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A vert ramp is a form of half-pipe used in extreme sports such as vert skating, vert skateboarding, vert BMX and vert roller skating.

Vert ramps are so named because they transition from a horizontal plane (known as the flat-bottom) to a vertical section on top.^[1]

The typical height of a vert ramp is 11 ft (3.4 m) to 14 ft (4.3 m) with anywhere from 6 in (150 mm) to 2 ft (0.61 m) of vertical on top.

Vert skating ramps can be made with 6 in (150 mm) to 1 ft (0.30 m) of vertical while vert skateboarding ramps are typically made with 1ft to 2 ft (0.61 m) of vertical in order for the skateboard to launch straight up into the air.

This vertical section makes it easier for the riders to take off and 'catch air' on a vert ramp rather than on a half-pipe. This is because the vert at the top causes the rider to naturally go straight up into the air instead of forward and off the ramp (as is the tendency on half-pipes that don't go vertically upwards).

References

[edit]

^ Merrell, Chloe (2024-09-03). "What is vert skateboarding? A brief guide to the discipline popularised by Tony Hawk".

External links

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Technical drawing of a vert ramp (in Czech)

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A vert ramp is a specialized half-pipe structure used in extreme sports such as vertical skateboarding, BMX, and inline skating, characterized by its steep curved transitions that extend upward to a vertical wall, typically measuring about 12 feet (3.6 meters) in total height.^[1] These ramps enable athletes to gain significant speed and airtime for performing acrobatic maneuvers, including aerial flips, spins, and grinds along the coping at the top of the transition.^[2] The origins of the vert ramp trace back to the mid-1960s in Southern California, where skateboarders began riding empty backyard swimming pools during summer droughts, adapting the curved pool walls as improvised vertical surfaces.^[1] This pool-skating practice evolved in the 1970s into purpose-built wooden half-pipes, with the first recognized vert ramps emerging around 1979, incorporating a flat bottom between opposing walls to allow for greater speed and continuous motion.^[3] By the early 1980s, vert ramps had become central to the sport's growth, hosting early competitions like the Kona/Variflex Summer Nationals and attracting professional skaters who pushed the boundaries of aerial tricks.^[3] In terms of design, a standard vert ramp features two parallel quarter-pipes connected by a flat deck, with each side having a curved transition radius of approximately 11 feet leading to a 2-foot vertical extension, resulting in an overall height of 13 feet for professional setups.^[3] Construction typically involves layered plywood over a wooden frame, often covered with a durable skate surface like GatorSkin for smoothness and longevity, and ramps can vary in width from 24 to 78 feet to accommodate solo practice or group sessions.^[4] Safety features, such as padded coping and extensions for added vert, are common in modern builds to support high-risk maneuvers while minimizing injury.^[5] Vert ramps are primarily associated with vert skateboarding, a discipline that emphasizes pumping for speed, dropping in from the top, and executing tricks in the air or on the walls, often requiring protective gear like helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads.^[1] The structure also supports similar activities in BMX and aggressive inline skating, where riders perform flips and spins reaching heights of over 20 feet.^[6] Competitions on vert ramps, such as those at the X Games, highlight the sport's evolution, with iconic achievements including Tony Hawk's first 900-degree spin in 1999 and Arisa Trew's women's 900 in 2024.^[2]^[1] Despite their popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, dedicated vert facilities remain scarce today as of 2025, contributing to challenges in maintaining the discipline's prominence amid the rise of street and park skating, including vert's exclusion from the Olympic program.^[2]^[7]

