How to Make a Snowboarding Pipe

The half-pipe, made from a mix of terrain and snow, provides snowboarders with an area to practice and perform various tricks of the trade. If you're a truly dedicated snowboarder, you may have a desire to build a half-pipe for practice and fun. Though building a half-pipe (or even a quarter-pipe) is no easy task, it is feasible if you have access to proper materials and terrain.

Things You'll Need

  • Pre-existing terrain
  • Wood
  • Construction tools
  • Snow
  • Spray bottle
  • Water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Search for the best location to begin construction. The ideal location will consist of a small hill or embankment to form one side of your pipe. Using existing land formations will reduce the overall amount of work to be done.

    • 2

      Construct your half-pipe. Modify measurements as needed, but a typical half-pipe should measure six feet high and eight feet wide. Make sure to include a landing pad at the top of each ramp, measuring four feet wide.

    • 3

      Bring in the snow. If you live in an area where there is a great deal of snow present, this step may be skipped, but do not try to dig out the ramp even if you have an ample amount of powder. Also, keep in mind that bringing in snow (real or fake) will use less snow and less energy than using snow already on the ground.

    • 4

      Pack the snow tightly around the ramps and create the curve you want. The curve is crucial to the functionality of the ramp. It can't be too tight, but it can't be too loose. The ideal curve will have a radius of between eight-nine feet.

    • 5

      Create a proper surface. The final surface of the ramp should be a nice mixture of snow and ice. One way to create this mixture is to layer water and snow, allowing the water to freeze each time. However, do not just pour a bucket of water on top of the snow. Instead, use a spray bottle to create a mist covering each layer of snow. Make sure this texture is maintained.