Blaðsíða 18

18
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 10 — 2012 This page is dedicated to doing stuff on wheels. There is currently no page
dedicated to doing stuff using wings. We are working on that for next year.
Special | Best Of Reykjavík - Best Bike Ride: Öskjuhlíð—Fossvogsdalur valley
Special | Best Of Reykjavík - Best place to skate
BIKING IN REYKJAVÍK IS UNDERRATED
The Best Places To Skateboard In Reykjavík
Reykjavík may not be the most bike-
friendly city, but it certainly has some
beautiful routes where cars are not
welcome. For a particularly nice sce-
nic ride that’s fewer than 10 kilometres
round trip, head to Öskjuhlíð and pick
up a coastal path that takes you into
Fossvogsdalur.
To find this mystical path, ride out of
town through the south side of Þingholt.
You could for instance take Laufás-
vegur, which gives you the opportunity
to admire the charming houses, until
you reach Gamla Hringbraut, where
you turn left. Ride up the hill past Land-
spítali hospital until you reach the lights
and then turn right on Bústaðavegur in
the direction of the Pearl. Ride past the
Valsheimili football stadium and turn off
at the lights. Follow Flugvallarvegur un-
til you reach the intersection and then
turn left along the cycle path and you
are on your way!
Ideally the wind is a light breath at
your back and you are surrounded on
both sides by an abundance of lupines.
To your right is the ocean, velvety and
radiant. To your left, is the somewhat
unusual presence of an Icelandic forest
creeping down the hill, dark green and
resplendent (okay, forest is a stretch,
but there are trees and this is unusual).
You pass the odd runner, people walk-
ing their dogs, other cyclists, but it is
otherwise quiet and for a moment you
own the path, the valley, the city, the
ocean, the world.
Just follow this cycle path around
the hill side and then up to the valley.
You will know where you are going. Just
relax and feel the fresh air on your skin
and enjoy the wholly underrated activ-
ity of biking in Iceland.
Eventually you cross over the bridge
into Fossvogsdalur. The neighbour-
ing city of Kópavogur is on one side of
you, while the Fossvogur neighbour-
hood is on the other, hushed with the
low hum of domestic life. You follow a
stream until you reach the perfect spot:
a mellow grove of trees, the long grass
in an open stretch of field, or a shady
spot on the bank of the stream. When
you find it, you throw down your bike,
throw yourself down and let the open
sky swallow you whole.
Of course things aren’t always this
ideal. If it’s winter, well, this romantic
little jaunt is far less likely to be so bliss-
ful. If easterly winds are blowing you
have to battle with headwinds most of
way, probably getting dust in your eyes
and expending twice as much effort to
go half the distance.
But... the big BUT, it’s worth taking
this ride because you may hit the jack-
pot and roll straight along in a westerly
breeze, meet no one along the way and
get to have this glorious feeling of mo-
mentarily owning the world. Who isn’t
willing to take that chance? Even if
things aren’t 100% perfect, they are still
pretty damn nice and it will be worth it.
We promise.
I came to Iceland for the first time in
2006 specifically to skateboard. At the
time, I literally knew nothing else about
the country, only that I was on a mis-
sion to track down the spots I’d seen in
so many magazines and old skate vid-
eos; this decision would soon inspire
me to learn all I could about Reykjavík’s
vibrant skate scene, to begin learning
Icelandic, and to spend as much time
in the country as my savings account
would physically allow.
Skateboarding is blossoming in
Reykjavík these days, and the host of
cool street spots are every bit as di-
verse and eccentric as the tightly knit
community of skaters who make it tick.
So, if words like “kickflip tailslide” have
ever exited your mouth, or if you refuse
to do a Dolphin Flip out of principle,
Reykjavík has everything you’ll need. I’ll
begin with an old classic…
INGÓLFSTORG, 101 REYKJAVÍK
Located right in the middle of 101, In-
gólfstorg has been a skate destination
for several decades, and is gener-
ally the meet-up place/starting point
for most sessions. If you’re looking to
hook up with some friends for a game
of S.K.A.T.E., the terrain offers plentiful
opportunities to give your challengers a
letter. Aside from the smooth tile under
your wheels, Ingólfstorg features two
oppositely placed inclines on each side
of the square, as well as the famous,
beastly 8-stair set at the end. Conve-
niently located directly beneath the
greasy sandwich bonanza, Hlöllabátar,
Ingólfstorg is the perfect spot to get
warmed up. Note that it is inaccessible
to skaters at the moment, but surely
this won’t last.
LOFTKASTALINN, REYKJAVÍK’S IN-
DOOR PARK
This is Reykjavík’s largest (and really,
only) indoor park, located near the far
end of the harbour. Loftkastalinn’s ter-
rain includes numerous roll-in’s and
ledges, two mini-ramps, a steep bank
and stair set, and the best bowl in Ice-
land. This is the perfect place to spend
a rainy day, and you really have no ex-
cuse not to shred.
HILL-BOMB, BASE OF HALLGRÍM-
SKIRKJA
Though this technically isn’t a “spot,”
it’s still one of the most fun things you
can do on a skateboard in 101. The
run begins in the courtyard in front
of Hallgrímskirkja, continues down
Skólavörðustígur and merges into
Laugavegur, and concludes in front of
Ingólfstorg. The whole run lasts maybe
three minutes, and will build you some
serious speed on the way down. As
you’re passing by Prikið, time it just
right, and you can blast through the
intersection at the base of Laugavegur
before the light changes (don’t actually
do this part). Reach Ingólfstorg, and re-
ward yourself with a hotdog!
TæKNISKÓLINN & SURROUNDING
AREA
Since you’re already up there at Hall-
grímskirkja anyways, check out the
surrounding area! There are several fun
spots in the parking lot directly behind
the church, including a well-worn pole
jam, ledges, and two massive double-
sets. Walk a little further down the path
towards Leifsgata, and you’ll find a
sizeable grass gap with a good run-up.
HARPA, 101 REYKJAVÍK
The property surrounding Harpa, Ice-
land’s concert hall, is some of the best
skateboarding Reykjavík has to of-
fer. Multiple cement ledges and water
gaps grace the portico, and a series
of hardwood ledges and manual pads
lie waiting just to the left of the build-
ing, conveniently concealed from the
harbour winds. I’m not sure if The Man
minds the frequently heavy skater pres-
ence, but I’ve never had any issues, and
have even had someone from the café
come outside to bring me a few bottles
of water. Good stuff!
These are but a fraction of the great
skate spots found in Reykjavík. If you’re
new to the area, grab your board and
make a day of it. With a little diligence
and a set of fast bearings, the hidden
gems you come across will pleasantly
surprise you.
Bike ride
Öskjuhlíð - Fossvogur
BERGRúN ANNA HALLSTEINSDÓTTIR
RVK.IS
BOWEN STAINES
BOWEN STAINES