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.