skate.™
News Article

Welcome to San Vansterdam

August 12, 2025

San Vansterdam. Fun City. From the beginning, San Van was built on a foundation of fun, and skating was the prime source. Over time San Van became known as a skate mecca - that is, until M-Corp came along. While at first, they were a relatively benign corporate citizen, it wasn't long before they took this skater's paradise and turned it into a lifeless, sterile corpo wasteland. They got rid of the graffiti, the skate spots, everything. It was clean. Too clean. But, in an act of greedhead karma, M-Corp was chased out of town due to unwise and illegal investments into the world of crypto shenanigans. While they pay off lawyers and sort their financial bearings in an offshore tax haven, the San Vansterdam City Council was taken over by skaters with a singular mission in mind - rebuild the city’s status as a skate destination and thriving home for funseekers everywhere. Come join the locals and help restore San Van to its former skate glory.

Isle of Grom

When you first come into the world of San Vansterdam, you’ll start on the tutorial Isle of Grom. Once you complete the mission there and hit the Water Taxi to San Van, start exploring the Neighborhoods.

Now, the SVCC heard the citizens of San Van calling to go back to Grom, so they’ve updated it. Hit up the Wet N’ Mild Water Taxi in Hedgemont* to head back to the updated Isle of Grom and hit the expanded spillways, tunnels, multiple parks, megaramp, and more.

A wide view of a vibrant concrete skatepark set in a rocky quarry, surrounded by palm trees, greenery, a red-brick warehouse, winding roads, and distant mountains.

A sunlit outdoor skatepark on a rocky hillside with palm trees, modern ramps, safety railings, graffiti, and light-colored buildings under a partly cloudy sky.

*Quick reminder: Season 3 skate.Premium Pass members will be able to hit Isle of Grom early, starting March 10, 2026 until April 14, 2026, and then we’ll hold a grand opening for everyone with a multi-week event on April 14, 2026. After the event ends on May 5, access to Grom will be available through the skate.Premium Pass or via a Water Taxi Day Pass (valid for 24 hours from purchase) using 500 Rip Chips (earnable through completing Challenges and Tasks) per Day Pass. Exact dates are subject to change.

The Neighborhoods

San Vansterdam is divided into four neighborhoods, each with its own style. Explore, throw down a quick sesh with other skaters, or shred some Challenges and Missions. Add your mark to the city by dropping build kit items, creating and sharing videos and screenshots, or just cruisin' the streets looking for a sweet undiscovered spot. 

Hedgemont

The area now known as “Hedgemont” was originally called the “Blue Light District”. It earned the moniker due to a naturally occurring blu-ish aura that shone annually during the Glow Jellyfish’s mating season (a native species). The glow emitted to attract jelly partners bathed San Vansterdam’s original entertainment district and gathering place in a warm blue glow, thus the name. 

Hedgemont hosts some iconic spots, Bonski Skatepark, The Tri-Towers, Hartcore Plaza (previously M-Corp Plaza) and home of the Welcome Center and main Extravert skate shop, and Blue Light Beach. But like every neighborhood in San Van, there’s more to discover.

Bonski Skatepark

Graffiti-covered skatepark under a bridge in San Vansterdam

The Tri-Towers and the Underground Parkade

Part of the entertainment district, featuring a theater, music hall, and more.

Underground parkade of the Tri-Towers buildings.

Hartcore Plaza

The heart of Hedgemont, where the golden M-Corp tower is located. Great spot for a quick session or Throwdown.

Eelside Tunnels

Hedgemont’s abandoned underground roadway is nicknamed  Eelside Tunnels, after a flood and Eel infestation in the 80’s.

Blue Light Beach

Beach promenade with shops, a Water Taxi, and a parking lot on the north side of San Vansterdam

Rooftop Skateparks

A skater performs a handplant off a wooden ramp that has been set up on the rooftop of a tall city building

Rooftop skateparks are scattered around San Van.

Hedgemont is where all new folks arrive from Isle of Grom Water Taxi, and there’s plenty of places to explore, discover, and create fun in before catching a bus or hitting the Skateway to the next neighborhood.

The Skateway

Hold up… you don’t know what the Skateway is? The Skateway was originally a rail loop for commuter and freight trains that was converted as a citywide pathway built specifically for skaters to traverse Downtown’s four Neighborhoods quickly. Hop on, zip around the city, explore, grind and trick to your heart’s content, then hop off and drop into a neighborhood. 

Elevated walkway where the citizens of San Vansterdam can skate around the loop to each of the neighborhoods.

Gullcrest Village

Gullcrest Village, named for the flocks of seagulls the discoverers of San Van encountered, is the place the SVLocs call home. The SVLocs are all about seeing history with a fresh perspective; they believe in passing down the lessons of the past, remembering the ABDs, and spreading the word about the legends of the scene. Around Gully, you'll find monuments to legends long past, spots lovingly maintained by the Locs, and graffiti from local artists - new and old - making their mark. Hit up The House of Rolling Reverence or drop in on Strand Street. Then make your way to El-One Courts or Anchor Point on the water for some fresh air and sick lines.

