Thurs sesh

We got together last Thursday to sesh the ramp. I skated for a total of 25 min at the end of the day. I got a little obsessed with building additional decks and ladders... But Mike Callhan, Cappetto, Owen and Little were all there ripping the stuff up!

First official sesh - Sunday Sunday Sunday Bears loose - Lou Wins!!

Sunday, I wanted to get the metal coping reset and replace the shitty pieces of masonite in the flat. But, when the dudes showed, they had one thing on the mind. SHRED! So yes, I agree - a virgin vert ramp indoors when it is 35 degrees and drizzle. Yes, this is what I have been waiting for!



Mike Callhan -

So I temporarily screwed down the deck and got some minor details worked out and the dudes started to ride. Cappetto, Mike Callahan, Jordon, Danny, Pat and USA Kevin were all on hand for the first official session. I was really apprehensive about the whole thing. I was so afraid that I was gonna hit the truss by dropping in or just kick turning. I was having nightmares all week about it.



After a long warm up period I finally dropped in on the side with the most room. then after a few more runs it was the short side. But my big ass still had 2' of clearance. It will scare the crap out of you though. I think it was mostly because we were the first to do it all and it is always scarey. Jordon had no problem doing 50/50s, lean to tails, inverts, etc. He even got a nice 2' air, clean and safe.

Callahan was ripping too, unit 540s and all the madness that is the Callahan. It was all starting to emerge. I think we were all just testing the boundaries today. Trying to see what was possible and what is not. But I think it will work. You just have to be very mindful of the truss and believe me, when you get up on the deck and look at them, you will. It is a huge test of faith to drop in but no problem at all.



I am really happy with the ramp itself. The flat feels just right, the transitions are tight but not terrible and the height is just right. It is what I was goin' for! I just have to do more detail work, and get things right in the barn now. Also, if any engineers out there could give advise on moving/modding the truss for more clearance it would be much appreciated!!

Thanks to all for your support and come down and shred with us!!

My only rule is do not show up when I am not shredding or unless you are in the know about a session. I do not live here and the barn will be locked. If you trespass, you may get your leg gnawed off by the dogs or worse, have to deal with my dad and his 12 gauge. It is not a threat, it is reality... You may just be haunted by the possum .

details, details

So after the first prelim sesh I learned that there are many many things that still need to be done. Friday and Saturday were spent securing the decks and getting some plywood along the truss on concrete coping side. That way we wont fall off the back. I had to lots of things to make it less scarey.

The place is just dangerous right now and I need to do a lot of things to make it safe. Callahan popped out way to far on an air and bonked his head on the truss. I was seriously bummed about this. I have been worried about this problem since the beginning. He ollied out instead of up. I decided to pad up the truss on both sides so when this happens it wont be such a big deal. He did not get hurt and just fell to flat. If you ollie out - that is what happens anyway - stay in the transition.

So we have lots to learn here. I also put the lights up so everything works for a night sesh. I just need to figure out the heat situation because it suddenly turned into winter here.

Gettin' it down and makin' it happen

Yes, this has been a long 8 weeks. Yes, I worked my ass off and Yes, it is done!! I got a few things done on Tuesday and then Mike Callahan and Cappetto came by and worked with me all day Thursday. We plyed the hell out of that damn thing people!! Dave came by too to offer some support and by 2:00 the masonite was down!

I had to do the wrong but right thing for now and put down three shitty pieces in the flat. One was an 1/8" instead of 1/4", and two others were busted. I did pick up the replacements on Saturday and will get them in this week so it will all look good. But as for now the ramp is ready!

Mike Owen showed up around noon and after we got it all together, Mike, Mike and Cappetto were shredding! I was still obsessed with getting the details finished and could barely concentrate. I took two runs and slammed across the flat both times. My trucks are soooooo loose that I am just not used to going fakie. Ha!

I still gots more to do this weekend.

keep plyin'

Wow! the ramp is getting closer and closer to completion!! I worked Saturday and Sunday this week. My usual Thursday and Friday time went to building furniture for my new place.. More on that on the other site.




A bunch of dudes were supposed to show but it was just me and Mike Callahan on Saturday. We got most of the second layer on. Not bad for just two people.