Overview

Definition and Characteristics

A vert ramp is a U-shaped half-pipe structure consisting of two opposing walls that transition from a horizontal flat bottom to vertical (90-degree) extensions, typically measuring 10 to 15 feet in height overall, and engineered for executing high-speed aerial maneuvers in extreme sports such as skateboarding, BMX, and inline skating.^[1]^[6] This design evolved from earlier half-pipe concepts but distinguishes itself through its fully vertical walls, allowing riders to approach near-perpendicular inclines.^[8] Key physical characteristics include a smooth curved transition section with a radius of 10 to 12 feet, which connects the flat bottom—usually 12 to 14 feet wide—to the vertical walls, and a coping edge at the top of the walls, often made of metal or composite material, to support grinding and precise launches.^[9]^[3] The vertical portion typically extends 2 feet above the transition curve, ensuring the walls reach true 90 degrees for maximum launch potential.^[5] The primary purpose of a vert ramp is to facilitate momentum building via pumping—a technique where riders shift their body weight to convert potential energy into kinetic energy—and enable airtime of 15 to 20 feet for advanced athletes, supporting acrobatic spins, flips, and grabs in a dedicated vertical space.^[6] In the curved transition, centripetal force from the ramp's normal reaction counteracts gravity, permitting riders to sustain or increase speed by compressing downward on descents (lowering their center of gravity) and extending upward on ascents, without external propulsion.^[10]^[11] This interplay of forces creates a dynamic environment for controlled, gravity-defying motion.

Distinction from Other Ramps

Vert ramps differ from mini ramps primarily in their height and transition geometry, enabling more advanced aerial maneuvers. Mini ramps typically measure under 6 feet in height and feature transitions that top out at 45 to 60 degrees without reaching true verticality, making them suitable for beginners to practice basic pumping and grinding but limiting airtime and speed buildup.^[6] In contrast, vert ramps exceed 8 feet in height with transitions that extend to a full 90-degree vertical section, allowing riders to achieve greater momentum and launch into the air for extended flights.^[12] Compared to full half-pipes, vert ramps emphasize precise vertical walls and are often designed as portable or semi-permanent structures for skateboarding and BMX competitions, typically around 12 feet tall.^[2] Snowboarding half-pipes, including superpipes, can reach 16 to 22 feet in height with smoother, more curved transitions to accommodate snow surfaces and higher speeds, but they lack the exact 90-degree coping found in skate vert ramps, which facilitates lip tricks and stalls.^[13] Functionally, the vertical extension of vert ramps provides the necessary height and speed for complex rotations not feasible on street ramps or bowls, which prioritize grinding over aerials due to their lack of verticality. For instance, maneuvers like the 540-degree spin or McTwist—a 540 rotation combined with a 180-degree body twist—rely on the vert ramp's ability to propel riders over 10 feet into the air, a capability absent in lower or non-vertical structures.^[14] Hybrid ramps, such as backyard setups combining vert walls with street elements like rails or banks, sometimes blur these distinctions while retaining core vert features like vertical transitions for aerial potential. These designs, popular in the 1980s and 1990s, allowed for versatile sessions but maintained the height and geometry essential to vert-style riding.^[15]

History

Origins in Skateboarding Culture

The origins of vert ramps trace back to the mid-1960s in Southern California's skateboarding scene, with early instances of skaters riding empty backyard swimming pools, including a documented case by Herbie Fletcher in 1963.^[16] This practice gained significant momentum in the mid-1970s amid a severe drought that left countless pools empty. Skaters, drawing inspiration from surf culture, began adapting these drained pools into makeshift skating surfaces, transforming the curved transitions into early forms of half-pipes that allowed for vertical wall riding. This practice emerged organically in coastal areas like Venice Beach and Santa Monica, where empty pools provided a natural progression from flat-ground and street skating to more aerial-oriented maneuvers.^[17]^[18] Pioneering figures from the Dogtown crew, including Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta, played a pivotal role in elevating pool skating to a distinct style that emphasized aggressive, surf-like carving on vertical surfaces. As members of the Zephyr Competition Team (Z-Boys), they revolutionized the sport by incorporating low, crouched stances and fluid lines, often pushing the limits of pool coping and walls to achieve unprecedented airtime. The introduction of urethane wheels in 1972 by Frank Nasworthy's Cadillac Wheels was instrumental, providing superior grip and smoothness on concrete and later wood, which enabled skaters to tackle steeper transitions without the slippage common with earlier clay or metal wheels.^[19]^[20]^[21] By the mid-1970s, this pool-inspired experimentation led to the construction of the first dedicated wooden half-pipes, such as the one built by Tom Stewart in 1975, marking the shift from organic pool curves to engineered structures.^[22] These early wooden structures evolved into vert ramps with near-vertical transitions by the late 1970s, providing controllable environments beyond unpredictable pools. A key milestone was the evolution at skateparks like Upland's Pipeline Skatepark, which opened in 1977 with the first vertical walls designed specifically for skateboarding and expanded in 1979 to include more ramp-like features that solidified vert as a core discipline.^[23]^[3] Vert ramps quickly gained traction through early competitive events, such as the 1980 contests at Del Mar Skate Ranch, where the park's halfpipe and vertical elements hosted amateur and pro series that showcased emerging vert techniques to growing audiences. These gatherings highlighted the ramp's role in fostering a dedicated vert community, bridging backyard innovation with organized spectacle.^[24]

