Information AboutHalf-pipe |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT HALF-PIPE | |
| skateboarding | |
| snowboarding | |
| extreme sports | |
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A half-pipe is a structure used in gravity Extreme Sports such as Snowboarding , Skateboarding , freestyle BMX and Inline Skating . The structure is usually wood, although sometimes the surface is made of another material. Appearance wise, it resembles a cross section of a swimming-pool, and in its most basic form, it consists of two concave ramps (or Quarterpipes ), topped by copings and decks, facing each other across a transition. Originally half-pipes were simply half sections of a large pipe. Since the 1980's half-pipes have had extended flat ground (the ''flat bottom'') between the quarterpipes and the original style half-pipes have become curiosities. The flat ground gives the athlete time to regain balance after landing and more time to prepare for the next trick. The attraction of the half-pipe lies in the fact that a skilled athlete can play on it for an extended period of time, using a technique called pumping, to attain extreme velocities, while expending relatively little effort. Large (high Amplitude ) half-pipes make possible many of the aerial tricks in BMX, in-line skating and Skateboarding . For winter sports such as Freestyle Skiing or Snowboarding , a half-pipe can be dug out of the ground or created by piling snow up. The plane of the transition is oriented downhill at a slight grade to allow riders to use gravity to develop speed and facilitate drainage of melt. In the absence of snow, dug out half-pipes can be used by dirtboarders, motorcyclists, and Mountain Bikers . CONSTRUCTION Some ramps are constructed by spot-welding sheet metal to the frame, resulting in bumps and an uneven ride. Another common method is to screw sheets of plywood or masonite onto a wooden or steel frame. The surface might then be painted, or covered in sheet metal. Sometimes a section of the platform will be cut away to form a "roll-in". This allows skaters to commence a ride without dropping in, and perform tricks "over the gap". A roll-in is visible in the picture of Hulley's Ramp. Recent developments in technology have produced a substance called "HARD" - which is smooth, easily shaped, durable and (importantly) dries quickly after rain. The ramps at Homebush (http://www.monsterpark.com.au) in New South Wales and West Beach in South Australia are constructed of HARD covering a steel frame. SEE ALSO |
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