Learn to SKATEBOARD ON RAMPS
Skateboarding on ramps involves the use of a number of different skills than those usually used for normal flatland skateboarding. Riders must also get used to the different sensation of traveling up and down steep transitions, which can at first seem unusual and intimidating.
Ramp Skills
1. Become accustomed to the feel of ramps. Place your board pointing toward the smallest ramp face you can find. Skate toward it with moderate speed and travel up the face. Feel the way your board reacts to the sloping surface, and bend your knees to accommodate this. You will feel your board slow down as it reaches the top of its trajectory. Although this feels strange, shift your weight from an upward pointing direction back down the ramp, and continue to bend your knees as you travel back down the face.
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2. Learn how to pump. Skate toward a ramp with a face on each side, such as a half or quaterpipe. As you travel up the face of the ramp, bend your knees. Once you get to the top of your trajectory, stand up tall. Then, as soon as you feel your board is about to move back down your face, force your weight down onto the board in a crouching motion. You should feel the board accelerate as a result of this force. Repeat this on each face; your board should go higher and higher and pick up speed.
3. Focus on using your momentum to turn. Push off and ride up the face of the ramp. As you reach the top of your trajectory, use the board's momentum to force it up a little higher than normal. As it climbs, lift the nose of the board by applying pressure on your back foot, and in one smooth motion, turn your body around to face back down the ramp. The board should turn with you, allowing you to ride back down the ramp facing forward.
4. Begin a drop-in by finding a quaterpipe. Climb to the top and set the tail of your board on the coping of the ramp so that the nose of the board projects straight out into the air. Place your back foot on the tail, and in one smooth motion, move your front foot onto the deck, around the area of the front bolts. Press down hard until the board makes contact with the ramp and lean your weight as far forward as possible. When you reach the bottom of the ramp, straighten out and prepare to hit the next face, where you should concentrate on pumping and maintaining your speed.
Tips and Warnings
- Practice on ramps when they are not crowded, giving yourself plenty of space.
- Commit yourself to each move even though this might be frightening. - Taking on ramps without committing will make progressing much harder.
Source: livestrong.com