Evolution and Peak Popularity

The 1980s marked a significant boom in vert ramp skateboarding, driven by sponsorships from major brands such as Vision Skateboards and Powell-Peralta, which funded the construction and promotion of ramps across the United States.^[25]^[26] This period saw the rise of influential vert videos, including Powell-Peralta's The Bones Brigade Video Show released in 1984, which showcased high-flying aerial maneuvers and helped popularize the sport among a broader audience by demonstrating vert's dynamic potential.^[27]^[25] Vert ramp usage reached its peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s, fueled by professional tours like the National Skateboard Association (NSA) Vert Series, which organized high-profile contests attracting thousands of spectators and elevating the sport's visibility.^[20] Media exposure further amplified this era, with MTV featuring vert skating segments that brought the adrenaline of halfpipe tricks to mainstream television audiences.^[28] These events and broadcasts solidified vert as a spectacle sport, with pro skaters earning substantial prizes and endorsements during annual NSA competitions.^[25] The decline of vert ramp popularity began in the 1990s, primarily due to a cultural shift toward street skating, which offered greater accessibility in urban environments without the need for specialized ramps.^[25] This transition was exacerbated by the early 1990s recession, which led to widespread closures of skateparks and financial strain on the industry, causing many manufacturers to fold and reducing vert infrastructure.^[20]^[29] Resurgence efforts in the 2000s centered on the X Games, which emphasized vert competitions and helped sustain interest through televised events featuring aerial innovation.^[25] By the 2020s, dedicated vert facilities had become scarce, limiting the discipline primarily to temporary setups and private facilities.^[30]

Design and Construction

Standard Dimensions and Geometry

Standard vert ramps, commonly used in skateboarding competitions and professional training, typically feature an overall height of 10 to 14 feet, with the vertical section extending 1 to 2 feet above the curved transition to facilitate aerial maneuvers.^[9] The width across the flat bottom, which allows for speed buildup, measures 14 to 17 feet, enabling riders to maintain momentum between opposing walls.^[9] In competition settings, such as those governed by World Skate, a standard height of approximately 12 feet (3.6 meters) is prevalent to ensure consistency and safety.^[1] The geometry of a vert ramp consists of two opposing quarter-pipe transitions that curve smoothly from a horizontal flat bottom to near-vertical 90-degree walls, promoting a fluid progression in angle from 0 to 90 degrees. This design supports "pumping," where riders generate speed through oscillatory weight shifts without pedaling or pushing, converting potential energy into kinetic energy along the curve.^[31] The transition radius, typically 10 to 12 feet, influences airtime and flow; a larger radius provides smoother transitions and extended hang time, reducing abrupt forces on the rider.^[9] At the lip, where the curve meets the vertical, a coping—a metal pipe or bar edging—is installed for grinding and stability, typically protruding slightly to allow precise contact during tricks.^[32] Portable vert ramps, often used for events or backyard setups, adhere to similar dimensions but may be scaled down for transportability, with heights around 10 feet and widths of 32 to 60 feet overall to fit modular construction.^[32]^[33] Permanent installations, such as those in skateparks, vary from 24 feet minimum to over 70 feet in overall width for enhanced speed and space. Custom variations include mega ramps, exceeding 20 feet in height—such as the record-holding 75-foot structure—for professional feats, though these deviate from standards set by organizations like World Skate to prioritize extreme performance over everyday use.^[34]^[1]^[3]

