Letter writers have raised concerns about the "polluted and unsafe" Msida skate park. I'm a skateboarder who founded the Malta Skateboard Association (MSA) along with fellow skateboarders in 2003 with the goal of turning Malta's last proper skate spot, the Msida subway, into a skate park. My friends and I have ridden at the Msida subway since late 1996. Let me release the letter writers from their negative vibes:
"Not ideal". The fact that it's in the middle of a roundabout makes it secluded and there's a natural, clear division between skater and community. As a matter of fact, many of the well-known skate parks have been built in secluded locations such as these. The noise pollution is not of concern to skateboarders nor is the pollution. When a sport is 80 per cent mental and 20 per cent physical, I can guarantee that these are the last things on their minds when they are concentrating on what's underneath their feet.
In its naked state, it provided a vast smooth surface, platforms of every size and a large area to house many enthusiasts. If you take all these points, you have a perfect place to build. Its original state allowed construction to take place more easily and in a lot of ways more cheaply due to the already existing platforms and smooth surfaces.
The location is central and almost anybody can get to it, while at the same time the community around the area mostly tolerates its presence due to the already noisy surroundings. A main skate park must be central and big if an entire nation is to use it.
Msida subway was the last decent skate spot in Malta, and skateboarding would be lost without it. That's a pretty good reason to create a park there. Basically, even though skateboarding has existed here for 30 years, no park was built for skateboarding. One can say that with all the current building projects and with the size of the island such as it is, options become pretty bleak for skate park locations. So in the light of that, the right question is not whether it is "ideal" but what skateboarding in Malta would be like if it wasn't practised at the Msida subway.
"Cars falling in..." In the 12 years since the completion of the subway, a car has never fallen in and it is highly unlikely to ever happen. The layout of the outside barriers and the directional flow of the roads makes it almost impossible. Cars go around smoothly, hence the name... a roundabout.
However, with one side raised up, it is definitely a priority to put fencing there. Not because of cars falling in, but skaters/skateboards falling out, which is a danger to both skater and driver. Readers must rest assured that this is being taken care of and will happen shortly.
"Un-safe..." Compared to what? Skating on streets? On typical rough Maltese tarmac? In places where skaters get arrested, fined or endure potential verbal and physical abuse by bumping into the wrong citizen? There is a purpose in encouraging children to use skate parks and it all has to do with safety.
"If I had children I would make sure they did not waste their lives there!" I know parents who have not only greatly supported and helped MSA but thanked our association for making the park. Their children have waited for the skate park and we can say that this generation of skateboarders is the first to have one. Skateboarding's 30-year curse is over and it finally has a chance to really evolve. It will provide things that Malta never had, in the best location for seclusion and safety.
In the near future, Maltese skaters will be getting sponsorships and having enough confidence in their skills to represent Malta abroad. Who knows, maybe there'll be Malta's first ever professional skateboarder, who will have skateboarding as a full-time job. Why would this happen? Because children "wasted their lives" training at the Msida skate park, Malta' first skateboard facility.