BETA
Vert Ramp Physics
Skateboarders gain speed and height on a vert ramp by 'pumping'—squatting on the flat and standing up on the curved transition to do physical work against centrifugal force and raise their center of mass.
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
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!)
nic Massive ramps convert high gravitational potential energy into extreme speed and height.
Fun Fact
The 900 spin: Tony Hawk spent over ten years practicing the 900-degree spin before landing it in 1999.
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.
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.
Quiz
What physics principle explains why a skater spins faster when pulling their arms inward?
Quiz
What force keeps a skateboarder's wheels pressed against the ramp during a loop-the-loop?