Materials and Building Methods

Vert ramps are primarily constructed using durable, weather-resistant materials to withstand repeated impacts and outdoor exposure. The riding surface typically consists of 5/8-inch marine-grade plywood, often layered for added strength, or specialized composites like Skatelite, a paper-based phenolic resin material known for its high impact resistance and consistent grip without voids.^[35] Framing employs pressure-treated lumber, such as 4x4 posts for vertical supports and 2x4 or 2x6 members for the structural skeleton, ensuring stability under dynamic loads. Steel coping, usually 2- to 2-3/8-inch diameter schedule 40 or 80 pipes, is installed along the transition edges to facilitate grinding and transitions. For surface finishing, skateboard-specific sealants or paints, including polyurethane or epoxy coatings, provide grip and protection against moisture.^[36]^[6]^[37] Durability is enhanced through weatherproofing measures, such as epoxy resin applications on wooden components to prevent rot and delamination, and the use of ACQ-treated lumber that resists decay for 8-10 years in outdoor conditions. Modular designs incorporate bolted connections, allowing for disassembly and relocation without compromising integrity, which is particularly useful for portable or temporary setups. Skatelite surfaces offer lifetime warranties against weathering, maintaining smoothness and speed while balancing traction.^[35]^[36] Building methods begin with site preparation, establishing a foundation using concrete footings for permanent installations or skids for mobile ramps to ensure level stability. The process involves framing the curved transitions by laying out the skeleton with 2x4 lumber, bending or laminating plywood sheets to form the 90-degree vert section—often using a string-and-compass method for precise radii—and securing cross-bracing for load distribution. Transitions are installed next, followed by embedding steel coping into notched plywood edges with screws or welds. The surface is then applied in overlapping sheets, sanded for uniformity, and sealed. These steps adhere to general engineering practices for load-bearing capacity, supporting up to several hundred pounds per section to accommodate skaters and equipment. Wood ramps often follow guidelines from the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC), while concrete facilities adhere to standards like ASTM F2480.^[37]^[36]^[6]^[38]^[39] Costs vary by scale and quality, with backyard vert ramps typically ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 for DIY or kit-based builds using basic lumber and surfaces, while professional installations for full-scale facilities exceed $50,000, incorporating custom engineering and premium materials.^[40]^[41]

Usage in Sports

Vert Skateboarding

Vert skateboarding emphasizes generating speed to achieve significant height and execute rotations on near-vertical surfaces, distinguishing it as a high-adrenaline discipline focused on aerial maneuvers and fluid transitions. Originating in the 1970s as "vert skating," it began with skaters performing aerial launches and slashes directly on the vertical coping of drained backyard pools during California's drought, transforming empty concrete into improvised ramps.^[42] This core style prioritizes momentum built through pumping on the ramp's curved transitions to launch into airs, often reaching the top of the 13-foot half-pipes and accessing the vertical section.^[43] The evolution of vert skateboarding progressed from these pool-based tricks to structured ramp competitions, with innovations driven by increasing ramp heights that allowed for more complex rotations. In the 1970s, the Z-Boys of Dogtown pioneered aggressive vert lines by slashing pool walls with surf-inspired carves, influencing the sport's emphasis on power and style over technical precision.^[42] By the 1990s, taller vert ramps enabled breakthroughs like Tony Hawk's first 900—a 900-degree aerial rotation—landed on June 27, 1999, at X Games V in San Francisco after 11 attempts, marking a pinnacle of rotational progression.^[44] Equipment adapted accordingly, with vert-specific skateboard decks typically measuring 7.5 to 8.25 inches in width to provide enhanced stability at high speeds and during launches.^[45] Training sessions for vert skateboarding follow a structured progression to build confidence and reduce injury risk, starting with warm-ups on the ramp's transitions to master speed generation through pumping and basic carves. Skaters then advance to partial airs, ensuring control before attempting full vertical extensions, as emphasized by professionals like Tony Hawk in instructional programs.^[43] The Z-Boys' cultural legacy continues to shape this approach, promoting an aggressive mindset that prioritizes bold lines and endurance in sessions.^[42] While vert skateboarding remains prominent in U.S. skateparks, where it originated and hosts major events, it has seen global adoption with adaptations for local competitions in Europe and Asia. In international contests like the 2024 World Skate Games, U.S. athletes secured multiple finalist spots alongside strong representation from Brazil and Japan, highlighting vert's expansion through regional circuits and Olympic inclusion.^[46] This expansion continued in the 2025 X Games events in Salt Lake City and Osaka, with athletes from Brazil, the USA, and Japan securing top positions.^[47]^[48] European and Asian skaters have incorporated vert into urban skateparks, fostering hybrid formats that blend it with street elements for broader accessibility.^[46]

