Vert skateboarding
Vert skateboarding is the act of riding a skateboard on a skate ramp or other incline and involves the skateboarder transitioning from the horizontal plane to the vertical plane in order to perform skateboarding tricks.[1]
History
Vert skateboarding has its genesis in "pool riding" - the riding of skateboards in emptied backyard swimming pools - during the 1970s.[2] As riders moved from general street skateboarding and occasional "pool riding" into purpose-built skate parks, vert skateboarding became more popular. Skateboarders began to develop, and then practice, tricks and techniques specifically for vert skateboarding.[3]
Vert skateboarding became a common style of skateboarding and was introduced into many competitions and events including the X Games and the Maloof Money Cup.[4]
In 2008 ESPN and X Games organisers announced that vert skateboarding would be removed from X Games competitions in favour of free-movement skate-park-style courses where participants would still be able to perform vert skateboarding tricks but would need to do so in combination with other street skateboarding elements.[5] After public condemnation from professional skateboarders Bob Burnquist, Tony Hawk and others, organisers re-instated vert skateboarding.[5]
However, in 2011 ESPN announced that the X Games would no longer feature a Women's Vert Skateboarding event, citing a lack of, "a growing participant base, an established annual competition schedule" and, "myriad other factors". Professional skateboarder Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins said the decision would, "end the growth for women's vert skating as we know it".[6]
Despite waning support for standalone competition vert skateboarding, vert ramps (often in the form of half-pipes, quarter-pipes or bowls) are present in most modern skateparks.
Skateboard set-up
For vert skateboarding, riders usually set-up their boards with 55mm (or larger) wheels and wider decks for more stability.[2][7]
See also
- Dropping in
- Vert Skating (inline skating)
References and sources
- ↑ Vert Skating: Mastering the Ramp by Jeff Savage (Capstone, 2005)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Science and Art of Skateboard Design: How Boards Have Changed Over Time (Exploratorium)
- ↑ Loveletters To Skateboarding: Style by Blair Alley (Transworld Skateboarding, 31 August 2012) [video]
- ↑ Maloof Announces Vert Skaters For South Africa by Blair Alley (Transworld Skateboarding, 20 September 2012)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 X Games Re-Instates Vert Competition After Heat from Pro Skaterboarders + BMX Riders by Ryley Bane (Label Networks, 2008)
- ↑ X Games cancels women's Skate Vert by Matt Higgins (ESPN.com, 31 May 2011)
- ↑ Skateboard Guide and Skate Size Chart (Evo.com)
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