Sunday Dave Marevka and Pipefitter Mike came out early! And then Danny and Cappetto emerged and we had a good crew. Mike brought us some killer black pipe for the north end. Now I know some are not too happy with two different kinds of coping but if you want it a certain way - go build your own ramp... That is what I did!



SO anyway, Mike was dealing with my welder all day - it turns out that I had a spring missing on the spool and it was causing the mechanism to bind up while he was welding. SO what should have been an hour job took him all morning. Sorry Mike! But he did a great job!

Dave, Danny, Cappetto and I worked on finishing the second layer. Once we got all that done, it was time for a little second layer sesh. Of course, Dave did all the tricks that I'll be working on all winter! And this was with all of the beams and garage door supports still in the way!! Good stuff!



SO our next task was to remove all that stuff. Dave and I came up with a compromise on the center beam. We cut out the sections that lay above the lip of each ramp end. But to keep the barn from twisting in high winds we cut out notches at either end of a 2 x 6 and made a quick release support. So when I want to skate I pop it out and when I am done, I pop it back into place and that center tie beam serves the same purpose. I think this should be good! We also cut off those roll up door rails. So we all get to keep our foreheads now!



After that, it was time for Masonite!! I wanted to hang each piece from the coping down and then have the half sheet in the center of the ramp. This is a pain, you need at least 3 dudes to hang one sheet of masonite. I kept thinking I wonder what they do for a 15 footer! We ended up getting the south end of the ramp done and hope to finish it on Thursday or Friday!!








Mike got the coping ready and we also installed that at the very end of the day. He is a pipefitter so the job was done very well! He welded bolts on to one end and we bolted the coping into the ramp. This way there are no holes in the coping. sweet!! He did a great job on that one thanks again Mike!! And to all the dudes who came out again. This phase would be very difficult on my own.

More ply More ply Sunday Sunday

I have a special post on the other blog expskate.blogspot.com. Check it and consider. Once this thing is finished, I'll be posting on there. This is just for the construction phase.

I got up bright and early this morning, headed out of the city with the Calabro van and picked up the masonite. I picked up Callahan and paid $2.65 a gallon for gas! Yes people, Lowell, IN. So today, driving the gas guzzler was not so bad. Nick was there when we arrived and the three of us got to work. All was going well, I did mess up and had to cut down two rows of ply. I swear that I measured it all but master carpenter I am NOT!



We were making good time this morning and had one quarter pipe nearly done and I had just started the other side when Dave and Mike arrived. Dave pointed out the obvious (thank goodness). I did not arrange the plywood so each end was bordering on transition a transition template or support. We had them centered on each 2 x 4 but not on the seam between two sheets. The way I had it was more economical board and $$ wise but there was a danger of breaking through, even with three layers.



This was very difficult to do but we had to take everything off! But then we got lucky because Danny, Eric and Juan showed up and we had like 7 dudes and 7 drills and 14 hands!!! So, they got to work pulling the plywood off the ramp and I tried to keep up cutting the boards down. I had to cut them all down because I had two 6' wide Q-pipes and a 94 1/4" Q-pipe. It was a lot of extra work but now I can sleep easy because we did the right thing.



Once that initial pain in the nether regions began to fade it was buisiness as usual. We all did our part and put in 100%. I am totally grateful to all that showed today and yesterday. Thanks a big bunch dudes!! You all totally rock!



So we got cranking. My cuts were not the greatest but I did what I could. Juan had to do some surgery on one of the transition templates. I had a bump that was causing part of the seam to rise 1/2" out. So he took a hammer and chisel and chewed it back to about 3/16". I did sand the edges and when I had all the templates piled up they seemed to be true. I was really bummed about that one too. You do all of that work and when the plywood goes on all of the problems reveal themselves! Eric pointed out that I am not TEAM PAIN. And he is right, I actually felt better after he said that.




I did my best and you have to learn from each experience. I was working with a lot of donated/found wood that had to be dealt with as is and space limitations are in effect as well. So I couldn't just blast away with three true 8' Q-pipes and have it all work out. If I had to do it all over again, I still couldn't do that because the space does not allow a 24' wide ramp...




Anyway, everyone is stoked on the ramp now and that makes me very happy!! Dave couldn't help himself and jumped in on the ramp while we were still plying it! He was blasting past 2 x 4s, saw dust, drills and screws!! Pretty gnar. He rips it for sure! SO we were getting some little runs in as things were winding down. I know you are not supposed to ride with only one ply but these dudes were getting pretty jonesed out!





