Learning to skate off a ramp or drop in at the skatepark is one of the most difficult things to grasp in skateboarding. Not because it needs so much talent, yet because it takes a lot of willpower and bravery. Yet, if you are about to learn to drop in at the skatepark or on a ramp, you will need to get comfy doing so.
The higher the ramp or transition you skated down, the quicker you can go. Dropping in can be perfect for accumulating enough speed to ride around the park. Or maybe to skate up the various ramps and do a stunt. It’s all your choice.
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What Are Skateboard Ramps?
Ramps are generally located next to stairs and are primarily intended for wheelchairs and baby carriages. These are inclined surfaces that also serve for other wheeled vehicles to allow easy access between vertical platforms.
Skateboard ramps are generally outdoor slopes where skateboarders perform their tricks. They can be located in public areas or within skate parks. There are so many different types of skateboard ramps, and we will mention some of them here.
Tip: Do you know the differences between skateboard and bike helmets? The skating helmet has a softer shell.
15 Different Types of Skateboard Ramps
- Pyramid Ramp
- Launch Ramp
- Bowl Ramp
- Wave Ramp
- Quarter Pipe
- Half Pipe
- Spines
- Bank Ramp
- Vert Ramp
- Kicker Ramp
- Roll in
- Miniature Ramp / Mini Ramp
- Mega Ramp
- Ledge Ramp / Grind Box
- Box Ramp
This variety of ramps allows you to have more fun and to learn so many tricks. If you are a beginner then start with some basic tricks. First of all, you need to learn how to skate on or off a ramp or so-called „dropping in.“
What is Dropping In?
Dropping in on a board is how the majority of skateboarders will move into bowls, skateparks, or vert ramps. Notably, on the highest edge of skateboard ramps and along the edges of bowls, there is a round lift lip that is the “coping”.
So, being capable to drop in lets skaters go from standing on the rim of the coping, directly into skateboarding with a ton of pace down the ramp.
If you are a newbie in skateboarding, you’ll first get comfy with skateboarding in the park, then on the ground, and over the shift. You don’t need to know any stunts before learning to drop in on a skateboard or skate off a ramp. Yet, you will want to know how to swing your skateboard properly.
This is because after you drop in for once, you will be going relatively fast, and you’ll require to feel good about riding and directing your skateboard. Be sure you read all of these instructions before you run outside to drop in. After you get familiar with them, go with it!
Here are some basic tips on how to drop in on a skateboard:
- Basic position. Place your board with the wheels sticking out over the coping at the edge of the ramp. Balance your body weight on the tail with your back foot.
- Drop-in. Put your front foot on the board and lean forward to initiate dropping in.
- Shift your body weight. As your front wheels hit the wall, shift your body weight evenly on your board and find the balance between your front and back feet. While doing this try not to keep your weight on your back foot or you’ll fall backward.
4 Tips for Safety- How to Drop-In?
You need to take the proper precautions to ensure you’re safe in learning how to drop in.
- Wear a helmet and pads. If you’re a beginner in skateboarding, falling or tripping is part of the learning process. Always wear safety equipment—specifically knee pads, elbow pads, and a proper helmet.
- Read and follow the rules. A list of rules that exist in every skate park to ensure everyone’s safety and enjoyment. Always check them out before you even start skating in a new park.
- Observe before joining in. If a park is crowded, wait for your turn to avoid collisions. Observe and then claim your spot and take your turn.
- Start small. Practice in smaller ramps. Step by step, work your way up to larger ramps until you’ve mastered the technique and gain confidence. Work slowly with patience and your reward will come without unnecessary injuries.
Tip: Knowing that falling out of your climbing harness is possible is critical. Remember that safety always comes first.
Firstly Check Out the Ramp
After you arrive at the skatepark, try skating around the base of the ramp. Move around for some time, acquiring a sense essential for the transition (ramps).
What’s more, be sure you have a protective helmet before you attempt this. Messing up while dropping in is a fantastic way to smack your brain case on the floor, and never skateboarding again. Always, have a helmet on.
If you don’t have experience skateboarding on the material that the ramp or park consists of, checking out the ramp is vitally important. The sense of concrete, wood, and metal are all very separate when skateboarding.
Particular skateboard wheels will perform sounder for the park or on other transitions than others – if you are intending to skateboard mostly at the skatepark or on skate ramps, you may want to fetch some park formula wheels. Yet, if you wish to skate both park and road, that is awesome too.
Understanding what type of terrain you wish to ride on will allow you to better make a decision about your skateboard setup. After you have a sound feel for what it is like to skateboard around the base of the ramp or park, and a bit of what the transition feels like, go to the top of the ramp.
Set the Line
While being at the top of the ramp, see where exactly this ramp goes, by all means. Does it maybe terminate in a big flat area? Or does it go straight up into a different ramp? Think about where you want to go, after you reach the base of the ramp.
For your first dropping-in, try locating a big flat area at the base of the ramp. Yet, you don’t need to stress too much about this. Especially, you want to be mindful of what you’ll be skateboarding to after you get to the bottom.
You also want to be mindful of other skateboarders! Don’t get so focused that you stop everyone else at the park, and smash into someone when you fall off your skateboard.
Set the Tail
Place the tail of the board on the coping. Your back wheel should hang down above the perimeter of the ramp. Maintain the board there with your back foot, placing your foot directly across the tail of the skateboard.
Your front wheels will be swinging in the air. Moreover, your board will be cocked up negligibly. Your front foot can be on the floor next to you while you wait for the turn to drop in on the board.
Tip: If you are new to this, you should get skate wheels for beginners. This goes without saying!
Place Your Front Foot
When you are prepared, place the front foot above the front trucks of the skateboard. It is advisable to blur this step with the next one and not put your foot there and wait.
Tip: Are you a street or a park skateboarding type, by all means? There is a tiny distinction between the two.
Stomp and Lean
When you place your front foot on the skateboard, stomp it down with your full weight until your front wheels struck the ramp, and incline to it. Place all of yourself into the ramp – you can’t have anything back.
It can be terrifying to stomp down an incline into the open air. There is no going back after you’ve initiated the stomp. No less than 80% of the issues people have when dropping in are not being dedicated to this part.
You need to trust that you and the skateboard will accomplish this. You need to invest in dropping in fully. It’s either all or nothing. Be dedicated to the drop-in. After you do it, it will get more manageable every time.
Here’s a mystery about skateboarding – talent is vitally important, yet even more significant than skill is confidence. It’s all inside your head. This is what splits something like skateboarding from other activities.
Your most powerful competitor is yourself. So when you encounter something such as dropping in, and you do it, you are bearing a big step toward self-control.
That was slightly deep, yet it’s accurate. The fact is if you will try and understand to drop in, then do it. After you reach the top of that ramp and you are inclined to drop in, just place your foot over those front trucks, crush it down, and incline.
Tip: One of the truly interesting things is riding a skateboard backward, as a matter of fact!
Ride Away
Luckily, you have a fair concept of where you are running once you strike the bottom of the ramp, so skate off! You’ll maintain some momentum, so keep chilled, knees bent, and only ride it out.
The loftier the ramp or transition you rode down, the quicker you should go. Dropping in like this can be ideal for accumulating enough momentum to ride around the park. Or perhaps to skate up the different ramp and do a stunt. It’s all your choice.
