Here is a video clip shot back in 2000 at an event called the Cybernet 2000 Festival. We brought out the Red Bull Vert Ramp and had Tony Hawk and Ryan Sheckler come out and do a little doubles skateboarding. I remember this day very well because it was the first day that I dropped in on the ramp and I ended up busting my elbow. I had to shoot this video clip with a busted elbow which sucked and needless to say that was the day my vert career ended and it was very short lived. Anyway Ryan was a little kid back then and he could skate vert pretty good. The ramp was very slick and and hard to skate but those guys ripped it up anyway. Until I rendered myself useless I was part of the set up crew for the vert ramp. Everything went so fast because it is all built out of steel and a forklift can move all of the heavy parts around with ease. The Red Bull ramp actually snaps together in 4 foot sections with the deck and coping. All of the transitions get connected on the ground and you just stand it up and pop it into place and this is all done in about 4 hours.
Tag Archive | "Red Bull Vert Ramp"
Shaqtacular Skateboarding Event
Posted on 24 February 2008
It’s Saturday morning and I find myself once again heading out to Barker Hanger at the Santa Monica Airport for another great skate/charity event. Last time, we were there for the Neil Bogart Foundation, this time it was for Shaquille O’Neil’s annual charity fundraiser “SHAQTACULAR”, which raises money for inner city children. We were all happy to be there because it was just another way for us skateboarders to show we can donate our time and skills to a worthy cause.
The team line up was amazing. We had X-Games gold medallist Pierre-Luc Gagnon, Rune Glifberg, Chad Vogt, Brian Patch, Jake Brown, Mathias Ringstrom, Danny Mayer, Cara-Beth Burnside, Mimi Knoop, Holly Lyons and myself (Jeff Ferris) announcing the event as well as throwing in a few skate runs here and there.
There was a little bit of an issue getting a P.A. system there, but thanks to Power 106 FM, they hooked us up with some sound. Many thanks to them as well as Red Bull, Spohn Ranch, Inc. for donating the ramp and set up of the equipment and Stuart Hall for organizing the whole skate section of this event.
We had the Red Bull vert-ramp for us to play on, which many of these skaters know quite well from competitions and other demos. It’s a great ramp and these skaters were more than ready to show off their skills.
The 2nd session included a “mock” best trick contest that evolved into that for some. Others just kept the session flowing with regular runs. Chad Vogt was going for it at full force, trying a trick that has won him top honors in best trick contests before. After many attempts, he pulled it, to the amazement of the audience, as well as all the skaters on top of the ramp. Let’s see if I can call this trick right. He pulled a frontside nollie heelflip to disaster with a revert back in. For those of you who know skate tricks out there, just imagine this being done on the massive 13-feet tall Red Bull vert-ramp! I even hoped in and pulled a ho ho plant after 5 or so unsuccessful tries, but did eventually pull it.
Other trick highlights include back to back huge airs and 540’s by Jake Brown, along with what has become almost his signature trick, a double kick flip mute grab. Mathias Ringstrom skated strong as he pulled almost every flip trick and big varial combination imaginable. Pierre-Luc Gagnon showed us how he took first in 2002 X-Games by blasting consistently on every wall with any trick you can think of, from 540’s to flawless kickflips to cab heelflips. Rune Glifberg, always a crowd favorite was a lot of fun to watch as he is one of the smoothest skaters, pulling back to back 540’s, tweaked out back and frontside tail grabs and Madonna’s and blowing our minds with a backside kickflip to disaster. Brian Patch joined us in the 2nd session, 68 mm wheels and all, coming back and ripping with a still healing knee injury, so a big thanks to Brian for stepping up! Also showing us his smooth style with huge airs was Danny Mayer.
The girl skate team closed out the last show! Cara-Beth Burnside, Holly Lyons and Mimi Knoop all showed off their skills to the delighted audience. Cara-Beth busted fast grinds, backside airs with a few inverts thrown in. Mimi was throwing down some nice frontside airs and edged out grinds. Holly ripped the backside and frontside airs becoming a crowd favorite, not too mention getting plugs from the Power 106 FM guys! In a quote I heard directly from one of their DJ’s, “Rad skating and hot chicks, does it get any better than that?!” I think that summed up that session right there.
All in all, another successful day of skating all for a great cause! We’d like to thank every skater involved as they completely donated their time and once again showing that skateboarders are always willing to help and give back to the community! Big thanks again to all involved making this a “Shaqtacular” day! Ha. I know that was cheesy…ok, signing off… = Jeff Ferris
Red Bull Vert Ramp
Powered by FireStats