OLD MAN WINTER
WANTS YOUR RAMP
THE RAMP PAGE
by Eric Horn
NATAS RAILS
With the stormy months ahead, we must
think about winter. You know, Old Man
Winter, the dude who makes even the most
minor slam throb with an excruciating, num-
bing sting. When it comes to ramps, winter
presents a never-ending nightmare.
Neglect, rain, water damage, soggy
plywood and sagging understructures
cause empty wallets and high tensions.
Yeah, Mr. Winter. What are you going to do
about him? Well, during his reign your ramp
should be kept up and maintained to insure
a long riding life and functioning response.
Let's talk about rain. Rain is basically bad
news for ramps. Droplets get into the inter-
nal network of your ramp and rot it to the
bone. Rain invites demons such as termites,
rust and rot which can tear your riding sur-
face to shreds and weaken the understruc-
ture to the point of collapse. In the months
to come, disintegration is inevitable. If this
happens to your ramp, you'll be pissed at
yourself for not taking the time to maintain
it when it mattered. To save time, trouble and
greens, I recommend the following pre-
cautions against the forces of nature:
First of all, take a close look at your riding
surface and understructure and make sure
all weak areas in your ramp are taken care
of. Loose boards, weak joints, holes and un-
painted areas are just pawns for the hands
of winter to toy with and riddle with disease.
Take some time out and give your ramp a
structural tune-up before it starts raining.
In addition to a sound structure, a good
paint job is a must for protection against
water damage. Make sure your
28
A solid ramp makes for solid skating. Bill Danforth in
control at the Mansion in Connecticut. Photo: Bryce Kanights.
street/halfpipe ramps are well-coated with
paint or waterseal, whichever you prefer and
your pocketbook can afford. Always make
sure your riding surface is painted and that
all seams are grouted with that bathroom tile
squeeze stuff. The understructure of your
ramp should also be protected against the
effects of wetness. Slap on some of the old
latex house paint that's been sitting around
in the garage for years. Redwood fence
stain also works well and usually goes a
long way.
If you have any available shelter for your
ramp, make use of it. I've heard of roofs built
above ramps and even full enclosures. This
is an expensive route but a very effective
one. For you guys out there who have street
ramps, take advantage of the ol' garage.
Move your dad's Model A out-o-there and
you're set. Slapping some wheels on your
ramp makes for easy mobilization in and out
of the garage in case of sudden downpours.
Puddled water on your ramp is like puke
in a broken toilet: it just sits and rots. If you
live in an area where rainstorms happen
once in awhile, go out and sweep the water
off immediately after a storm. This will pre-
vent the surface from getting soggy, which
would otherwise insure a slow ride and a
slow death for your ramp. If you live in an
area where it rains or snows all season long,
you probably won't be sessioning too much.
Lift up one long side of your ramp (use a car
jack) and stick a couple of concrete blocks.
under your foundation. This will put a slope
in your ramp so water will run off and won't
puddle.
If you know you're not going to be skating
due to harsh conditions, cover the riding
surface with a plastic membrane. The local
hardware store usually has a large selection.
of sizes, weights and prices. When com-
pared to the actual cost of your ramp, it's
best not to be cheap in this area. Apply it
however you see fit, remembering not to
leave any areas in which water may
penetrate.
Depending on your ramp's foundation,
you may or may not need underside protec-
tion from the elements. If the foundation is
cement, you're pretty safe. If the ramp rests
on dirt like most backyard ramps do, pre-
cautions are necessary. Make sure any
wood framing that is touching dirt is coated
with some sort of termite paint stuff.
Creosote, a nasty tarlike petroleum product
used on telephone poles, works well. This
will not completely cure water damage, but
it will slow the process. If you know you
won't be sessioning your ramp the entire
winter, slap some of those concrete blocks
under your foundation to get it away from the
dirt. If your ramp lies on sloped ground, dig
a shallow trench around it with a downhill
outlet to channel all ground run-off away
from your foundation.
The main idea when preparing your ramp
for winter is basic maintenance. The Old
Man is harsh on all structures, especially
naked ramps. Cold weather, wind and
moisture are his weapons. Go outside now
and take an evaluation of your ramp's con-
dition before it crumbles under the lightest
aerial landing. Good luck and keep skating.
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