2. Carving ramps & bowls

In this skill we will get comfortable with carving while riding ramps and bowls

• Find a quarterpipe or miniramp.
• Approach the quarterpipe at an angle and turn by carving. Do not kick turn.
• When you can do this comfortably, approach the quarterpipe more directly. You will find this harder.
• If you find this difficult, learn it on a flat bank first
• Put some cones on the skatepark to carve around, adjusting them to give yourself a challenge.

When you can do back to back carves on a mini ramp you will have mastered the carve.

Carving a bowled out corner

Find a skatepark with a bowl, or with a bowled out corner section. Try and find a uniform corner without variations in depth. Ideally you want a 45 degree angle as it will be easier, but a uniform 90 degree corner will be OK.

The key to carving a bowled out corner is in getting the right:

• line (path)
• speed

Common mistakes

• Trying to go frontside. Backside is easier – turning on the toe edge.
• The biggest mistake is to approach the corner too directly. You need to carve up onto the flat section well in advance of the corner. i.e you shouldn’t be ascending as you hit the pocket of the corner.
• Not going fast enough.

Your line should go up the ramp in advance of the corner. Then your line should stay at the same height throughout the corner, before you carve down and out on the flat section on the other side of the corner.

The key here is that you shouldn’t actually be adjusting your carve as you’re in the pocket of the corner, because it’s difficult. All the adjustments you’re making with your toes should be happening on the flat sections before and after the corner because it’s much easier.

When you’re in the pocket of the corner you should simply be holding your line.