The transition was built with no
flaws at all, so it was easy to pick
up the tricks that we used to do. Rob
is learning every new trick that
comes out, plus he is pushing older
tricks to their limits. Rob skates
with precision and he leaves people
in awe. Marty is doing a lot of tricks
also, but he makes everything on
total edge, just when you think he is
going to bail, he twists his body in
some awkward position and then
pulls it off.
Dave and I have tried to make it
down to Cincinnati as much as pos-
sible. Each time we skate we pick
up a lot of old tricks, and we are
picking up many new ones. It won't
take us many more sessions before
we have it totally wired.
With the help of Kentucky skat-
ers, Cincinnati skaters, and the
Roskopp family, the Cherry Lane
ramp was made possible. It is what
we believe to be the best halfpipe in
the Midwest and there will be in-
tense sessions happening through-
out the summer. Skaters might not
want to support their local park be-
cause of high overhead or other
things, but a true skater will find
some way to skate. There is a lot
more to come from the Midwest.
THER
The
Cherry
Lane
Ramp
story & Wayne
photos by Lyons
September 10, 1979, Apple
skatepark emerged as what people
considered to be another great
skatepark placed directly in the
Midwest. It attracted all first-
generation skaters, all ramp riders,
and a new incoming breed of begin-
ners. The park no doubt had the
best halfpipe in the world, and the
L-bowl was also an excellent bank
where skaters could learn new
tricks and warm up. The pools at
Apple were not built to perfection,
because they were very quick, but
they did test a skater's ability.
When Apple closed, some skaters
quit for good, others went back to
the streets, and others hoped to
skate vertical again someday.
Bob Roskopp, an Apple local who
lives in Cincinnati, wasted no time.
in getting a perfect halfpipe started.
The "WANK" designed the Cherry
Lane ramp and then Cincinnati
locals went to work on it. It has an
eight-foot transition with one foot of
vertical that resembled Apple's
halfpipe. Four months after Apple
closed, the scene was alive again in
the Midwest. Fairly heavy sessions
went on in the fall when the
halfpipe was finished, but winter
set in and so did the skaters.
The first great weekend showed
up early in April. The Cherry Lane,
ramp now hosted a new variety of
skaters. Rob Roskopp. Marty
Jimenez, Dave Bush, and I are really
the only Apple locals that are skat-
ing the pipe now, but it is early and
more people are expected to show
up. Kentucky skaters are also mak-
ing a showing at the ramp.
Rob and Marty skate the halfpipe
almost every day and they rip it.
Aboveleft: Rob Roskopp sweeping heavily above the flatlands.
Below left: Marty Jimenez getting into another awkward position.
Above: Dave Bush getting back into it.
Right: Photog-author Wayne Lyons, flying favorable frontside
Below: The ramp built to perfection.