Vert BMX and Other Disciplines

Vert BMX involves riders using freestyle bicycles equipped with 20-inch wheels, which facilitate tighter turns and more agile maneuvers on the ramp's curved surfaces compared to larger-wheeled bicycles.^[49] These bikes enable performers to execute signature tricks such as tailwhips, where the frame rotates around the handlebars, and barspins, involving 360-degree spins of the handlebars while airborne.^[50] Vert ramps for BMX are typically constructed with widths of 8 to 12 feet between the walls to provide stability for the bike's wider profile and handlebar width during high-speed transitions.^[51] This setup allows riders to generate significant airtime, often exceeding 10 feet, emphasizing aerial acrobatics over grinding. Aggressive inline skating, also known as rollerblading in its extreme form, adapted vert ramps prominently in the 1990s through events like the X Games, where competitors performed in dedicated vert competitions from 1995 onward.^[52] Riders focused on tricks such as soul grinds, which involve grinding the edge of the skate frame along the ramp's coping for extended slides.^[53] Equipment adaptations included inline skates with rockering setups, where the middle wheels are positioned lower than the outer ones to enhance edge control and facilitate grinds on the ramp's vertical sections.^[54] These competitions highlighted the sport's emphasis on precision and flow, with vert events continuing into the early 2000s before shifting focus to street formats. Beyond bicycles and skates, vert ramps have been adapted for other wheeled and powered disciplines. Snowboarders and skiers utilize vert-style ramps during summer training sessions, often covered in turf or equipped with wheeled bindings to simulate halfpipe conditions and maintain aerial skills off-season.^[55] In freestyle motocross (FMX), specialized launch ramps—typically 6 to 10 feet high—are used to launch riders for massive jumps and flips, prioritizing big air over sustained transitions, though full vert half-pipes are less common.^[56] These adaptations underscore vert ramps' versatility in supporting high-altitude maneuvers across gravity-based sports. Cross-disciplinary hybrid events have integrated vert BMX with skateboarding and inline skating, featuring shared halfpipes in entertainment shows and exhibitions to showcase comparative styles.^[57] Vert BMX reached its peak popularity in the 2000s, driven by X Games coverage and innovations from riders like Mat Hoffman, who in 2002 became the first to land a no-handed 900—a 900-degree spin without hands on the bars—at X Games Philadelphia.^[58] This era solidified vert BMX's role in extreme sports culture, paralleling skateboarding's vert evolution but with bike-specific dynamics for enhanced rotational freedom.

Techniques and Maneuvers

Basic Entry and Flow Techniques

Dropping in is the foundational technique for entering a vert ramp, allowing skaters to commit to the transition from the flat platform to the curved wall. To perform a frontside drop-in, the skater positions the tail of the board on the coping with the nose hanging over the ramp, then stomps the front foot above the front trucks while keeping the back foot on the tail for control; arms should be extended and relaxed for balance, and knees bent to absorb the initial impact and maintain stability as the board drops into the transition.^[59] For a backside drop-in, the process mirrors the frontside but with the skater facing away from the ramp's descent, emphasizing a full commitment to avoid hesitation, which can lead to loss of balance.^[59] Progression typically begins on smaller mini ramps (around 3-4 feet vertical) to build confidence before advancing to full vert ramps (11-13 feet), where the steeper geometry demands precise weight distribution.^[59]^[2] Pumping is essential for generating and maintaining speed on vert ramps without relying on foot pushes, relying instead on the physics of the ramp's curved transitions. The technique involves shifting body weight dynamically: as the skater ascends the wall, they compress their knees and lower their center of gravity to store potential energy, then extend the legs forcefully on the descent to convert that energy into forward momentum.^[59] This compressing and extending motion, often performed in a rhythmic pattern, allows skaters to carve higher up the transitions over successive runs, exploiting the ramp's concave shape to amplify speed.^[59] Effective pumping requires smooth weight transfer from the front to back foot, keeping the board perpendicular to the ramp surface at all times to prevent stalling.^[59] Basic flow on a vert ramp builds on dropping in and pumping by emphasizing controlled carving from the bottom of the transition to the top, creating seamless lines that enable consistent momentum. Skaters start by carving side-to-side in the lower flats, gradually increasing amplitude to reach the coping and initiate simple airs for added control and style.^[2] Key introductory airs include the indy grab, where the skater reaches with their back hand to grab the board's toeside edge between the trucks and nose while extending the body for lift, and the stalefish grab, involving a heelside grab near the tail with the back hand to stabilize during the pop.^[2] These grabs not only provide control during basic airs but also help in maintaining board alignment upon re-entry, fostering a fluid flow that transitions smoothly back into pumping.^[2] For beginners, starting sessions on the less crowded side of the ramp minimizes interference and builds familiarity with the vert's dynamics.^[59] Using a spotter—someone to assist with balance or catch falls during initial drop-ins—is recommended to overcome fear and ensure safe practice.^[59] Common errors, such as hesitating during the drop-in by leaning back or failing to commit the front foot, often result in falls; skaters should focus on explosive, decisive movements to counteract this.^[59] Consistent practice on one technique at a time, such as repeating drop-ins before integrating pumping, helps develop the muscle memory needed for vert flow.^[59]

