Pumping and kickturns in a small ramp
Ready when: Tic-tac and kickturns on flat (b6) done.
What you are learning
Riding a small ramp: up one wall forward, back down backward (fakie), and pumping (bending in the curve and straightening as the ramp rises) to keep speed without pushing. Then the kickturn low in the curve to turn round.
Words on this card Deck, Push, Kickturn, Mini ramp, Pumping, Fakie, Line
- Deck
- The board; its front end and its back end, both curved up.
- Push
- Pushing along the ground with the back foot, then riding without pushing.
- Kickturn
- Pressing the tail down so the front wheels lift, and turning on the back wheels.
- Mini ramp
- A small U-shaped ramp; its curved part is the transition.
- Pumping
- Bending and straightening the legs in a ramp's curve to gain speed without pushing.
- Fakie
- Riding backward in your normal stance; riding in the opposite stance.
- Line
- The path a skater is taking through the park.
Set up
Helmet, knee and elbow pads; take turns with others.
Weather: dry, quiet time
Show it first for the one teaching
- Roll in from the flat, ride up the wall a little and let the board roll back down backward.
- In the curve, bend the knees, then push the legs straight as the wall rises, swinging the arms in rhythm.
- Low in the curve, kickturn round, starting the turn with the front shoulder.
Your part while they practise
Watch from the deck or the side; keep the line clear.
Step by step
- Roll in from the flat.
- Ride up the wall forward and back down backward (fakie).
- Straighten the legs in the curve and swing the arms in rhythm.
- Then kickturns low in the curve from slow speed, the front shoulder starting the turn.
How much: 5 runs 15 min a session once a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Pump together
Two skaters pump side by side and try to reach the same height at the same moment.
Who plays: the child alone against their best, or 2 friends in a wide ramp; you count.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Take turns, or ride together only if the ramp is wide enough
- Pump back and forth without pushing
- Count the pumps before stepping off. 3 runs each
- Fair play
- Take turns; the next rider waits on the deck.
- Points
- 1 point for each pump back and forth; 2 points for each kickturn landed.
- Fouls
- The run ends
- Riding into another skater's line
- A push with the foot
- Leaning back down the wall and sliding out
- Winning
- Beat your best run.
- 5 points for 1 star
- 10 points for 2 stars
- 15 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Straighten the legs only going up.
Arms folded; kickturns nearer the top.
What you will see, and what to say
- the rider leans back down the wall
Stay over the board
Chest over feet. - the turn swings wide
Turn with the front shoulder
Shoulder first.
Self-check
5 pumps back and forth without stepping off; 3 kickturns each way low in the curve.
Stop and get a coach when
The ramp is busy or the child is afraid; get a lesson.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains riding transitions, fakie, ramp turns.
Basic is done when the child meets the self-checks on b1 to b7.
awiseathlete.com/sports/skateboarding/skateboarding-b7