Once you've mastered the ability to get on and off your skateboard without falling, it's time to graduate to grinding, performing tricks and jumping off ramps. That can be hard if you're not down with the general skateboarding lingo. Skateboarding ramps come in several shapes and even more sizes, and learning more about them can help you become a more accomplished skater.
Half-pipe
Arguably the most iconic of all skateboard ramps, the half-pipe is so-named for its resemblance to a pipe cut in half and laid on its side. With a flat section in the middle and sides that raise up and curve, the half-pipe is a key type of ramp used by skateboarders to perform multiple series of tricks, turns and flips. Most half-pipes feature an area at the top of the ramp where you can start from, sending you over the edge and using the momentum to propel yourself to the other side of the ramp.
Quarter-pipe
Put simply, this ramp is half of a half-pipe. A quarter-pipe is often used because it's easy to transport around due to its smaller size. Skateboarders often put two quarter-pipes together back-to-back in order to create a unique set-up where the skater launches off one ramp and comes back down the other side.
Vert Ramp
A ver--or vertica--ramp is a more professional-looking ramp and is often found at skateparks rather than in the typical skateboarder's back yard. The vert ramp is a half-pipe with the sides built up so that they reach vertical for several feet before the top. This allow skaters to perform certain tricks that aren't possible on the quarter-pipe or even the half-pipe.
Mini-ramps
Any ramp that does not move toward vertical in its slope is generally referred to as a mini-ramp. Mini-ramps are usually simple, homemade structures designed for jumping obstacles or onto other surfaces.
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