Advanced Aerial and Flip Tricks

Advanced aerial maneuvers on vert ramps involve high rotations performed off the coping, leveraging the ramp's vertical transition for extended airtime. Riders execute 360-degree spins by ollieing off the lip and rotating their body and board one full turn before landing, often with a grab for control. Progressing to 540s and 720s requires similar initiation but demands greater rotational force, achieved by tucking the knees and using the vert's height to complete one-and-a-half or two full spins, respectively.^[60] The McTwist, an inverted 540-degree spin, was first landed in 1984 by Mike McGill; it involves grabbing the board toeside, tucking the head toward the coping, and popping off the ramp to invert the body for rotation, relying on vert height to complete the flip without under-rotating.^[61] Flip tricks elevate complexity by combining board flips with aerial rotations, exploiting the prolonged airtime unique to vert ramps. Varial 360s merge a 360-degree shove-it with a board flip, typically executed as an air where the rider flicks the board while spinning. Kickflips and heelflips are integrated into airs by snapping the board with the front foot or heel, respectively, often in combinations like kickflip indy or heelflip varial, demanding precise timing to re-catch mid-air. The 900, a two-and-a-half spin (900 degrees), was first landed in competition by Tony Hawk in 1999 at X Games V, showcasing vert's capacity for multi-rotation due to the ramp's steep angle providing up to 10-12 feet of air.^[62]^[63] Grinds and slides on vert coping build on aerial entry, with fakie to frontside boardslides involving approaching fakie, popping onto the coping, and sliding the board's middle along the edge while facing frontside before re-entering the ramp. These require prerequisites like solid pumping—compressing and extending the legs rhythmically to generate speed without pushing—to maintain momentum for consistent coping contact and safe dismounts.^[60]^[64] In aggressive inline skating, vert techniques adapt to the wheeled frames, emphasizing body-oriented maneuvers due to the lack of board flips. Common airs include 360 spins, where the skater rotates fully mid-air, often with arm variations for style, and the airwalk, involving a 180-degree body turn with crossed legs and a hand grab to the frame. Advanced tricks like the McTwist (body varial 540) and butterflynuts (a complex spin with leg crosses) leverage the vert's airtime for rotations up to 720 degrees, requiring precise edge control on re-entry.^[65]

