How to build your own skateboard bowl, featuring the Bennett DIY crew

Jared Jacang Maher | October 16, 2009 | 3:55pm

Even as more and more cities are paying hundreds-of-thousands (or, as in the case of Denver, millions) for professionally designed and constructed outdoor skateboard facilities, many skaters still maintain that the most fun spots to ride are the ones that you and your friends build yourselves. But DIY ain't for lazy-asses. Lucky for Bennett that a ragtag group of skateboarders known as the Colorado Coalition for Public Skateparks took it upon themselves to raise the significant money and manpower to create what may be the state's only open-to-anyone, 100 percent skater-built bowl.

The long history of DIY skateboard parks in the U.S. is the subject of a new documentary by Thrasher Magazine called Under the Bridge. As a fundraiser to help cover some of the costs associated with building Bennett's bowl, the Oriental Theatre is offering a special 21-and-over screening of the documentary tonight at 8 p.m. It's only $6 to get in and the gnarliness is free.

In the meantime, check out these photos and a video of how it was built.