Buying guide for best skateboarding ramps
When learning to ride a skateboard, some people are happy to just ride on sidewalks and city streets. However, other riders are looking to increase their skills by adding tricks. Although you can certainly perform tricks while riding on flat ground, the variety and complexity of the tricks increase significantly when making use of skateboarding ramps.
Skateboarding ramps typically have a flat or curved incline to enable different kinds of tricks. Although some skateboarders build their own ramps, purchasing one lets you know you have a safe and sturdy ramp that will stand up to the rough treatment it’s sure to get from skateboarding.
Whether you want to set up a small skateboarding park in your backyard or take ramps with you to practice elsewhere, a good buying guide and recommendations can help you find the best skateboarding ramps for your next sesh.
How to buy the best skateboarding ramps
Portability
Before buying skateboarding ramps, think about where you want to ride. If you plan to set up a series of ramps in your backyard permanently or occasionally, the portability of the ramps isn’t important.
However, if you plan to take your ramps to other places to work on your tricks, the portability of the ramps is important. Some ramps come apart to make carrying them easier. Or you might want to stick with smaller ramps that are easier to move from one location to another.
Size
The size of the skateboarding ramps affects their portability, but the size is also important in terms of your skill as a rider. Larger and taller ramps offer more opportunities to perform complex tricks. You also can build up more speed on larger, steeper ramps.
However, taller ramps increase the possibility of falls and injuries. If you’re just starting out, smaller ramps are easier to use safely. As your skills improve, you can begin to use larger skateboarding ramps while continuing to incorporate the smaller ramps in your tricks.
Expandability
As your skateboarding skills improve, you can attach more ramps to your existing ones. You also might want to add rails that attach to ramps you already own.
When shopping for your first skateboarding ramps, explore whether they will work in conjunction with other ramps and rails. A ramp that isn’t expandable or compatible with other ramps might not be as cost-effective as an expandable ramp system.
Some people like to pair a skateboarding ramp with an attached rail for more trick options.
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Features to look for in skateboarding ramps
Quality
The materials used in skateboarding ramps are extremely important. Cheap materials break down more quickly than high-quality materials, and the ramps won’t last as long. Also, poor-quality materials could break or collapse as you’re using them, creating a significant safety hazard.
Thick plywood, galvanized steel, and thick plastic all work well for these ramps. Younger riders don’t place as much stress on the ramps and so should have few problems using plastic ones. For adults and other heavier riders, molded plastic won’t last as long as steel or plywood.
Safety
Staying safe while skateboarding on ramps is extremely important. Ramps that come apart to move could be unsafe if you don’t make sure all the fasteners and screws are tight and secure.
A ramp surface that seems slippery can be a safety hazard. Applying grip tape or painting the surface with a gritty textured paint can help. For a lightweight ramp, you might want to add counterweights to make sure it won’t slip out of place as you’re using it.
Weather resistance
Even if you store your skateboarding ramps out of the elements, they still need to have some level of resistance to rain, snow, heat, and sunlight. Special coatings and paints can protect your ramps against moisture and UV light damage. Be sure to protect metal parts against corrosion and rust as well.
DID YOU KNOW?
Don’t leave wooden skateboarding ramps outdoors for long periods of time. Store them indoors or cover them with a tarp.
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How to use skateboard ramps
Start on a flat surface. If you’re new to the sport, start by learning to ride the skateboard on a flat surface. Get comfortable balancing and generating speed. Once you have these basics down, you’re ready to try riding ramps.
Try a shallow halfpipe. This U-shape is a great place to start because it’s flat in the middle and curved on the sides. You also can set up small kickers opposite each other and use the flat space in between them the same way.
Go slowly back and forth up and down the ramps. Ride toward one angled side and up the ramp a couple of feet until you run out of momentum. Then allow the slope of the ramp to move you back down the other way and up the other side. Ride back and forth like this for a while to get the feel of shifting your weight and maintaining your balance as you go up and down the ramps.
Try going faster and higher. You then can start moving faster and going higher up each ramp. As you move higher up the ramp, focus on maintaining your balance. If you shift too far forward or backward, the skateboard can slip out from under you.
Try a wave ramp. As you master the skills, you might want to work on your balance even more by trying a wave ramp, gaining a feel for continuously going up and down the curves.
Try a box jump. This ramp has four kickers facing each other with a flat surface on top. Practice picking up enough speed to ride over the lip to reach the flat part. You then can learn to drop in, tipping the board off the flat part and onto the downward ramp in one motion.
How much do skateboarding ramps cost?
Inexpensive
The cheapest skateboarding ramps cost $30 to $75. These are simple ramps, mostly kickers, that are good for younger riders and beginners. They’re small enough to create a safer space for those who are just learning how to ride.
Mid-range
The average cost for skateboarding ramps is $75 to $250. Many of these are combinations of two or three ramps that provide the opportunity for more complex tricks. Some might have a rail connected to the ramp.
Expensive
The most expensive skateboarding ramps cost $250 to $1,000. Many of these are highly complex with a large surface area and varying angles and configurations. They work nicely for experienced skateboarders who want to work on advanced tricks.
The area where the ramp meets the ground takes a lot of abuse. A strip of sheet metal here helps the ramp last longer.
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Tips
You can choose from quite a few different styles and shapes of skateboarding ramps. Here are some tips to help you find the right type for the tricks you want to learn.
- Box jump: A box jump consists of four kickers with a flat surface on top. Some skateboarders use box jumps to launch multiple tricks in succession.
- Halfpipe: The halfpipe is a U-shaped curved ramp. This ramp is good for building speed after landing on one side of the curve before riding up the other side.
- Kicker: The kicker, also called a launch ramp, is the most basic of all the skateboarding ramps. It has a gradual slope for doing basic flip tricks.
- Quarter pipe: This is a curved ramp that is about 90° of a circle (a quarter of a circle). It enables you to do grabs and rapid air tricks.
- Spine: This is basically two quarter pipe ramps placed back to back. After grabbing air off one side, you can ride down the other side and regain speed quickly.
- Vert: The vert ramp looks like a taller quarter pipe. This design allows you to gain air on the way up and land on the same ramp.
- Wave: This ramp looks like its name: a series of valleys and rounded peaks. These ramps help you learn speed control and balance.
FAQ
Q. Can I build my own skateboarding ramps?
A. Yes, many skateboarders make their own ramps. However, you need to use high-quality materials that can stand up to the stress of skateboarding. Three-eighths-inch plywood makes a good base for ramps, while the less durable particle board is a poor choice.
Q. What angle is best for ramps?
A. A 15° angle is a good choice for novices because it doesn’t require a lot of speed to go up the ramp. A 30° ramp or curve is better for more experienced skaters. Angles between 15° and 30° work well for variety.
Q. How do I make my ramp less slippery?
A. For a quick fix, apply grip tape to the surface of the ramp. If your ramp came with tape already applied, you might need to replace the tape to restore the grip. A long-term fix involves coating the ramp with textured, nonslip paint or sealant.
Q. What are the best skateboarding ramps for beginners?
A. A simple, small kicker is a good choice for a beginner who’s learning to balance on the board and to build up speed. You can move up to larger, steeper skateboarding ramps after you master the smaller ramps.
