What are the different types of skateparks?

Before you roll into a new spot, it helps to know what you’re actually looking at. Not all skateparks are built the same. Some are designed to feel like street skating, others are built for flow and speed, and some combine a bit of everything.

For beginners, understanding the different types of skateparks can make it easier to choose where to start, what to practise, and what kind of terrain feels right for your style.

Skate Plazas

Place du Grand-Cirque-Ordinaire, a classic street-style skate plaza in Montreal.

Skate plazas are street-style skateparks designed to mimic urban spots. They usually include features like stairs, ledges, rails, banks, manual pads, and open ares for flatground/trick skating.

Plazas are ideal for skaters who want to practise technical tricks, grinds, slides, and street skating. For beginners, they can be a good place to work on basics like pushing, turning, ollies, manuals, and small ledges.

Pump Tracks

Parc D’Argenson pump track, designed for continuous flow using a pumping motion.

Pump tracks are looped tracks with small hills, rollers, and banked corners. Instead of pushing with your foot, you build and maintain speed by shifting your weight in a “pumping” motion.

They’re great for building balance, board control, confidence, and speed. Pump tracks can also be a fun option for beginners because they help you get comfortable moving continuously without needing to focus on tricks right away.

Bowls, Half-Pipes and Vert Ramps

The Big O pipe at Parc Olympique, one of Montreal’s most iconic transition features.

Bowls, half-pipes, and vert ramps are built around curved surfaces, also known as transition. Bowls are usually concrete, pool-like structures, while half-pipes and vert ramps are U-shaped ramps designed for skating back and forth.

This type of terrain is popular with skaters who like carving, speed, aerial tricks, and bigger lines. Beginners may want to start with smaller bowls or mini ramps before moving into deeper bowls or vert ramps.

Transition and Flow Parks

Verdun skatepark (Parc Arthur-Therrien), a modern flow-style park with a mix of transition and street features.

Transition or flow parks combine different elements into one layout. You might find banks, quarter pipes, hips, small bowls, ramps, and some street-style features all connected together.

These parks are designed so skaters can link movements and lines without stopping. For beginners, a flow park can be a great way to explore different types of terrain and figure out what feels most natural.

Now that you know the different types of skateparks, it’s time to get out there. Which spot do you want to hit first?

Check out our Montreal Skatepark Guide to find the perfect spot for your next session.