Ok, I approached skating this ramp very much the same way I did the first time I ever skated a ramp period; with high hopes and dreams but with a harsh reality of inability and fear. That is right, nothing comes easy. Yep, this has all gone down just like it did on the big Pink Ramp in Levy, AR where I learned to skate Vert. It was eighth grade and my friend Scott Watson had been telling us about going to this ramp in Levy. It was 10ft tall, 24 ft wide, 1 ft of vert, a roll-in channel on one side and surfaced in pink fiber glass - it was sick. It had just appeared on the cover of Transword Skateboarding Magazine and been the site of a pro/am competition. Apparently Christian Hosoi came to town for the competiton and has an illegitimate child still running around Little Rock. This place was legendary for Little Rock.
That first day I thought I might drop in and do some grinds, maybe hit up the roll in channel and attempt an air or two, I thought maybe I would get lucky and pull off a Rock-n-Roll. I thought I could pull off tricks I could do on my finger board riding my text book, like I did back in history class every day. Hilarious!!! Right!!! Nope!!!
I remember having all these aspirations though when I got on that ramp, I could barely stand up as the board hit the earliest part of the transitions. I learned how to pump the very bottom portion of the ramp, that was about it my first day. I may have pulled off some back side kick turns along with pumping back and forth. So do some grinds, yeah right, not my first day. I remember being sort of crushed like a girl friend not kissing you good night. I did not give up, I went back to that ramp as often as I could and eventually started hitting some coping and doing some grinds after a dozen visits or so. Eventually after skating it a year Indy Airs above coping, stand up grinds, nose pickers and fakie ollies were my thing. Awe yes, a bag of tricks and many new ones to learn, it became the life but only after a rough start that was filled with discouragement and fear. Kind of like I feel now.
The ramp is finished for the most part, this was done over the past weekend where I finished screwing down the surface, painted the outer wood (not the surface) and caulked all the seams. Tonight I will finish rigging my tarp system. I could build some rails on the decks but I am not in a hurry for that. Other than that, it is open for a session. we'll see, maybe this weekend.
So what is my problem? O yeah, the skating part. Well, I pump back and forth on the ramp, do front side and back side kick turns. I attempted grinding and fakie rocks but have not pulled anything off yet. I have stood at the top of the ramp thinking of dropping in but have not. Pathetic I know but eventually I will drop in when I am ready. Dropping in is the key to a whole other bag of tricks, then grinds, 50/50's and rock and rolls. It is not coming back quick, oddly enough, almost the same pace as when I learned. I will say that I am further along in the feel of the ramp than when I was younger, then again I don't have near the fearlessness either. It is like learning how to skate all over again in some ways. I know that in a week I can skate the ramp. maybe next week I can do a grind and drop in. I need courage is all, don't want to hurt myself, not to worry, I have all the pads. Ok guys, its almost 5, gotta go.
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