The House of Rolling Reverence

Iconic church/cathedral located in San Vansterdam featuring stained glass windows and a skate park inside.

Rectory Park

Unique sculpture citizens of San Vansterdam can use to skate on/around surrounded by trees and a gazebo in the distance.

SV News Building

Tiled floors and gold doors set the style for the SV News Building, with numerous areas to grind or trick on.

Strand Street

Colorful street area in Gullcrest Village.

Casper Hotel

Iconic hotel overlooking a perfect plaza for skaters with an empty water fountain to pull sick tricks in.

El-One Courts

Courtyard area with multiple rails, ledges, and stair sets - and a dinosaur?

P-Hus

Multi-level parking structure with various ledges and rails to grind. Keep going up to the room for some extra fun.

Anchor Point

Directly behind the Casper Hotel, Anchor Point has multiple stair sets, rails, and ledges to shred.

The Wedge

 A wedge-shaped building leading into a closed street that hosts all sorts of food trucks and street parties.

The Cut

Starting in Gullcrest Village and down to Market Mile (our next stop) is The Cut, as the SV Locs call it, or the San Vansterdam Central Canal. The Upper Cut is where the Canal begins, starting in the historic Gullcrest Village. Along the banks of the Canal here, you'll find cafes, restaurants, and some tourist traps to draw the attention of visitors to the nearby Anchor Point Monument. As you travel to the end of the Canal, aka The Under Cut, take a right into Lucre Financial Gardens in Market Mile, or left to head up to Stalefish Bevvie Co. in Brickswich.

Picturesque water feature running through parts of the city with concrete structures to skate on.

Market Mile

The area known as Market Mile has always been a source of commerce, trade, and hustle. During San Van’s early days, this neighborhood developed as the City’s central market. And that’s how it got its name. From The Rolling Waves Skatepark, The O.R.B., and ImpervaTowers to The Vault and The Promenade, San Vansterdam’s skater community has plenty of spots to throw down, sightsee, and practice the fine art of street skateboarding.

Rolling Waves Skatepark

A colorful, fun skatepark in Market Mile featuring bowls, hubbas, and rails/ledges for days.

The O.R.B.

An architectural sphere in Market Mile.

ImpervaTowers

Two tall towers owned by ImpervaTek, used as their world headquarters, with a courtyard ripe for testing their safety solutions.

The Vault

High-end park with recessed underground area in the financial district.

The Promenade

Waterfront walkway for skating and sightseeing, featuring benches and ledges.

Hedgemont Community Park

Construction zone turned community skatepark, featuring varied skatepark objects on regular rotation.

Destined for greatness (at least according to M-Corp), this spot was in a state of unending construction and delays. When the SVCC took over, they converted the lot to a Community Park. Recently, SV News has reported that new investors are being sought to develop the land on the condition that an alternative Community Park is created…

Brickswich

The second-oldest Neighborhood in Downtown San Vansterdam, Brickswich began as the primary commercial port-of-call for the city, with the harbour being originally located where Lucre Financial Coliseum now sits. Because the railway line needed to connect the port to the rest of the city and the conversion of that railway to The Skateway, it’s a key spot to check out when you’re on the Full Pull Tour of San Vansterdam. Look for hidden gems that the locals tear up.

San Van Central Post

Old school post office in the heart of Brickswich.

Lucre Financial Coliseum, aka The Chum Bucket

Circular sports stadium featuring unique architecture. Home of the Landsharks.

Stalefish Bevvie Co.

Old brewery turned to iconic spot in Brickswich near the Skateway.

The Seaside College of Art and Fashion, aka SCAF

Multilevel buildings with elevated walkways, featuring ramps and half-pipes on the top of some buildings.

Steamer’s Reach

Old pier/beach front area; smallish skatepark nearby.

Gullcrest Community Park

Run-down warehouse turned into a Community Park.

This abandoned warehouse is abandoned no more, thanks to the SVCC’s Community Park Initiative

Market Mile Community Park

ImpervaTEK testing area.

An old helipad converted by the SVCC into a Community  Park for the citizens of San Vansterdam.

And that’s the tour. But don’t worry — we’re not done. San Vansterdam will continue to grow, change, and add more to see and experience…all based on the feedback The City gets from its residents - you!

There’s a lot to do in SV, and what you do makes it special. Complete Challenges to get Rip Chips to unlock Product Boxes and get gear, hang out in Hartcore Plaza and have an impromptu sesh with other San Vansterdammers, or swing over to the Community Parks to find some other locals to skate with. Take some pics, grab some footy, drop some objects to go nuts on…basically, have fun.

San Van's a city on the rise. With new spots to session, new areas to discover, and new challenges to shut down, we're stoked to have you join us on this journey.

Let’s roll.