‘I dream of building skateable shell sculptures by beaches around the world.’
Bobby King
skateEcosystem
skateECOSYSTEMS
August 2025
Can you tell us something about Texas that no one knows?
Texas is the reason.
Texas is the reason. What does it mean and where does this mindset come from?
For punk rockers and skaters this has a certain hardcore sentiment about how Texas is the gnarliest. The background is a misfits song called “bullet” about the Kennedy assassination, then a Texas owned skate company Gringo skateboards had shirts made, and since I grew up watching those guys skate. It will forever be the raddest that I still have the shirt in my closet.
Your website lists following capabilities: Landscape, Sculpture, Skatepark, Pool. What came first? And if not skatepark, how did you end up building parks?
Originally, I got into concrete through municipal skatepark construction. I was young and loved skating, so building parks gave me the opportunity to see new places while working on skateparks around the world. I worked for one of the leading firms on projects in Brazil, Spain, Germany, China, South Africa and across the United States. Road life can also be tiresome. When I reached the point where I wanted to settle down for a while we got into doing more residential work for pool builders and landscape architects around Austin. Now that is a good way to stay local and makes the jobs we need to to travel more exciting. Pool construction has a lot in common with skateparks, different finishes, tile and coping details, etc. A pool is a pool, but I prefer them empty.
‘I built six large skateparks across China and consulted on numerous other projects for local and international firms.’
How difficult is to get to those contracts?
Most projects take a long time and can be highly competitive. Nurturing the projects within the community can take many years, so its valuable to have a good relationship with the city and skaters from the beginning. A large part of the skatepark sales aspect actually involves lobbying to city council and representing the skate community to have their voice heard, so it can be a fun way to grow our network by meeting local skaters on the ground.
On your website you mentioned that you worked on some international parks. Where are they and how did you get the gig?
I built six large skateparks across China and consulted on numerous other projects for local and international firms. They are in Nanjing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Xian, Taiyuan and Jiangle. I studied Mandarin in College and made some good skate friends there. When they figured out, I knew how to build skate ramps they started asking for help with small projects which later turned to much larger projects. We did some massive parks leading up to the Tokyo Olympics since they didn’t have any proper training facilities.
‘A pool is a pool, but I prefer them empty.’
What is interesting is that you are into skateable sculptures. Is this something you design and build from the ground up or do you work with artists?
We tend to design and build these features into some of the parks since the functionality is very specific, although we are always looking to bring in specialists for immersive experiences with light, sound shade structures, tile, stone and large scale land art.
Can you tell us something about you?
I dream of building skateable shell sculptures by beaches around the world.
‘Texas is the Reason.’
What is the local skate community most proud of?
Brokeneck (RIP) and Lizard Ditch, two radical diy spots.
Who would you call the godfather of Texas skateboarding?
Jimmy G, 71 and still Ripping!
What is still on your wish list?
Skate Gardens in every city.
Last Question. If you could interview any person in the world, who would it be?
Raney Beres: Texas ripper and my favorite skater.