In Fall of 2018 I carried out a childhood dream of mine: building a skateboard ramp in my backyard. I designed the skate ramp in Solidworks, sourced materials from a local supplier, and facilitated their delivery to my backyard. Together with a group of friends we built the ramp over the course of two weekends.

I chose masonite as the top surface due to it being harder than plywood, providing low rolling resistance for the small skateboard wheels. Underneath the masonite was two layers of flexible 3/8 inch plywood. The frame was build with 2x4s and 3/4 inch plywood. For the coping I chose 2” OD schedule 40 steel pipe due to its thickness and durability under metal skateboard trucks. I created a custom form and poured pool coping blocks with high strength 5500 PSI concrete to attach to the bumpout.

The final ramp dimensions were 12 feet wide, 25 feet long, and 3.5 feet high with a 5.5 foot bumpount. I used a 6.5 foot radius. The ramp was made entirely using screws so it could be disassembled and passed onto the next owner, which is exactly what happened when I moved out of this house in 2021.