When I was around fifteen years old I took a trip to Montreal with a couple of friends. We had pretty much no plans but to cruise around and spontaneously find some street spots to ride. Luckily, we ran into two BMX dudes, one of them being Mike Fiset. Fizzy showed up some awesome places to shred, an amazing food spot, and last but not least, he took us to UAB.

UAB is / was an indoor skatepark run by a rad dude named Liam Mulrooney. I never met him, or shook his hand, and I regret it. I was terrified to be around so many older riders. I remember being amazed that such a place could exist and be owned by bike riders. I wasn’t wearing a helmet, the music didn’t suck, and everyone was super nice.

I read a piece on Capital about UAB closing its doors and it’s definitely the end of an era. I was lucky enough to ride it again while tagging along on a Macneil trip last summer (second video in that link) and I feel blessed. Even though I left a brand new pair of all grey Lotek Brooklyns there, I still am incredibly stoked that Liam hustled so hard for so long to keep the place open. Thanks, Liam.

Anyway, I’m rambling. I love DIY BMX spots. RIP, UAB.

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