La Rampa park
in Lima, Peru,
is built on stilts
to keep it dry
during tropical
RAMP
WORLD
STILTED
RAMPS
NON-PROFIT
AND TAX-
DEDUCTIBLE
36 THRASHER MAGAZINE
This month we'd like to share some
correspondence from our ramp raging
readers. This is your column, so let's
hear what's new, how to, etc.
Here's a constructive idea that will
add life to your ramp if you live in a
humid or rainy climate:
A RAMP FOR ALL SEASONS
In the Great Prairies of the Midwest
and in the small rural communities of
West Texas, finding a good halfpipe is
almost impossible. The intense heat
waves, cold, winter northers, long
periods of drought and sudden violent
bursts of rain can wreak havoc upon
the wood and masonite which com-
prise a halfpipe. The long periods of
dry, hot weather can dry the wood
out, causing it to crack. When the
rains come, the water seeps up into
the cracks causing the wooden foun-
dation to rot and the ramp itself to col-
lapse. Saving a ramp from these
forces can only be accomplished by
placing it indoors. When building my
ramp, however, my friends and I did
not have the funds to build a structure
to house it. We thus had to devise an
alternative plan to stop the destruction
of my ramp by the elements.
This problem prolonged the building
of my ramp for many months. Then,
one day, the answer came to me. Just
as the people who live in the marshy
areas of South America put their
homes on stilts, I would elevate my
skate structure.
My five friends and I got together
one sultry April afternoon to begin the
long, tedious process. We built a
square, sturdy foundation with care-
fully measured and cut 2x4s, 3/4-inch
plywood and a ton of nails.
My dad and I then began to ready
the thick metal pipes which would be
my stilts. We dug each hole and
cemented the metal supports into the
earth so they would be immovable,
then welded long pipes to the top of
these stilts and shorter cross pieces
in between the long ones.
The last few days of summer my
friends and I lifted the heavy founda-
tion onto the stilts and began the
completion of the ramp. Each day
after school, we came out and nailed
in the 2x4s and then put the plywood
down for the surface. Lastly, we put
the masonite on top to make the sur-
face extremely fast. There were only
two things left to do: name my ramp
and skate. We quickly christened it
"Flood Ramp" and began the first jam.
The skating has been terrific and
there have been only a few minor
injuries due to people falling off the
side. My idea has worked. Some rains
have come, but the land under the
ramp has dried out quickly. Flood
Ramp really is a ramp for all seasons.
J.K. Palmer
These guys craved vert and they
wouldn't quit till they got some. They
prove once again that perseverance
and hard work pay off:
RAMP ACTION
I would like to share the success
story of the Lincoln City Skateboard-
ing Association (LCSBA) and the
B.E.G. ramp. Our local group of
skaters tried to work with the city
council to sponsor a skateboarding
facility for seven months-we got
nowhere. In a last chance effort to get
a park, we told the city we would earn
all the money, build the park and pro-
vide all the maintenance required if
they would just loan us a plot of land.
The city agreed to this and seven
days later we were shredding our new
halfpipe, and we still had money left
for masonite, jump ramps and enclo-
sure of both ends for wall riding. We
raised over $1,100 in six days of
soliciting for donations, and on the
seventh day we built. The donations.
were tax deductible because we were
a non-profit organization and we gave
all the donators receipts for tax pur-
poses. To further help our efforts we
asked the lumber yards for contractor
rates on the wood, since we were
non-profit. They agreed and we got
cheap wood and everyone was
happy. Local carpenters also donated
some time.
My advice to frustrated skaters: stop
talking, start working. Try to avoid
decision-making on the part of the city
and just get to work. All you need is a
receipt book, a business joint savings
account with a couple of your leaders'
signatures to make it legit, a smiling
face and phrases like "safe," "drug
free," "tax-deductible," "help keep kids
off the streets." Little do they know,
we won't stay off the street, but the
rest is true.
I will be happy to inform anyone on
specific details. Skate Hardy,
Benny Bob, 102 Hawley Hall,
Corvallis, OR 97331
If you've got an idea or comment
concerning ramps, drop us a line and
fill us in on your scene. Thrasher,
Ramp World, P.O. Box 884570, San
Francisco, CA 94188-4570.
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