When word got out about Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huck Jam Bikes, riders had a lot of shall we say “comments.” One heard frequently was the rumor that the Tony Hawk Foundation helps keep bikes out of skateparks. Since Mike Escamilla works closely with Tony Hawk on many projects, we asked Mike to give us the official standpoint from the Tony Hawk Foundation. Here’s what he had to say.
[For the story on Boom Boom Huck Jam Bikes, click here.]
“This is a question I am asked so much and there has been so much confusion about this topic. The rumor that the Hawk Foundation is against bikes in skateparks is 100% false. I’m an advisor to the board of directors and I’ve read all the paperwork information given to cities to help them receive grants from the Foundation. The information simply educates the cities on what actions to take to build a better skatepark if the city chooses to allow BMX. The choice to allow bikes in skateparks is and always has been the decision of each individual city. The Hawk Foundation does not influence any cities to not allow BMX. They actually encourage inclusion of BMX from the outset, so the skatepark effort has the benefit of additional voices, and the group better represents ‘youth’ rather than just a group of skaters. It makes the effort less of a special interest. Also, with bikers involved from the beginning, the park can be designed with them in mind for sight lines, coping and edge considerations, etc., rather than try and retrofit bikers into a park that wasn't built to handle them. So really the best way to try and make sure bikes get in your local park is try and be organized and proactive with your city.”—Mike Escamilla
