How tall can the roll-in hills of skateboarding Mega Ramps be?

The physics of skateboarding

Chapter 1

The ollie and the laws of motion

Chapter 2

Energy and momentum on vert ramps

Chapter 3

Street geometry and balance

Chapter 4

The materials science of skateboards

Ch 2 · Energy and momentum on vert ramps

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BETA

nic Time your board flips to discover how gravity and momentum control skateboard tricks.

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nic The extreme mega ramp leap

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nic Spinning in three dimensions

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nic Pumping the transition for speed

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nic Staying glued to the wall

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nic Vert Ramp Physics

Squat on the flat, stand up on the curve! (Pump it up!) Defy gravity with a massive speed surge! (Oh yeah!)

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nic Massive ramps convert high gravitational potential energy into extreme speed and height.

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Fun Fact

The 900 spin: Tony Hawk spent over ten years practicing the 900-degree spin before landing it in 1999.

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nic Tucking arms close to the body increases spin speed during aerial rotations.

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Glossary

pumping (noun)
The act of moving something up and down or back and forth to generate force or motion. Tony Hawk demonstrated this method to gain speed on curved walls at the 2024 Vert Alert.

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Quiz

What physics principle explains why a skater spins faster when pulling their arms inward?

Jul 30

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Gossip

Would you ever try riding a skateboard loop-the-loop?

Jul 30

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Quiz

Who was the first skateboarder to land a 900-degree spin in 1999?

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Quiz

What speed can skateboarders reach on a Mega Ramp roll-in?

Jul 30

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Quiz

What type of energy is stored when a skateboarder stands at the top of a high ramp?