So for this week, we ended up with the first layer down. It should go much faster now since I won't have to do so many cut downs with the next layer. I will however need to get more 3/8s because of all the cutting but no biggie. Just more $$. ugh



I am really happy with the way it is all turning out. And nobody bonked their head on the truss, yet! I will have to figure out the bracing once the center board is cut out. More to come!

I have some footy of Dave with the first run!

50 sheets and ready 10/22-25

This week was all about getting the ramp ready for plywood. I got pretty sick on Tuesday so no work there. I was actually out there trying to do some work but the world was spinning and my breakfast kept flying out of my mouth. Not too fun!! But I am feeling way better now!

Thursday was spent doubling up the flat and getting more of the odds and ends tied up. Friday was very busy - had a Doc apt and then looked at an apartment which I took by the way!! Oh yes! Independence once again!



Friday afternoon, I went to pick up 40 sheets of 3/8" for the first two layers of the ramp. I had 10 already so I hope this will be enough. Most of those 10 are odd sheets though? I guess MR Karate used all the good and true 4' x 8' sheets to build the bank at the carwash?



Just as I arrived, a total down pour was in full form. I was so pissed that I just baja'd the van straight on back to the barn. (Not really but I was really worried all day that it would rain and then I would get stuck back there!) When I brought the first load of wood, it rained all weekend. I had to trailer it back with the lawn mower and a tarp. But luckily the ground was firm enough and the rain stopped for a bit!



So I got it all unloaded and ready for Saturday. My old buddy Dave Marevka came by to check out the ramp - he was stoked!



I am staying in the city all week cat sitting. So I had to head back to Bryn Mar after Man-Night at Eric's place. A very long day! I got back around 9am Saturday morning. I was kinda out of it, I could not sleep last night! All I could think about was the ramp. I was a bit worried about the truss situation again and may have to support the 3 inner truss once I take out the center beam.



I got a bunch done early - tying the north deck all together with the ramp and finishing all of that off. I also double braced the lower most transitions. I started to get worried about that. Mike Callahan showed up around noon and Pat sk8 appeared soon after so I got some great help today!! Thanks!



After much piddling around on my part I finally got the first layer of plywood going. It was really slow at first but once we got going it began to flow well. We got the flat bottom plyed and a few of the drills went dead and we were running out of time for the day. So, I called it. But we did take the form off of the concrete coping!







It was like X-mas day! only EVIL! The pour came out pretty RAD. There is only one spot where the 'crete did not separate properly and I have some pitting from the rocks falling out. I will patch that part up but the rest appears to be good. I'll have to do some polishing and grinding but for the most part, the coping seems to look like it should! I am gonna dream about that coping tonight!



So it was a good days work and more dudes are supposed to show tomorrow!! SO I hope we can get more progress 2mro!!!!! Thanks again to Mike and Pat!

Pour that coping FOO! 10/19

Finally the moment I have been dreaming about!! Let me tell you I lay awake many nights dreaming about doing some concrete work!! I so wish that I could score a summer job next year working for one of the crews out there and just pouring pools! Well, this is my first so hopefully it will work out!!

I got up bright and early this morning with one thing in mind, pour that coping boy! I got my wheel barrel out, a shiny new bucket, an empty 1 gallon milk jug and a stack of Quickcrete! I was ready to go! So the first batch well, it was windy and half of my material went across the land. SO I got smart the second time around and closed the barn door! It gets windy out here.



I mixed up according to directions and then added a little more water to get that nice workable mud. I hooked up my ladder so it was right next to wheel barrel. My plan was to shovel the crete into the bucket and carry it up the latter and dump the crete into the form. This went very well. It would have been less taxing with two or three guys there but for a one man show all was well!!.



I had fun using my little concrete trough and giggling the concrete into place. I had to shake the ramp and pound on the form with a hammer and 2 x 4. I eventually realized that if I ran the jigsaw on the edge of the ramp, that would get the vibrating feel a bit better to consolidate the crete. I'll do that next time I guess.




But all in all it went well. I did run out though, I was one bag short, so I had to rush out and get another. But the air bubbles started to come up and I giggled it again and it seems to be setting up pretty well. I just hope it stays up there and doesn't crack up and send little rocks flying everywhere on the ramp...