The Beginner's Guide to Building Ramps

Disclaimer:side so you canwheel it around easy. You could even
Building and riding ramps can be fun and rewarding;cut handles in the sides of the templates tocarry
however, caution should bepracticed with both. Theyour ramp easier.
author Brandon Cardone and any other contributorsIf you had your heart set on a ramp bigger and
to thisarticle are in no way, shape or form responsibleunmovable, obviously you will needmore space. You
for any legal matters, injuries oreven death that maysee, the idea here is that if you know where you are
occur as a result of the information and content ingoing to bebuilding your ramps, you can measure out
this article.the area and draw it on some graphpaper or even
The following chapter is one of five that can besome regular paper will work fine.
found in my skateboard rampbuilding guide "TheSome Things to Considero Consider how easy it will
Beginner's Guide To Building Ramps," This 54 pagebe to get your materials to the construction site
guide canbe instantly downloaded in PDF format fromIf your spot is way out in the woods, you better
The skateboardramp building guide is filled with tonshave some muscles because you willbe carrying a lot
of photos and easy to understandinstructions andof wood. This is when a wheel barrow comes in
illustrations, you will also find on my website, tons ofhandy.o Access to electricity
useful linksrelated to skateboard ramps, a rampPower tools are your friends and building a ramp
building photo gallery, free skateboardwallpaper forwithout them is very hard, but notimpossible if you
your computer, a free skateboard screen saver, andare Amish. A generator or a bunch of extension
even up to theminute skateboarding RSS newscords might bethe way to go.o Neighbors and noise
feeds.Those nosey neighbors of yours already hate you
Introductionand are just waiting to ruin yourfun. Will they call the
So you want to build a skateboard ramp, maybe youcops when you?re having a session at 3:00 in the
are a parent and want to buildsomething for your kid.morning?
Maybe you have been skateboarding, riding BMX, orOne solution to this problem is to fill the coping with
inlinefor a while and realize that you want more thanconcrete or sand and nail alayer of carpet to the
the few spots you get kicked out ofon a regularunderside of your ramp.o Weather
basis. Whatever the reason, you?ve started in theWood and bad weather don?t tend to agree with
right direction byreading this article. Building ramps is aeach other over time. If you can findan area that is
productive learning experience, but themostprotected from Mother Nature, then more power to
important thing is that it is fun and very rewarding ifyou. For the restof us, buying a good tarp is a really
it is done right.good investment. If you have the extra woodyou
Most people really don?t understand how to buildcould even build your own make shift canopy, this
skateboard ramps and end upgiving up before theyway you can ride your rampeven if it?s raining. You
even give it a second thought. I have people all themay also want to consider building your ramp up of
time askme "How do you bend the wood like that?"theground on cinderblocks to keep the ramp high, dry
or "Where would you even begin buildingsomethingand level.o Helpers
like that? "Questions like these are why I wrote thisThe more people you can find to help you build the
guide in the firstplace. I want people like you to knowbetter off you will be.o Ask everyone you know
that it really isn?t that hard to build skateboardrampsabout available space
if you have the right knowledge under your belt. IHey you never know, your sisters, boyfriends, dad
have been building rampswith my friend Mike Fitchmight have an empty garage orempty lot of land
since I was like 12 years old and over the years andthat they will sell you dirt-cheap.o Damage prone
plentyof trial and error, we have learned the art ofareas
building skateboard ramps. I askedmyself if this kindYour trying to do a 360 flip pivot to fakie and oops,
of knowledge should be kept a secret, then Iyou just zipped out and yourboard is heading 100
remembered all thefun I had growing up building mymiles an hour towards your mom?s new car. You
own stuff to skate and all the friends I haveshould takenote of breakable objects around your
madeover the years. We even had the chance toramps and make the necessary barriers toprevent
fulfill our dream of building an indoorskateboard parkthem from being damaged.o Zoning Laws
located in Johnson City, NY, East Coast Terminal as aYou may be living in an area where it is the law to
way of givingback to the pastime that gave meget a building permit or you couldjust take your
direction and purpose in my life. I hope thischances and hope your local zoning board doesn?t
articlegives you that spark of inspiration that I foundfind out. You mayend up having to pay fines and tear
so many years ago. Who knows,there could be yourdown your new creation. Trust me it isn?t fun totake
own dream skate park lurking deep inside of you justsomething apart that you?ve put so much time and
waiting tobe built and for others to enjoy. I wish youeffort into.
the best of luck in your quest and, mostimportantly,Remember, it is important that you build your ramps
have fun.on a flat or level surface. If youdon?t, your ramp will
Chapter 1 "Scope Out The Territory"o Before younot be as easy to build and ride. Once you have
start buildingo Some Things to considero After thedecided on aspot to build your ramps, start by
site has been decided and inspectedmeasuring the whole parameter of the space youare
Before you Start Building your Skateboard Rampgoing to be working in. Measure out any obstructions
Before you get all gung ho and go down to your localthat might get in the waywhen you are building, like a
lumber store to buy materialsand grab the tools outtree or a telephone pole, things like that. You
of the shed, there are some things you should thinkshouldalso observe the landscape to see if you will
aboutbefore you start building. For example, if all youhave to level the area out or even buildyour ramp up
want is a slider box or a jumpramp, you shouldn?toff the ground on posts. By doing this you are saving
need a huge area to put your ramps. In this kind of ayourself a lot oftrouble down the road when you are
situation,an empty parking lot or your driveway willhalfway through your project and realize youdon?t
work. Be creative, like screwing sometrucks andhave enough room or your that one side of your
wheels from an old skateboard or roller skates to theramp goes uphill.