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Skateboarding => Skate Questions => Topic started by: pamier on August 01, 2021, 03:33:10 PM

Title: how do bumps/kickers work?
Post by: pamier on August 01, 2021, 03:33:10 PM
i never understood the physics of kickers. like how do i get more pop than i am physically jumping??? i think that's how most of my time skating works, i don't really think abt shit i just try random stuff till it works and practice till i get the muscle memory, prolly why i learn shit so slowly. regardless i kind of get it when you're doing a fly out, you already got the momentum that naturally wants to go upwards when on some steep tranny (please correct me tho i want to know this), but on a small bump I still get a lot more pop even though there should be so little momentum from the slight angle right? I got a 4 on the ap physics test last year btw
Title: Re: how do bumps/kickers work?
Post by: silhouette on August 02, 2021, 03:55:38 AM
I never really consciously thought about it before, but I figure it's your speed. Longer banks with actual surface will cause more friction and thus gradually slow you down as you're trying to go against gravity, whereas on a bump there is little to no time for friction, you literally just hit the angle and launch as most of your speed is redirected and converted into upwards momentum, not killed. Sort of similar to the functioning of wallies vs. wallrides. That's probably part of why I could skate even just a sidewalk bump all day to be honest, it's just some endless fun trying to see how far (and in which ways) you can optimize your approach of them to get this or that kind of boost on your tricks. Also photos of people getting onto absurdly tall stuff thanks to the help of what sometimes really is microscopic terrain detail are always inherently fascinating.
Title: Re: how do bumps/kickers work?
Post by: pamier on August 02, 2021, 01:22:15 PM
I never really consciously thought about it before, but I figure it's your speed. Longer banks with actual surface will cause more friction and thus gradually slow you down as you're trying to go against gravity, whereas on a bump there is little to no time for friction, you literally just hit the angle and launch as most of your speed is redirected and converted into upwards momentum, not killed. Sort of similar to the functioning of wallies vs. wallrides. That's probably part of why I could skate even just a sidewalk bump all day to be honest, it's just some endless fun trying to see how far (and in which ways) you can optimize your approach of them to get this or that kind of boost on your tricks. Also photos of people getting onto absurdly tall stuff thanks to the help of what sometimes really is microscopic terrain detail are always inherently fascinating.
that makes sense, bless up dude crazy feeling to get a sense of understanding on these things around us
Title: Re: how do bumps/kickers work?
Post by: sharkin on August 02, 2021, 01:37:50 PM
Here's a pretty useful diagram to help you understand

I didn't bother labeling anything as it's pretty self explanatory
Title: Re: how do bumps/kickers work?
Post by: fs1/2cab on August 04, 2021, 06:42:00 AM
Shoutout to sidewalk bumps. When I get comfortable at one foot ollies I wanna recreate that Jason Lee photo. That's my mission. Oh and alleyoop backside ollies off the back side of a bump, they are so hard.
Title: Re: how do bumps/kickers work?
Post by: phlap on August 05, 2021, 11:22:36 AM
You have to *really* think about pressing against the incline when you pop. More height that way.