Cody Lockwood: Building Parks & Skating The Holy City

Cody Lockwood spent over a month in Israel skating and working hard building a new park with Dreamland Skateparks. Now that's he's back in the states, we caught up with Cody to see exactly what it was like skating in Jerusalem, building skate parks for a living, and to see what he has planned for 2016. (Photo: Joey Martin)
 

Tell me about your trip to Israel. What were you doing over there?
I was over there for five weeks working on a park with Dreamland Skateparks in Haifa, about an hour and a half north of Tel Aviv. We worked a lot but had some time to go explore and skate. Got to float in the Dead Sea which was the craziest thing ever! I also made it over to Greece for a few days after the park was finished. It was a great time and the park turned out amazing.
 

Photos: Dreamland Skateparks

Photo: Cody Lockwood

That’s tight. The Dead Sea is pretty wild. What was the skate culture like in the Middle East? Is it similar to here in the states?  
It's just like it is here! Parks are being built everywhere, skate spots everywhere, good skateboarding too! It's alive and well in Israel.

You went to Greece as well right? How was skating the Enigma Bowl? All of those parks you went to look super fun but really hard to skate.  

Yeah, Tactics helped get me out to Greece for a few days. The enigma bowl is so much gnarlier than it looks! It's like a pinball machine, but the dude who owns the bowl also has a hotel that you can stay in where the bowl is. Then he will take you 15 minutes up a hill and there is this crazy 70s style snake run park that he and his buddies built. Thanks for the good hospitality, Nicos!  

It looked like you found a couple sick streets spots in Jerusalem. What was it like skating the streets of the Holy City? 

There are spots everywhere. It's a bit sketchy because you never know what the cops are going to say if they do stop you. And it's just a little nerve racking if it just so happens to be an 18 year old girl with a machine gun. I only got heckled once or twice.

 
Photo: @elijay77

So how long have you been building skateparks for?

Somewhere around six years.

I think a lot of kids think building skateparks is a “dream job.” Is it everything it is cracked up to be? 

I guess it just depends on your definition of "dream job". To me it is, because I get to work with my friends outside all day creating something amazing for everyone to enjoy for a long time to come. It just takes hard work. If you want an easy job then I would say building skateparks is not for you. 

Do you get to help in the design at all? Or are you mostly just digging holes and pouring concrete?

Sometimes we do a design/build and sometimes we have to build someone else's design.

Is there something special about skating a park you put your own sweat into creating?

I think that no matter what kind of hard work you do you will always have this special appreciation and understanding of it. 

Of the parks you've helped build, which are your favorites?

Washington Jefferson for a public park and Kowalskiland for backyard.

Photo: Benson Ka'ai

So now that you are back in the states, what have you been up too?

Since I have been back I have just been working and skating Burnside. We wrapped up a park build in Yelm WA, and made some renovations to the park in Beaverton. Now I'm currently searching for a new house to move in to. Which is quite the process. 

What are you plans for the rest of 2016? You have any more trips planned or parks you are building? 

I don't have anything really locked down yet as far as work goes. Once I find a new spot to live in I'm taking a trip to California to skate for sure! 

Lastly, who is backing you these days?

Lifeblood Skateboards, Nike SB, Bones Wheels, Bones Swiss Bearings, Kr3w Denim,  Thunder Trucks, Tactics, Dakine, Jessup Griptape, Carnage Socks.
 

To learn more about Tactics team rider Cody Lockwood check out his team page and follow him on Instagram.