Skater-Exil

Wels, Upper Austria

Until the new Wels skate park next to the ice rink opens in 2026, the Wels Skate Club has found a temporary home: The Offener Kulturverein Wels (OKV) is providing its hall near Wels main station.The temporary skate park will be open to the public every Saturday from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, effective immediately. The Skate Club, in cooperation with the OKV, dismantled the skate ramps and reassembled them in the cultural association's premises. The City of Wels actively supported this relocation to enable continuous use for skaters.The move opens up exciting new perspectives: The OKV, which specializes in youth culture and media education, and the Wels Skate Club are leveraging their synergies to create a diverse offering. In addition to regular skating, the retro-style OKV Café will become the new meeting point for the skate scene.Furthermore, the OKV and the Skate Club are jointly planning:Events for the community,Skate courses for beginners and advanced skaters,Workshops in video production and editing, where skate videos will be professionally produced,An extensive summer holiday program for children and young people.The cooperation between the OKV and the Skate Club demonstrates how creativity and community can produce great projects even during transitional periods. The temporary skate park will not only offer a platform for skaters but also provide new impetus for youth culture in Wels.