SPS VISUAL DICTIONARY: BASIC STREET ELEMENTS (SET 1)
Welcome to the first installment of the SPS Visual Dictionary series, Basic Street Elements. This document is to be used an a visual aid to help describe basic forms found in many street-skating skate areas. This is not intended to be a comprehensive or complete catalog of obstacles but rather a description of typical elements one might expect to find in a basic street skating area.
For more information or questions about these concepts, please visit www.skatersforpublicskateparks.org.
WARNING! These diagrams are intended for education and discussion. Only qualified designers and builders should attempt to integrate these concepts into a skatepark plan. FACT SHEET: LEDGE Ledges may serve various functions and are generally found more in urban architecture than in skateparks. They are versatile and not difficult to design as atypical sizes and shapes tend to be nearly as attractive to skateboarders as “classic” ledge forms. Ledges are usually straight, flat and long but are sometimes curved and/or ascending/descending.
Grinding lines travel along the edges of the structure.
Approx. 18 in. wide
Approx. 12—18 in. tall
The leading edges of the ledge should should not feature round coping
10 ft. of clear area on each side.
40 ft. of clear area on each end.
These diagrams are intended for education and discussion. Only qualified designers and builders should attempt to integrate them into a skatepark. FACT SHEET: HUBBA LEDGE & 3-STAIR Hubba ledges and stair sets are popular street obstacles that mimic heavy concrete bannisters found at entrances to many public buildings. The descending slope makes an attractive element for grinding and sliding. Hubba ledges are nearly always unidirectional, (skaters descend), while the stairs component may sometimes be ollied up.
Grinding lines travel across the leading edge of the hubba ledge downward.
18 in. from flat to ledge in this area Ollie line goes up and down smaller stair sets. On larger stair sets Approx. 16+-in. wide, approx. 20° the line travels downward only. (no more than 25°)
Hubba Ledge
22 in. from ledge to flat in this area
Higher stairs require more speed and clear safe area
Three Stair Set
Prevent cross-traffic below stairs and hubba ledge. Hubba Ledges might also appear next to banks.
30 ft. of clear area on each end.
These diagrams are intended for education and discussion. Only qualified designers and builders should attempt to integrate them into a skatepark. FACT SHEET: 5-STAIR & HANDRAIL Handrails and stairs are more advanced versions of the flatrail. A high level of concentration and commitment are required to perform tricks on obstacles of this scale so the area surrounding these more advanced structures should have larger clear areas than usual.
8 ft. of stairs on each side of the rail
Handrail
Higher stairs require more speed and clear safe area
Five Stair Set
40 ft. of clear Prevent cross-traffic area on Rails may also below stairs and rail. appear on each end. flat banks.
These diagrams are intended for education and discussion. Only qualified designers and builders should attempt to integrate them into a skatepark. FACT SHEET: FUNBOX A funbox is an assembly a pyramid, hubba ledge, ledge, and rail into a single complicated structure. The dimensions of the funbox components are not generally different than their individual counterparts. Note that due to the complexity of the structure, travel and usage lines are not indicated.
Pyramid
Feeding banks or declines to build speed.
Hubba Ledge
Flat Rail
30 ft.+ of clear area ends.
Relative scale 20 ft.+ of clear area sides.
These diagrams are intended for education and discussion. Only qualified designers and builders should attempt to integrate them into a skatepark. FACT SHEET: FLAT RAIL
Flat rails are low steel beams set into a flat concrete surface. They are a fundamental skill-building obstacle. Flat rails are used for sliding and grinding. The degree of difficulty is captured by the length of the slide and the height of the rail. Flat rails are included in most skateparks and do not frequently occur in natural urban architecture. In their most basic form, these rails should be fairly standardized and not overly creative. Advanced rails are common but should not replace the most basic form (shown below).
Obstacle may be approached from either side or direction. 9 —12-in. high
Approx. 8 ft. long
Rectangular steel beam, capped ends, approx. 4-in. wide
Posts are set into surface (not bolted)
6 ft. of clear area on each side.
20 ft. of clear area on each end.
These diagrams are intended for education and discussion. Only qualified designers and builders should attempt to integrate them into a skatepark. FACT SHEET: MANUAL PAD / LEDGE Manual pads are found in almost every modern skatepark. They come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and configurations. Sometimes they extend over declines, stairs, or have rails associated with them in some way. Manual pads are incredibly popular due largely to their simple versatility.
Approx. 4 ft. by 12 ft. by 1 ft. Ollie-manual lines travel across the top of the structure. Surface of manual pad and surrounding area is smooth.
Grinding lines travel along the edges of the structure.
The leading edges of the manual pad should be designed to withstand frequent grinding
10 ft. of clear area on each side.
40 ft. of clear area on each end.
These diagrams are intended for education and discussion. Only qualified designers and builders should attempt to integrate them into a skatepark. FACT SHEET: PYRAMID Pyramids are popular structures due largely to their innate versatility. They may be approached and exited from nearly any direction. Pyramids require a great deal of clear space to be most effective and are best used in conjunction with some opposing flat banks to facilitate the requisite speed.
Height of pyramid is largely determined by how much space and/or speed is available. Pyramids require opposing banks to build requisite speed.
Top is flat, approx. 4 ft.
Approx. 20°
There are no specific Feeding banks or even typical lines or declines through a pyramid. to build speed.
Relative scale 20 ft.+ of clear area on every side.
These diagrams are intended for education and discussion. Only qualified designers and builders should attempt to integrate them into a skatepark.