Skating venues accommodate the exciting range of skateboarding ramps that come in different sizes for the ultimate experience. Stunts that push the skateboarder high into the air, require much larger inclines to perform radical stunts, while smaller slopes prove very useful to beginners and those who are mastering tricks on their boards. The fun and creative side of skateboarding comes alive, when you make your own small portable ramp, good enough to take to skating arenas. A dreary park can become any skaters dream, when curved gradients are used in the design.
The size of a ramp will generally determine how it is going to be used and the type of stunts that can be performed on it. The anatomy of a ramp includes the frame, a sub-surface which creates its characteristic curves, and an optional coping to protect the top edge of the ramp which can also be used to perform slides, grinds and other tricks.
The frame forms the skeleton of the ramp. The sub-surface is usually constructed with quality two-by-four and two-by-six lumber and plywood. Screws are preferred for this construction to assure that the connections are secure and that no heads are protruding. A skate-friendly surface is then laid on top of the sub-surface.
The great assortment of small scale slopes are normally not higher than six feet in length. These smaller size slopes are just as much fun for designing around obstacles, which make jumping over objects a feat of skill. A grind box has gentle slopes on either side and are flat in the center with either a grind pole or ledge to slide on.
Pipes and verts are examples of large slopes and are the iconic feature of skating parks. Pipes can be thought of a traditional pipe that has been cut along its length and separated at the bottom by a flat bottom, and comes as either a quarter-pipe or half-pipe. Verts are the largest apparatus and is a half-pipe with its sides built up so that they are vertical for several feet before the apex. Verts allow skaters to execute stunts that cannot be performed on any other ramp.
The launch ramp is the easiest ramp to build and consists of an incline with two side supports. This is a great ramp for novices to roll up, perform a trick and then roll down. More experienced skaters can approach the ramp at speed and pop the board into the air while flipping or grabbing the board.
When making a ramp it is important to ensure that all joins are neat and accurate. Using the services of a professional to build the structure according to the plans provided will ensure that the project is completed with maximum safety. A thick grade steel or sheet metal can be used to cover the surface of an outdoor ramp, to improve its durability, otherwise all wood should be treated with a waterproof paint or sealant. An indoor ramp can use Masonite or Skatelite on its surface.
Skateboarding ramps provide skaters with many options to perform tricks on its surface, or on the lip, or to launch themselves and become airborne so that they can pull off their most spectacular stunts. Building a small ramp is easy and fun to do and will allow the skater to practice their tricks at home. Many plans are available on the Internet or from a reputable skating store.