Behind the Industry: The Ignition Indoor Park - I-view with Andreas Wagenblast

Tags: andreas wagenblast, i-view, ignition indoor park, ignition valley, jojo jacobi

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Probably most of you already heard about Ignitions own indoor skatepark. We thought that its time to introduce the park a bit better and inform you about the facts. And who else would be better to ask, than skatepark manager Gagi Wagenblast. So here we go.

-The skatepark late night during the Ignition Summer Opening...

Probably most of you already heard about Ignitions own indoor skatepark. We thought that its time to introduce the park a bit better and inform you about the facts. And who else would be better to ask, than skatepark manager Gagi Wagenblast. So here we go.

First of all, where is the skatepark located and since when is it open?

The Ignition Valley Skatepark is right in the Ignition Valley, not even 100 meters away from the Ignitionshop. It opened at the Ignition Summeropening Festival at the end of May 2007

Can you please tell us the basics about the park? (open, prices, website, etc)

Monday and Tuesday the skate park is closed right now, but we are gonna change this at the beginning of September. Wednesday and Thursday its open from 4pm till 9pm. It costs 3,50€ and for Valley´s Next Generation Members 3,00€. Friday from 3pm till 9pm 4,50€; for Valley´s Next Members 4,00€; Weekends (Saturday, Sunday) its open from 12pm till 9pm. 5,50€; for Valley´s Next Generation Members 4,50€ The last two hours everyday are Happyhour and then it is just 2,50€ and for Valley´s Next Generation Members 2,00€ But you can also check everything at www.ignitionvalley.com You will find all the information you need and also pictures of the Skatepark.

How and when did you come up with the idea to build an own indoor skatepark?

Like everyone of you, the idea came up just in the moment when we started skating. After years of dreaming, the company next to our house went out of business and we got the perfect empty hall. So after a couple of phone calls we just started to build it.

Whats the biggest problem you have to deal with when you’re realizing such a big project?

Money is a huge problem, because its not just a couple of Euros and also you get to hear a lot of stories from everyone. Everyone means: The city government, people who “want” to help us and so on.

How many people helped out building the park and how long did you have to work on the ramps?

We were like 5 people max working on the park. But not at the same time. Most of the times around 2-3 people worked all night long. The whole construction took us 3 months but there were also lot things to do before we started, like the organisation of working tools, getting the permissions to build, and of course we needed to have a plan how the skatepark should look like. Should I mention that we improved a lot while building it? So at the end we got at least 5 more great spots because of changes we had to do.

Whats special about the Ignition park? Whats different to other parks?

Its a special skatepark build perfect for rollerbladers. You can get a lot speed in it and you can skate better lines then somewhere else (*at least compared to the ones I’ve been in Europe)

-Jojo warming up with a chill air over the channel

Is there a place to sleep for people from far away?

Of course there are some possibilities to stay. Right now there is my guest room a.k.a. the miniramp room with 6 beds in it (actually its just one big bed, but in the size of 6 normal ones) And as soon as I moved to another place in Bad Reichenhall, you can also stay in the flat where I use to live right now, as kind of a youth hostel, like you can rent it, there is a kitchen and some chill possibilities inside. And every once in a while it’s also possible to stay in the skatepark, because in the Ignition Bar there is a lot of space. And sure enough, there is one more possibility to stay. The ground around the Skatepark is huge enough to camp there. A lot of people have done it before. Just ask Robert Lee from Stuttgart/Germany, he and the BENZOWN MASSIVE Crew doesn’t even want another place!

Is it true that the Ignition Bar got reopened IN the park?

Yes thats true! At daytime there you can order your drink and some food while the skatepark is open. And in the evening, you can play table tennis, or have a workout at the IGNITION WORKOUT CENTER or just hang around and have some chilled beer while watching skate movies or listening to music.

Are there any big events planned in the future?

Loads of them :) The next big one will be the new years event which is going to be bigger than everything else in rollerblading (at least for new years).

Do you plan to add new stuff to the park or you want to keep it like that?

Of course we want to add some new cool stuff to the skatepark. There are still a lot of ideas. But it would be really boring to make it all in one step. Because right now we got the perfect skatepark, but after a while it’s getting a bit boring. But then we will build up some new spots and then we’re having the most perfect skatepark AGAIN!!!

Something you want people to know about the park?

If you have the possibility to come to the IGNITION Valley, don’t even think about it, just make it! You won’t regret it! The Skatepark is built, started and run by Rollerbladers! Support it to keep it!

Thank you for the interview.

Thank you for your attention.

- Jojo Jacobi skating after a hard day of work next door - late night Fishy Stall

photos: Grand

And a short edit about the Ignition crew at their own indoor park: