RADBMX.CO.UK
New School BMX 2004 - Now => New School Park, Street & Dirt => Topic started by: markatkins on December 05, 2009, 09:05 AM
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I remember in the late 80s when skate vert was huge and then it just ended and all went to street.
Im starting to feel that bmx vert could one day go that way. Being mainly a vert rider i hope not but no one seems to ride vert now. In the UK i bet theres only 20 max who are well into vert and its always the same names in the states.
Its pretty mad how no young riders want to get into vert always saying the ramps are just too big etc.
Have to wait and see what happens eh.........maybe the older guys on RADBMX should join me at Corby for a vert session!
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i think the % of vert riders has always been low as its scarry as hell
had a dable at it in the mid 90s at radlands and a few months at leigh on sea
just couldnt get the feel or nuts to just bust at full bore..the young ones i just dont know
one day it might all go mad and youll struggle for ramp time...as you know it can just happen...i hope it does.
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I think your right mark vert is dying whether we like it or not and it has been since the early 90's, people thought the vert ramp at corby was gonna encourage people into vert but it doesn't seem to have gone that way, I rode corby on thursday afternoon the park had around 25-30 riders in but the lights were off on the vert their just not interested in it, in fact every time i have been to corby i haven't seen anyone using the vert, this explains why there are so few vert ramps around.
Its a difficult situation I think as the uk needed a competition level vert ramp to produce pro level riders but because competition level vert ramps are so big kids just dont go near it, the risk factor is high as the ramps are so big, chances are your not gonna walk away if you fook up the simplest of moves such as rolling in, also is a 12 year old gonna get a bigger buzz riding vert than the rest of the park? its questionable.
Its a shame but look at the age of the pro vert riders and most of them are our age, this situation is not sustainable for that much longer so what then?
Whats really annoying is when you see people like wade, hawk doing 14 foot airs on 11 foot quaters, they would be so good on vert if they would ride it!
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You should let me know when you ride Corby next and ill come down.
Corby vert is always dead, apart from kids using the resi as a slide and everyone wanting to learn flairs.
We have the vert to ourselves. I often sit on the ramp and think, fook, bitd this ramp would have been full with riders!
Your right about some of the park riders blasting massive airs. Some of them say vert is scary but they still manage to get over 10ft with a piss pot on lol. Would be good to see how some of them rode vert.
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Yeah sorry mark I would have let you know but I threw the bike in and didn't know when I was gonna get the chance to go, gonna be going at least once a month now as got regular work down there.
I bumped into Waddy on thursday and rode with him all afternoon which was cool, rode mini though not vert hehe.
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I think one of the problems is Vert Ramps, I mean there isn't as many vert ramps as mini ramps in the country and kids ride what is available and more importantly what is fashionable. Now I have only watched the Uk scene from afar for many years as I moved to Spain around the time of Mid school but here I guess is like everywhere else albeit on a smaller scale than the Uk because it's still a fairly new sport here.
(BITD) - Those 4 favourite letters for the over 35's, people who rode BMX rode everything there was Tracks, Ramps,Street & Flatland now it has all been segrigated (Sp) into what seems to be different sports. I think it was Jamie Bestwick who said in an interview at the worlds that Street & Park are so popular because it's easier and quicker to get results in these disciplins than in Vert or Flatland which require much more practice and patience.
Cheers,
Steve :daumenhoch:
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Nice pic Glen. I know Corby is a big ramp but once your are used to it its alot of safer then smaller vert ramps.
The 2 ft of vert should not put riders off as the higher you go the less vert it feels. Theres just a few barriers with the big ramps and once you have passed them your laughing.
Ive always said with vert no matter how big they are it fooking hurts when you fall.
Hope to session the vert with you soon Glen, ill have you way up there in no time!!
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i used to ride vert bitd but was a skater then lol i like skaterhams one as nice to peg in as not got the balls to ride in
but corbys vert scared the crap out of me when i tried to peg in but loved getting up to the coping carving and stuff
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corby is the 1st vert ramp i eevr rode.
was good to see you glenn this week.
im about 2ft out now and with the milk tray mans help(atkins) i will get higher
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i tore my calf tuesday so will see how i heal as i got coaching weds/fridday
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went to 3 the box and as i turned in it went :(
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high5,
gutted i missed going to skaterham tonight with atkins and co :(
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My old riding buddy through the 90s said that Freestyle was really only vert and flat - everything else was watered down from those two and in a way I agree with that.
As I was saying to someone at Skaterham tonight, there's no quick rewards on vert (or flat for that matter), it's just hard work and perseverance that gets you out the top of the ramp. Consequently, a lot of kids won't be arsed to learn. Couple that to the lack of sensible ramps about and that's vert riding dead in the water.
Which is a tragedy. I had a brilliant session tonight. As the worst rider on the ramp, having Mark and the others riding well and having fun inspired me to push a little harder and go a little higher - higher in fact than I've been since before my surgery. So happy days to that, and cheers everyone!
If we want vert to survive then we have to build the ramps. In my opinion, 14ft is too big for a public park at this time. If there were an abundance of vert ramps around and you could pick and choose, then no problem, but with only a handful about they need to be a little compromised and user friendly I think. Like Skaterhams. At 11ft it works well. It's a real vert ramp no doubt, but nowhere near as terrifying as Corby. It would have been cool if Corby had installed two ramps in that space, one at 10/11ft and one at the height it is now. I guarantee it would have attracted more riders.
But hey ho, all we can do is keep riding and maybe hope fashion shifts back in this direction and steers a few more kids into vert. Here's hoping :)
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have you all tried tabrons old ramp down in cornwall at mt hawk thats a rather large beasty...looked fun but alas i couldnt try it as
i didnt fancy a splill that far from home,but has a nice roll in so would help you not drop in from the copping...
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could it be also due to the lack of coverage in the mags- when was the last time ride covered a dew tour comp or x games event :wtf:
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i find corby easier to ride than skaterham/kings lynn/st neots. it feels more forgiving when i pull out to much. bigger ramp= more tranny
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But you're at a certain level Tony. If you're rolling in that ramp and airing then you're beyond beginner. I can't recall what's there at Corby, but would I be right in saying that there's a 7ft mini now? What else is there for people to drop in from?
If it's that 7 footer and then the vert ramp, that's a hell of a leap, a true vert ramp at an inbetween size makes sense. Progression and all that ;)
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I like vert ramps.Big ones like creation and corby are ok but so are the 11' ramps like redditch.Had a blast at creation today and went higher than I have done for ages.The ramps at redditch and bay 66 I find are a bit quick - ie as soon as you have landed you are up the other side.Depends on what you are used to tho'.As for rolling in..mine are a bit hit n miss since my mate snapped his arm in half and wrapped it round his neck dropping in :shocked:. Its kind of put me off a bit...
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Wise words tworob. I agree it would be real good to have an 11ft vert ramp at Corby to learn on and for new vert riders.
When i first saw Skaterham it scared me how small it looked lol and at first felt really hard to ride and scary. Once use to it it was a fun ramp to ride and at times can be taken for granted! As i ride Corby you tend to think 11ft ramps are small but at the end of the day its still 11ft high and a long way down!!
Skaterham was a really good session and there seems to be a nice vert scene which is really good. Cant wait for the next one!
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atkins, we need to get there for a sesh soon eh
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There is a small but good scene at Skaterham. Monday and Thursday nights, although there's a Wednesday night session planned next year.
If we all turn up, that puts about 8 riders on the deck. A good number for a session :)
Wingham keeps threatening, but never shows ::) Mike Mullen is an occasional, when his schedule permits.
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mike lives 3miles from me now. so mike said when i saw him last
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I rode vert quite heavily in the 90's... I wasn't that great but could get 7 or 8 feet on a good day and had the 540s and barspins around 1-2 feet out or so. I'm not saying that to self promote, but just to state that there's a little vert experience there. This was before I moved away and didn't have a vert ramp to ride, so quit (big regrets ) )-:
A problem I think people have with vert now days isn't to do with the size of the ramp exactly, but actually to do with learning the pump and rolling in at speed.
On an 11-12 foot ramp, a rider can start on the flat, and pedal and pump and get up to their max height airs before the stamina and energy has run out.
With the 13-14 foot ramps, this is not as possible unless you're superman. The only way to get a good pump and airs over 4 foot is with the speedy roll ins.
Rolling in at speed on a 13+ ramp is probably one of the scariest things I can imagine... dunno why, but it is. So, I think this plays a big factor with newer riders not wanting to / or knowing how to do it. Even the super good street / park riders don't roll in smaller vert ramps generally.
Just a thought.
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I agree, to watch bestiwick roll in is something else, he pedals like a racer off the gate before he hops over the coping.
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makes sense steev ;)
yeah good to have you Mark A , darren and jason there last night, some mad stuff going down!
verts dead.... its never gona be massive again, but its funny the young lads i bring to skaterham every week for the past few years have slowly got into it, one of them is really ripping now! they started riding it as the street course may have been busy, some evenings now at skaterham there have been more people on the vert than the rest of the park!!
lets hope the 11/12ft ramps dont disapear, as these are a real stepping stone to the contest size monster ramps
ps well done rob, really pushing yourself last night :daumenhoch:
long live vert :) - wooden waves vert ramp had its top surface removed for the street course this summer - not good :(
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once a month get together i reckon!
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I blame the Romans! ::)
Daz.
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I would like to join the regular vert sessions. I am not any good on vert, I can only get just above the coping but have always wanted to give it more of a go. I've only ridden twice on two vert ramps I had the opportunity to ride, in many many years of riding, there's so few about.
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tuesdays at corby= vert oclock
i too can get 2ft at best but willl go higher
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tuesdays at corby= vert oclock
i too can get 2ft at best but willl go higher
What time do you guys get there and stay till? Oh and will you guys be there tomorrow?
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im injured so wont be til next tuesday from 3 til 9
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I thought vert was dying also but what I commentated on this past weekend changed my view.
Aussie vince Byron put tabron out of the event at just 19years old! This kid was unreal.
Finals were zach warden (20), coco (24), Austin Coleman (25) & vince Byron (19).
Agreed there were no kagy, bestwick etc but the ages of the guys above give vert a LOT of hope I think
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a point well made but whee's the foundation of younguns :)
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a point well made but whee's the foundation of younguns :)
yeah, i've took the boys to corby twice in the last three weeks, both times the vert has been
empty and the rest of the park packed, real shame that these kids wont give it a go :(
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a point well made but whee's the foundation of younguns :)
yeah, i've took the boys to corby twice in the last three weeks, both times the vert has been
empty and the rest of the park packed, real shame that these kids wont give it a go :(
Dan, give your Bill a back hander and get him on vert!
Daz.
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a point well made but whee's the foundation of younguns :)
yeah, i've took the boys to corby twice in the last three weeks, both times the vert has been
empty and the rest of the park packed, real shame that these kids wont give it a go :(
Dan, give your Bill a back hander and get him on vert!
Daz.
well tbh daz he's the only one out of all his mates who will ride it, he airs it not to bad :daumenhoch:
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a point well made but whee's the foundation of younguns :)
yeah, i've took the boys to corby twice in the last three weeks, both times the vert has been
empty and the rest of the park packed, real shame that these kids wont give it a go :(
Dan, give your Bill a back hander and get him on vert!
Daz.
well tbh daz he's the only one out of all his mates who will ride it, he airs it not to bad :daumenhoch:
Good on him too!
Once he gets used to it and if he rides it more and more he'd fly!
We need more young vert riders!
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perhaps we should petition corby, they are building a new park in autumn 2011 with £5million! , the vert will be a L shape with a foam pit :daumenhoch:
but what i think they need is an extra 11ft ramp with resi, this can be a steppping stone to the big ramp
most of the current vert riders started off on smaller ramps :)
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Anyone who can ride vert gets my vote, so all of you lot "only" busting out two foot are going in the right direction. I'm sure that plenty of people want to watch vert?
I seem to remember Tim Ruck (who gets funding for and builds skateparks) told me that lots councils wont give permission for vert in their skatepark, they only want mini ramps, so that could be part of the problem.. (Although I might have misunderstood what Tim was telling me)
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yeah me, paul m and the young brighton shredders!
come down mate always a good sesh
ps the L shaped vert is a vert with a resi one end and a foam pit :daumenhoch: the other end
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8.30 to 10.30pm, see you there...
Cheers
Paul
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Good to see you there last night buddy :daumenhoch:
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:LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol:
I had to get back to Romford, so only J29 for me. I was ok, but I did see a fella in a big Merc saloon spin gracefully around in front of me. He looked terrified, bless 'im.
I love snow, me :daumenhoch:
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Gettin back from Charlton to Leigh-on-Sea was great fun in the impreza.........i love snow! :daumenhoch:
Will defo get up there for a vert session some time soon.
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took us 4 hours to get back to brighton :P
9 car pile up, stuck for 2 hours we had to ration out a packet of pringles, started to get very bored, steve made a cock out of snow
my front tyres were pretty bald and i had to drive very carefully! so i got new ones saturday, rear wheel drive cars were proper fooked
so whos going monday? :LolLolLolLol:
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Refering back to Marks original question, I would say in my opinion that vert isnt dying.... yet.
Long gone are the days in which a vert comp could be held in a field with hundreds of spectators and a good number of different ability riders ready to lay it down before killing themselves, as DJ correctly said there are amazing up and coming riders such as Vince Byron, Coco, Austin Coleman etc and I think people like these will carry on killing it and progressing vert but I dont think there is enough coming through overall (especially in the UK), the number of riders is just dwindelling slowly.
To most people (especially kids) vert is just too scary, the ramps are too big and it isn't as fun to ride as the smaller park orientated stuff, It takes patience and practice that they just dont wanna put in and I can see how that would be boring, they can go and ride smaller stuff and start learning tricks straight away which keeps them interested so therefore they stay with doing that.
I believe a lot of riders can def switch from what they do now and would become real good on vert if they stuck with it instead of just nibbling at it but I guess its just not fun for them which is why they dont do it, they are kind of spoilt in a way with a vast variety of other obstacles to ride without having to settle for riding the big scary ramp which is how it would seem it used to be years back where at many places that was all you had to ride. I've seen riders such as Mark Webb, Dean Cueson, Ryan Nyquist and others ride vert and they do ride it well, i'd love to imagine how good they'd be if if they stuck at it seriously!
I used to ride a bit of everything years ago, dirt, miniramp, vert etc but the more I rode vert the more I stuck with it and started enjoying it especially with reasonably easy access to a number of different ramps, so definatley the more ramps available then the more they'll get ridden, the ramps being bulit lately are only big so as to keep up with the rest of the world and progression of the sport, Corby, Mount Hawk, etc. I like the idea of having small and big vert ramps together at the same parks as this would be an ideal opportunity to keep stepping up and improving, such as Woodward which already have that kind of facility (hence so many good American based riders!)
I hope vert doesn't die as I love it, so come on people, man up, dig them pads out and give it a bash, you might like it!
Cheers
Paul
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Well said buddy :daumenhoch:
See you next Wednesday :)
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about time paul had a wobble at woodward ::)