Freestyle Has anyone ever built a ramp jump?

[High Speed Industries]

Like the title says. I'm wondering if anyone has ever built a ramp jump. I've always had the wild idea of building one, but I've never done it. I don't need a crazy big one or anything, I just think it would be fun to try. If I can get a few buddies to go in on it with me I don't think it will cost much. I just don't have any idea where to start. If you have experience or some ideas feel free to chime in.

What would I use for flotation?
Old dock float?
55 gal drums?
Old tractor tires?

What about a deck?
Some sort of wood or plastic? Would a replaceable deck be a good idea? I can imagine that the skis would tear it up.

What kind of structure?
I would think metal of some sort. It wouldn't sit in water 24/7 so I think steel would be fine.

How do I get it out there?
Do I just find a flatbed to put it on and get a few buddies to help load it?
I also had the idea of making the frame with an axle. So essentially the ramp would be a trailer. Then you just back it in the water and tow it out when you are done.

If I actually end up building one I think it would be staying at a friends house in Lake Havasu City, AZ so I could use it at body beach. Who knows, if I actually make one maybe I can have it out there for finals.

 

[crazy4sand]

I've looked into it before theirs a thread on here somewhere

For floatation I'd use 4 55gallon plastic drums

 

[crazy4sand]

This was my inspiration 4-5 years ago, but now I have no desire to hit one with my new a.m hull because of the set back pump and all

 

[High Speed Industries]

Sweet video.
I think it would be easy to build a ramp thats like 5'x10' or 6'x12'. Maybe only 4-5' tall. I don't need anything crazy like the one in that video. I just need to sit down and draw something up to make it happen.

Edit:
I found plastic drums on CL for $10 each and I have a single place ski trailer that I'll donate to the cause. ( I don't know if it will be big enough)
This might be easier than I thought.

I wonder what dimensions will work best and if it should be a straight or curved ramp.

 

[Vumad]

The guys that own the pro-hydro cross have one. About 6' tall. I jumped it a few times. Was pretty cool. Didn't get any pictures though.

@Hooligan-245

 

[madd_dips]

Use drums. And put pumps in the so u can submerge the front of the ramp. We used to make wakeboard ramps all the time and hit them with the skis

 

[RyanO]

Our ramp at work is pretty fun... This is a pic of me doing a 180, took a few goes to get down. You have to initiate the rotation on the water by sliding the ski 5ft before the ramp.

we have 3 ramps. 2 x 5ft and 1 x 12ft (in picture). We also used to have a fun slider that was 4ft wide and 30ft long that sat about 1.5ft out of the water but it beat up the hulls to much if you cased the radiused front edge.

 

[Bradski]

Back in the day in region 6, we used to have a ramp jump. This was built by Doug Lavlin & John Shuper. It was made of aluminum & high grade pvc pipes. It worked pretty well overall. In Pro-Am ski motos then we'd have 20 riders on the line and the ramp would hold together most of the time. Sometimes, it would break apart... Overall a brilliant idea and added some real excitment to racing. This ramp pic below was taken from the Can-Am cup, where there were thousands of people on a pier looking down on the ramp jump, a major crowd attraction!

 

[zimmy]

This was my inspiration 4-5 years ago, but now I have no desire to hit one with my new a.m hull because of the set back pump and all

Wow! That turd50 actually got some respectable air! Full commitment on that one, respect to the rider!

 

[unstopapaul]

Ive hit two different stlye ramp jumps at work and daydreamed about making them better. The mobile ramp folded up into a flatbed trailer with removable axle/tires and skis went on top for transportation. We anchored the ramp because the wind would take it. My dream ramp would be built with billions of rollerblade wheels (how to keep bearings from rusting out is a mystery) so when I hit it i wouldnt lose any speed. It would be angled like a skate ramp and I would pay a lota attention to the transition point from water to ramp because the impact is big. I also would want a suddle v ish shape in the middle of the ramp for a sweet spot. Good luck with the build, I live near the ocean and have no need.

 

[OCD Solutions]

A couple of my buddies just bought a cable tow system for wakeboarding and it came with several floating fixtures, (ramps). There are plans all over the internet for building cost effective ramps.

 

[Conquistador]

Back in the day in region 6, we used to have a ramp jump. This was built by Doug Lavlin & John Shuper. It was made of aluminum & high grade pvc pipes. It worked pretty well overall. In Pro-Am ski motos then we'd have 20 riders on the line and the ramp would hold together most of the time. Sometimes, it would break apart... Overall a brilliant idea and added some real excitment to racing. This ramp pic below was taken from the Can-Am cup, where there were thousands of people on a pier looking down on the ramp jump, a major crowd attraction!

The pvc looks like it would keep you straight.

 

[High Speed Industries]

I like the ramp in that pro rider picture, but I think that is bigger than what I want to build the first time around. I'll search out some plans on the internet, if you guys happen to see some good plans feel free to post them here. I'll probably build a ramp during winter. When I build it I'll make sure to do a build thread. So far I'm really liking the single place trailer idea because it would be easy to transport and I'd just leave the wheels on it while it's in the water. I'll just have to measure the trailer and decide how big to go. I think the height of the ramp will be the hardest decision. I'd like a tall ramp, but I'm worried about the transition from the water. I don't want to be breaking engine mounts and intake grates because the transition is so harsh.

 

[Quinc]