The M.E.S.S. guys will tell you backyard contests are (were) what it’s all about. Are there any vert contests beside the televised marketing vehicles of the X-Games and the AST Dew Tour? Well, in the U.K. there is the, uhm, U.K. Independent Vert Series, that looks like it’s just an excuse for vert riders to get together and skate with other vert riders in different areas. There’s a point ranking and a paltry purse at the end of the year. The editor of Europeskate (Jonathan Young) says there’s a small but dedicated scene of vert riders, although he didn’t say whether or not they still make fun of freestylers. There’s some video from something called the Blackpool Seaside Session contest which was at some undisclosed date in 2008. Watch Sean Goff take some hard slams after the jump.
[Source: Europeskate]
U.K. Independent Vert Series video from
the 2008 Blackpool Seaside Session
UPDATE: Well these videos have disappeared with the demise of Macromedia and the Shockwave format.
9 comments
Animal Chin
Lets get a vert ramp of course Kilwag will say no one will ride it I will. So build me one. 1 of 19. Thats all Do IT.
Kilwag
Animal Chin, The Doctor, Elton Johns… pick one alter ego and stick with it!
Maybe you should move to the UK. I hear they have vert ramps there.
Animal Doctor Johns
The Dimension I would like is 42 feet wide 10 foot transition 1.5 feet of vert. Anything elese?
nweyesk8
we have a few vert ramp type parks that we could organize a small vert series in oregon. I bet we could even come up with a paltry purse at the end of the summer season. the only rules to enter, you are required to wear knee pads and helmet,any other safety gear is optional.
Kilwag
Do you lose points if you go into a bowled corner?
Are pads required just for a sense of retro authenticity? I mean, are you constructing a sort of Colonial Williamsburg for vert contests?
Animal Doctor Johns
All this talk is useless because we don’t have a vert ramp. Saying we have vert elements in our parks is the equivelent to saying i have a race car because I own a a car. Big diff guys.
nweyesk8
I can easily skate Newberg’s vert area like a vert ramp, there is a vert ramp in hood river. If you ignore the full pipe and shallow end, pier park is a pretty good vert ramp also. Besides I have a race car cause I drive it like one:)
kvon
Anyone know where I can find free plans on the internet for a proper back yard vert ramp?
Kilwag
ramp plans – http://rampplans.org/
more plans & good advice: http://www.diyskate.com/ramps.html