Competitions and Culture

Major Events and Formats

The X Games, launched in 1995, have been a cornerstone of vert ramp competitions, featuring annual vert events that highlight professional skateboarders performing on halfpipe structures. These competitions typically include both overall run formats, where athletes execute 45-second runs, and best-trick segments, allowing multiple attempts at individual maneuvers. Judging occurs on a 0-100 scale, emphasizing amplitude (height achieved), difficulty of tricks, and variety of maneuvers performed during the run or attempt.^[66] Other notable series include the Vans-sponsored vert tours of the 1980s, which popularized traveling ramp events amid the era's backyard and amateur scene, and the Dew Tour, held annually from 2005 until its discontinuation in 2024, incorporating vert ramp disciplines alongside park and street skating at multi-stop circuits across the United States in its earlier years.^[67]^[68] Olympic skateboarding debuted in Tokyo 2020 with park and street events, but pure vert was not included, as the International Olympic Committee selected park—a transitional format blending vert elements with bowls—for its broader appeal, leaving dedicated vert absent from the program.^[7] Vert competitions employ two primary formats: jam-style events, where groups of skaters share open sessions for unstructured improvisation, often culminating in best-trick judging, and structured judged runs, scored 0-100 based on height, combo execution, and flow. These evolved from 1980s amateur nationals, such as regional qualifiers emphasizing participation and basic airs, to professional-only tours by the 2000s, with invitationals like the X Games prioritizing elite athletes and high-stakes prize money.^[69]^[70] Internationally, the European Vert Championships trace back to the late 1980s, with events like the 1987 Münster Monster Mastership serving as early continental titles, fostering regional talent through judged vert runs. Adaptations of the X Games in Asia, including the 2010 Shanghai edition and the 2025 Osaka event—where Arisa Trew won gold in women's vert—have integrated vert ramp formats to accommodate growing participation in countries like Japan and China, featuring similar run and best-trick structures tailored to local venues.^[71]^[72]^[48]

Notable Athletes and Innovations

Tony Hawk is widely recognized as one of the most influential vert ramp skateboarders, particularly for landing the first 900—a two-and-a-half rotation aerial trick—on June 27, 1999, during the X Games Vert Best Trick competition in San Francisco after 11 attempts.^[73]^[74] This feat not only set a benchmark for vert progression but also elevated the sport's visibility through live broadcasts. Hawk's consistent high-air performances on 24-foot vert ramps throughout the 1990s further solidified his role in pushing technical boundaries. Danny Way revolutionized vert ramp skating by inventing and pioneering the MegaRamp in the late 1990s, a massive extension featuring a 70-foot quarter-pipe followed by a 27-foot gap and a 50-foot quarter-pipe, enabling unprecedented speed and air heights.^[75] Way used the MegaRamp to set multiple world records, including a 23.5-foot air in 2002 and jumping the Great Wall of China in 2005, which expanded vert's scale beyond traditional halfpipes.^[76]^[77] In BMX vert, Mat Hoffman achieved the first 900 on a bike in 1989 at the 2-Hip King of Vert contest in Kitchener, Ontario, marking a pivotal moment for aerial innovation in the discipline.^[78] This trick, performed on a standard vert ramp, inspired subsequent generations of BMX riders to incorporate skate-style rotations, with Hoffman later landing a no-handed 900 at the 2002 X Games.^[79] Women pioneers like Cara-Beth Burnside broke barriers in vert skating during the 1990s, competing professionally on high vert ramps and earning recognition as one of the earliest female stars with multiple X Games vert medals starting in 2000.^[80]^[81] Similarly, Lynne Cooper contributed to the era's vert scene as a pro freestyle and vert skater, performing in major contests and demos throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, helping establish women's presence in ramp-based events.^[82]^[83] Hawk further innovated vert culture by launching the Boom Boom HuckJam tour in 2002, a traveling spectacle that combined vert ramp competitions with live music performances from acts like The Offspring and Devo, blending extreme sports with entertainment to broaden appeal.^[84]^[85] In inline skating, Taïg Khris advanced vert walls by dominating competitions in the late 1990s and early 2000s, winning over 75 vert events including multiple X Games titles, which popularized dedicated vert setups for inline athletes akin to skateboarding's halfpipes.^[86] These athletes collectively influenced vert ramp evolution by advocating for taller structures—often exceeding 24 feet—to accommodate bigger airs and tricks like the 900, while Hawk's Pro Skater video game series, starting in 1999, drove a 60% global increase in skateboarding participation by 2002, mainstreaming vert techniques among new enthusiasts.^[87]^[88]

