| Whether you are into skateboards, bikes or in-line | | | | Step five |
| skates you really need a jump ramp to launch | | | | When you have cut the shape out get the edges |
| yourself into the air and perform all those crazy aerial | | | | nice and smooth with some sandpaper or and electric |
| stunts. You have probably been and tried out other | | | | sander. Then you can lay it on another sheet of |
| peoples ramps but of course you want a better one | | | | plywood, or if you had your head screwed on when |
| in your own back yard. Read on and we'll tell you | | | | you planned the ramp you might be able to get both |
| how to go about it.... | | | | sides of the transition out of one sheet of plywood. |
| Step one | | | | Trace around the first transition then cut and sand to |
| Check out as many jump ramps as you can, it's the | | | | suit. |
| best way to find out what kind of ramp you want | | | | Step six |
| for yourself. When you find ones you like make a | | | | Now you have two identical pieces which you should |
| note of what you like about them so you can copy it | | | | brace together with some 2" by 4" timber. Nail or |
| for your ramp. You are interested in the height and | | | | screw a length at each corner. If you're clever you |
| transition; why not take a photo on your mobile to | | | | will make the ramp the same width as the material |
| refer to when you're designing your own. | | | | you are going to use for the curved riding surface of |
| Step two | | | | the ramp to save you cutting it. |
| Collect together all your notes and photos and sit | | | | Step seven |
| down and design your ramp on paper. Decide how | | | | Fix more 2" by 4"s lengths between the curved |
| high you want to go, don't go over board to start | | | | sections of the transitions at 6" intervals. Make sure |
| with if you're a beginner, you can always make a | | | | these are well fixed and your ramp will last longer. |
| bigger ramp in the future. | | | | Screw from the outside in with at least two screws |
| Step three | | | | at each end for the best results. Pilot drill the holes |
| When you have the design you want sketched on | | | | for the screws to prevent splitting. |
| paper you need to draw the shape of the transition | | | | Step eight |
| (sides of the ramp) on some plywood. The best way | | | | Glue and nail a piece of flexible double ply to the |
| to do this is to lay a large sheet of plywood on the | | | | riding surface; obviously you will have made your |
| floor, tie some string about 8 feet long to a pencil, | | | | ramp the right width to accommodate this without |
| place the pencil on the corner of the plywood, | | | | cutting it... |
| stretch the string out along and extending past the | | | | Step nine |
| shortest edge of the plywood and anchor the end of | | | | Fit a flat thin piece of metal at the bottom of the |
| the string to the floor. You can then draw a curve | | | | ramp to bridge the gap and give a smooth transition |
| keeping the string taut as you do it. You may need | | | | between the ramp and the floor. Make sure there |
| to play around with the length of the string and the | | | | are no exposed nails or screw heads on the ramp or |
| anchor point to get the curve you want. | | | | your tyres and wheels won't last long. |
| Step four | | | | Step ten |
| When you have sketched the curve you want on | | | | Hopefully you have finished up with a strong sturdy |
| the plywood and you are happy with it, you can cut | | | | design. Test the strength of the ramp with your own |
| out the shape with a jigsaw. Make sure to get an | | | | body weight before you use it. It would be a shame |
| adult to help you.... | | | | to break your neck after going to all that trouble.... |