How to Make a Vert Ramp

Vert ramps, often used by skateboarders, have an exponential gradient, meaning their slope starts out flat and rises quickly, until it is vertical. In some cases they will resemble what's called a quarter-pipe. The idea behind these types of ramps is to prepare skateboarders for skate park ramps or competitions. As the skateboarder approaches the ramp with a moderate speed, he is able to become completely horizontal in the air, which allows him to do a trick of some sort before he comes whistling back down. Someone with no skateboarding experience should not attempt to use a ramp of this sort.

Things You'll Need

  • Safety glasses
  • Tape measure
  • String, 50-inch
  • 3 plywood sheets, ¾-inch, 48-by-48-inch
  • Jigsaw
  • 2 pine boards, 2-by-6-by-48-inch
  • Screw gun
  • 8 pine boards, 2-by-4-by-46 ½-inch
  • Plywood, ¼-inch, 48-by-70-inch
  • 60 wood screws, 3-inch
  • 4 sand bags, 70 lbs.
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay a 48-by-48-inch sheet of plywood flat. Tie one end of the string around a pencil. Hold the opposite end of the string along the upper-left hand corner and draw an arc. The exact gradient you draw will be the gradient of the ramp.

    • 2

      Cut along the line with your jigsaw. Use this piece to trace an arc on one more 48-by-48-inch piece of plywood. Cut this piece so it is exactly the same as the previous sheet. These are the sides to your ramp.

    • 3

      Lay the two pieces flat so the 48-inch edges are against each other, and the arcs are slanting away from each other. Set a 2-by-6-inch board underneath each piece of plywood so it is flush with the bottom edges of the plywood. Screw through the plywood and into the boards using eight 2-inch screws.

    • 4

      Cut the boards along the arcs. The arc you cut previously will guide your jigsaw blade. These boards will be inside of the ramp.

    • 5

      Position the sides so they are on their 48-inch edge, parallel, and with the arcs aligned. They should be 46 ½ inches apart with the boards between them. Position a 2-by-4-inch board between the sides starting at the top so they are perpendicular. The board's 4-inch wide surface should be flush with the arc. Screw through the sides and into the board.

    • 6

      Screw through the sides and into the boards as you work your way down the ramp. Space the boards four inches apart. This is your ramp frame.

    • 7

      Position the ¼-inch plywood so its 48-inch edge is flush with the top of the ramp frame. Screw it to the boards by starting at the top and working your way down. Turn the ramp on its side and screw the last 48-inch sheet of plywood to the bottom 2-by-6-inch boards so all of the edges are flush.

    • 8

      Lay the sand bags in the inside of your ramp to stabilize it.