| Step one | | | | helmet and pads on all your knobbly bits. |
| Hopefully you know how to skateboard already, if not | | | | Step four |
| you ain't ready for the vert ramp. Make sure you | | | | Unless you are a crazy loon or a particularly confident |
| know all the basics well. Practice on a mini ramp | | | | skater you probably won't want to just go leaping off |
| before you consider the vert. It's a good step to take | | | | the top, start off at the bottom and build up speed |
| before you start mixing with the big boys. You need to | | | | pumping each side of the ramp. This will acclimatise |
| be able to pull off some tricks on mini ramp with | | | | you to the vert ramp; keep going until to be |
| confidence, comfort and style. The better the skater | | | | comfortable enough to hit the top of the ramp a few |
| you are the more you will enjoy your experience at | | | | times, and get down again in one piece... |
| the vert ramp, and the less likely you are to be ending | | | | Step five |
| the experience in hospital... | | | | OK its now or never, time for the first drop in. Build up |
| Step two | | | | the courage; check that the way is clear, make sure |
| Check out a few vert ramps first so you can get | | | | there isn't a fellow skater flattened at the bottom. If |
| used to the height of them before throwing yourself | | | | you clip someone else on the way down you could |
| off. They are a lot higher at the top than they look at | | | | create some carnage. It's a good idea to try you first |
| the bottom. Getting used to this will help you when on | | | | run in an empty or nearly empty ramp, not only to |
| your first run. It's a bit late to discover you have vertigo | | | | avoid maiming others but to save you own humiliation... |
| when you are on the edge with your board at your | | | | Step six |
| feet. | | | | Go for it, take a deep breath and go with the adrenalin. |
| Step three | | | | Don't panic and try to relax and be confident. If you do |
| This is dangerous game so make sure you have | | | | have a spill don't give up, if you're a decent skater you |
| some decent safety equipment. It's highly likely that you | | | | will soon pick it up and be performing killer tricks before |
| go sprawling across the ramp at some point so | | | | you know it. |
| prepare for it as best you can. Make sure you have a | | | | |