Editing Half-pipe (section)

== Design ==
[[Image:Half pipe.png|thumb|Mini ramp (no vertical)]]
The character of a half-pipe depends on the relationship between four attributes: most importantly, the transition radius and the height, and less so, the degree of flat bottom and width. Extra width allows for longer slides and grinds. The flat bottom, while valued for recovery time, serves no purpose if it is longer than it needs to be.<ref name="vert">{{cite web |url=http://vert.co.za/?wpdmact=process&did=MS5ob3RsaW5r |title=Vert ramp design |publisher=vert.co.za |access-date=December 22, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407084836/http://vert.co.za/?wpdmact=process&did=MS5ob3RsaW5r |archive-date=April 7, 2014 }}</ref>
Thus, it is the ratio between height and transition radius that determines the personality of a given ramp, because the ratio determines the angle of the lip.<ref>{{cite web |author=Lutzy |url=http://www.engineeringcalculator.net/RampCalc.html |title=RampCalc |publisher=Engineeringcalculator.net |access-date=April 3, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823074614/http://engineeringcalculator.net/RampCalc.html |archive-date=August 23, 2014 }}</ref>

On half-pipes which are less than vertical, the height, typically between 50% and 75% of the radius, profoundly affects the ride up to and from the lip, and the speed at which tricks must be executed. Ramps near or below {{convert|3|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} of height sometimes fall below 50% of the height of their radius. Technical skaters use them for advanced flip tricks and spin maneuvers. Smaller transitions that maintain the steepness of their larger counterparts are commonly found in pools made for skating and in custom mini ramps. The difficulty of technical tricks is increased with the steepness, but the feeling of dropping in from the coping is preserved.

The standard design in the construction of ramps is to use a constant radius in transitions:
Most of the ramps are built with a quarter circle of constant radius for easy construction, and this method is tried and true. But some of the best ramps are not constant radius but a roughly elliptical with somewhat less final ''vert'' (vertical).
The design is supposed to allow for easy big air with return still on the curve and less danger of landing on the flat ("bottoming out"). 

=== Skateboarding, freestyle BMX, scootering, and aggressive inline skating ===
{{See also|Vert ramp}}[[File:BoardmastersVert 1.jpg|thumb|[[Vert ramp]] at the 2010 [[Boardmasters Festival]] during the first skateboard free practice session]]
Frame and support for skateboard, BMX, and [[vert skating]] half-pipes frequently consist of a 2×6×8" lumber ([[Lumber#North American softwoods|actual]] 38 × 140 × 184&nbsp;mm) framework sheathed in plywood finished with sheets of [[masonite]] or Skatelite. Also, a metal frame finished in wood or metal is sometimes used.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}}

Most commercial and contest ramps are surfaced by attaching sheets of some form of masonite to a frame. Many private ramps are surfaced in the same manner but may use plywood instead of masonite as surface material. Some ramps are constructed by spot-welding sheet metal to the frame, resulting in a fastener-free surface. Recent developments in technology have produced various versions of improved masonite substances such as Skatelite, RampArmor, and HARD-Nox.<ref>[http://www.skatelite.com/product/index.html Skatelite] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060716191411/http://www.skatelite.com/product/index.html |date=July 16, 2006 }}</ref> These ramp surfaces are far more expensive than traditional materials.

Channels, extensions, and roll-ins are the basic ways to customize a ramp. Sometimes a section of the platform is cut away to form a roll-in and a channel to allow skaters to commence a ride without dropping in and perform tricks over the gap. Extensions are permanent or temporary additions to the height of one section of the ramp that can make riding more challenging.

Creating a spine ramp is another variation of the half-pipe. A spine ramp is basically two quarter pipes connected at the vertical edge.
[[File:Riverside Skatepark vert ramp 2019 05 05.jpg|thumb|Half-pipe at [[Riverside Skatepark]] (designed by [[Andy Kessler (skateboarder)|Andy Kessler]])

Manhattan, NYC - 2019]]