For the serious skateboarding enthusiast, there is nothing like pulling a few tricks on skateboard ramps. Before there were skate-parks in almost every town, kids were forced to be creative and make their own structures. They’d rip down street signs and lay them on the ground to railslide down. They’d find old picnic tables and place them in the street to hop onto. They’d use palettes from the grocery store to hop onto. They’d buy pieces of plywood or giant pipes from the hardware store and fashion them into something they could do tricks on. Today there are actually kits that kids can buy to build their own or even pre-assembled ramps for purchase. So what types should you buy and where can you get them?

There are several different types of ramps to consider. Half-pipes and quarter-pipes are some of the most common. Half-pipes were originally made out of half sections of enormous pipelines placed together. Today, they are similar but are designed with a flat section between the two edges to allow for more speed. Quarter-pipes are much smaller — like one side of the half-pipe — and are best for practice maneuvers at skate parks. Mini-ramps are a type of half-pipe that are generally 2 to 6 feet tall. (To see minis in action, check out skate videos like “Cheese and Crackers,” where Daewon Song and Chris Haslam skate almost exclusively on these ramps and odd pieces of junk). Minis are good for practicing lip tricks and are favored for being smaller and more portable. Vert ramps, on the other hand, are needed for practicing the big aerial tricks. Like the mini ramp, the vert is another type of half-pipe, but this one ranges from 10 to 14 feet tall. At the top there is anywhere from six inches to three feet of vertical space, which is where tricks can be performed.

At a typical skate-park, there are many other smaller skateboard ramps and obstacles you’ll encounter. For instance, a pyramid is a structure built low to the ground, with four ramps meeting at a center deck. A spine ramp is two small quarter-pipes put together, usually with a rail or mini-lip in between. A bank ramp is about 8 feet wide by about 3-6 feet tall and 7-9 feet long, with a 30° slope. Launch ramps look very similar, but with a taller height and a steeper slope. A grind box is low to the ground (less than 4 feet high) and offers a long table-like space where a skateboarder can slide along a rail or along his board and try a bunch of tricks. Similarly, a fun box combines this tabletop feature along with some gradual incline ramp space. Sometimes poles or ledges are mounted for more versatility.

Given the cost of skateboard ramps, it’s no surprise that many skaters choose the D.I.Y. route. However, you’ll quickly find it often costs just as much (if not more) to assemble the materials for yourself. For instance, you can expect to pay anywhere from $70 (for a launch ramp) and $86 (for a grind box) to $235 (for a fun box) and $450 (for a mini ramp). At www.xtremeskater.com, you’ll find free plans for building your own mini half-pipes, 4 foot quarter-pipes, custom mini ramps, grind boxes, fun boxes, launch ramps and vert half-pipes. Each page covers the materials required (along with estimated prices), pictures, descriptions and videos. Another excellent site is www.diyskate.com, which offers free instructions, diagrams and cost estimates for skateboarding ramp building as well. You’ll find plans for wall ramps, kicker ramps, fun boxes with ledges, Jersey barriers, Chicago barriers, bank ramps, 3-foot quarters, micro spines, stair ledges, picnic ledges, grind boxes, grind rails and more.

[1] Rene Lacape can help you with all your insurance needs. May it be personal or corporate accounts he can answer all your deepest questions with clarity. All you have to do is get a hold of his contact information and start the deal with him. You will be satisfied for sure.