Safety and Modern Relevance

Protective Equipment and Risk Management

In vert ramp activities, participants are strongly advised to wear comprehensive protective gear to mitigate the high-impact risks associated with aerial maneuvers and falls from heights. Essential equipment includes full-face helmets designed for skateboarding, which provide superior facial and head protection compared to standard helmets, meeting Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards for impact absorption through a hard shell exterior and foam interior lining.^[89] Knee and elbow pads with hard shells and foam padding are crucial for cushioning abrasions and joint impacts during slides or landings, while spine protectors—often integrated into padded vests—safeguard the back from compression injuries in high-speed crashes. Mouthguards are also recommended to prevent dental trauma from unexpected impacts.^[90] Risk management in vert ramp skating emphasizes structured protocols to minimize hazards. Spotter protocols involve trained individuals positioned at the ramp's base and edges to guide beginners, catch potential falls, and ensure clear lanes during sessions, particularly in group training environments. Progressive training begins with lower-height ramps, such as 8-foot transitions, to build confidence in pumping and dropping in before advancing to full 12-foot vert walls, allowing riders to master fundamentals like balance and speed control. Ramp inspections are a daily requirement, checking for hazards like splinters in wooden surfaces, loose coping (the metal edging at the ramp's lip), or debris that could cause slips, with operators using tools like brooms to maintain smooth, clean surfaces.^[91]^[59] Venue rules for vert ramps prioritize participant safety through enforced policies. Many facilities impose age restrictions, often limiting unsupervised access to full vert ramps for those 16 years and older to ensure physical maturity and skill level adequacy, while younger riders require adult supervision. Competitions mandate insurance requirements, including general liability coverage for organizers (typically $1 million to $5 million limits) and optional personal accident medical insurance for athletes to cover injuries during events.^[92]^[93] Training aids like foam pits are widely used to enhance safety during trick practice in vert ramp settings. These pits, filled with dense, flame-retardant foam cubes, provide a soft landing zone for aerial dismounts in skateboarding and BMX vert, reducing the force of falls and allowing repeated attempts without severe injury risk, commonly integrated into professional skateparks and training facilities.^[94]

Current Availability and Decline in Use

As of late 2025, permanent vert ramps remain scarce globally, with reportedly fewer than 30 public facilities worldwide.^[30] Notable examples include the 11-foot vert ramp at Spit & Sawdust skatepark in Cardiff, UK, which hosts events like the UK Vert Series.^[95] In the United States, vert ramps are often tied to event venues, such as those used for X Games in Ventura, California, though these are typically temporary setups rather than fixed installations.^[96] To address limited access, mobile vert ramp rentals have gained traction for competitions, demonstrations, and private events, with providers offering full installation and takedown services.^[33] The decline in vert ramp prevalence stems from high construction costs, often exceeding $50,000 for a permanent installation as part of larger skatepark projects, combined with substantial space requirements that deter municipal investments.^[97] This shift intensified after the 2008 Great Recession, which led to budget cuts and closures of many skate facilities, reducing vert's footprint in public parks.^[98] Additionally, the broader skateboarding community has migrated toward street and park disciplines, which align better with modern urban skatepark designs emphasizing inclusivity and lower perceived risk over high-speed aerial maneuvers.^[30] Despite these challenges, vert maintains niche relevance through private backyard installations, particularly in Southern California, where custom ramps serve as personal training grounds for dedicated skaters.^[99] Emerging virtual reality skateboarding simulations also support skill development, offering balance and maneuver practice in controlled environments.^[100] Major events like the X Games continue to feature vert competitions, as seen in the 2024 Ventura edition and 2025 stops in Osaka and Salt Lake City, though participant fields have shrunk compared to peak eras.^[48] Looking ahead, vert's future hinges on potential Olympic inclusion as a distinct discipline for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, where advocates argue it could revitalize the style in its Southern California birthplace. Recent efforts, such as Tom Schaar's video part released in November 2025, aim to revive interest in vert and push for its Olympic recognition.^[101] However, this faces hurdles from the International Olympic Committee's emphasis on park formats for broader accessibility and gender equity, leaving vert's integration uncertain without dedicated venue funding.^[7]^[1]

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Vert ramp

Overview

Definition and Characteristics

Distinction from Other Ramps

History

Origins in Skateboarding Culture

Evolution and Peak Popularity

Design and Construction

Standard Dimensions and Geometry

Materials and Building Methods

Usage in Sports

Vert Skateboarding

Vert BMX and Other Disciplines

Techniques and Maneuvers

Basic Entry and Flow Techniques

Advanced Aerial and Flip Tricks

Competitions and Culture

Major Events and Formats

Notable Athletes and Innovations

Safety and Modern Relevance

Protective Equipment and Risk Management

Current Availability and Decline in Use

References

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