If you’re not interested in riding the waves this summer, ride the skate ramps at one of Northern Virginia’s premier skate parks instead. These parks are free and perfect for both novice and experienced skaters. Helmets are mandatory and other forms of protective gear are highly encouraged.
The unique street style elements, bowls and half pipes of Powhatan Springs Skatepark make for an exciting afternoon. Acid drop into either the 11-foot-deep or 8-foot-deep bowls, grind down one of the many stairs and railings or kickflip off of a fun box. Open Sunday through Thursday from sunrise until 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from sunrise until 10 p.m., this 15,000-square-foot park is perfect for skateboarders of all skill levels. Children under 10 must be accompanied by a guardian, and spectators are not permitted. // 6020 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Schuyler Hamilton Jones Skate Park:
Dedicated in memory of T.C. Williams student Schuyler Hamilton Jones, a key fixture in the Friends of the Skate Park organization and the park’s design, the Schuyler Hamilton Jones Skate Park is the first and only skate park in Alexandria. Complete with a rad assortment of jumps, pipes, rails and wedges, this 12,000-square-foot modular skate park is free and great for children and teenage skateboarders of all experience levels. Plus, lessons are provided throughout the year. The park is easily accessible by way of skateboard or bus and is open daily from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. // 3540 Wheeler Ave., Alexandria
Known for its incredibly smooth surface with 1.5-inch covered asphalt, the Catoctin SkatePark features amenities perfect for skateboarders, in-line skaters and bikers alike. The 12,000-square-foot lighted park is open Monday through Friday from noon until 8 p.m., Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 4 p.m. It also provides allotted times solely dedicated to bikes on Saturday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Sunday from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Before entering the skate park, a responsible adult must fill out an emergency contact card. // 141 Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg
Launch and perfect your jumps and flips at Lake Fairfax Skate Park. This whopping 16,000-square-foot park provides well-rounded terrain, grind rails and a clover-shaped bowl. Open from dawn until dusk, this skate park also provides lighting that turns on 30 minutes before sunset and lasts until 8:15 p.m. in the park itself and then until 8:30 p.m. in the parking lot year round. This park is not supervised, and children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 6 are not allowed. // Lake Fairfax Park: 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston
Launch yourself into a clean heel-flip from Scott D. Eagles Skate Park’s 60-foot kidney bowl in the 6,300-sqaure-foot open-flow course. The course contains challenging ledges, stairs, grind rails and jumps and also features an 11-foot-drop vert ramp. The park is open to both skateboarders and in-line skaters, and skaters 12 or younger must be accompanied by a guardian. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. until dusk. // Veterans Memorial Regional Park: 14300 Veterans Drive, Woodbridge