Basement skate spots

[FUBAR]

I’ve never lived in a place before with a basement. I added a few things to make it skateable. A little box and a plastic parking block for slappy madness. It’s most def a low pop zone but I can skate whenever. If you made a spot in your basement, post some pics!

[layzieyez]

I've shown glimpses of my basement. It's gone through changes but I think it's more fun now. Still scary to skate because you are speeding to a wall right after landing.

 It's like a salad spinner sometimes.

[GardenSkater77]

@layzieyez

How tall are your basement ceilings?

If I even popped a little Ollie in my basement I would smash my head.

Could you set up a 18’ x 12’ x 3’ half pipe? For your son of course…

[layzieyez]

The ceiling is plenty high which was a challenge with only two light outlets. Thanks to LED light bulbs, I can light it pretty bright compared to other basements.

Almost fit that ramp. If all I wanted to do was skate that one thing sure, but that would get boring for me. I'm not a big coping dancer combo guy.

I prefer having a ledge.

[FUBAR]

Nice setup, man! I most def can relate with running into a wall right after a trick but it scratches the itch to skate when it rains or gas is $5 a gallon and the best park is 40 miles away!

[GardenSkater77]

The ceiling is plenty high which was a challenge with only two light outlets. Thanks to LED light bulbs, I can light it pretty bright compared to other basements.

Almost fit that ramp. If all I wanted to do was skate that one thing sure, but that would get boring for me. I'm not a big coping dancer combo guy.

I prefer having a ledge.

That makes sense. Your little ramps are perfect for your son. He looks about 9 which is how old my son is. It’s great that he likes skateboarding. Mine is scared to skateboard but he rollerskates. You should design a team logo with him. Get some sleeveless denim jackets and screen print on them. Have fun!

[layzieyez]

He's 13 now and the basement is too tight for him.

I really need to come into some money and build a mini out of concrete out back.

[Plan9Customs]

Those are all rad as well as the clips. No basement here in California but enclosed patio if that counts.

[layzieyez]

I'd kill for a skateable patio. Unless the air is bad from fires or pollution.

My driveway is downhill. I wish it was flat.

[FUBAR]

Those are all rad as well as the clips. No basement here in California but enclosed patio if that counts.

Enclosed patio is sick! Do you have a box or anything you skate on it?

[layzieyez]

This is how I light my basement. Very important for any that wants to do this.

[Plan9Customs]

I’ve got 3 quarters(2’ with 4’ transition, 3’ with 4’ transition and another 3’ with 3 1/2’ transition) and an 8’ curb I made when we were in lock down. It’s fine aside from the triple digit days and when the state is on fire. I had a round bar and pole jam but gave them away since they just slid all around since it gets dusty and concrete is polished.

[Sativa Lung]

I'm kind of cheating as I don't own the building (I wish... it's over 190 units a few blocks away from one of the most desirable colleges in the world, so you can imagine what it's worth), but Ive lived here for almost a decade and have a master key. This building is slightly over a hundred years old and this part of it used to be the kitchen and seating area for a lunch counter, so it's divided into a couple sections.






First room is where I sit and smoke joints and drink coffee, and also where I do flat ground in the winter because the other rooms are always freezing. There's enough room to take one push and pop, or start in the other room and do powerslides across the room when it gets really dusty

Second room is where I keep some of my stuff and also where I try to figure out why I suck. It has perfect concrete except for one crack that's right before where I want to pop.

Third room is the big guy. Don't have anything set up right now but I sometimes build ramps and had a shitty brick curb set up at one point. There's a lot of room and the ceiling is high, but it's also old and crumbling so combined with the broken tile you almost have to skate wide wheels in there. I've gotten pitched  by a chunk of masonry more times than I can count. I like just popping on some tunes and taking something with soft wheels and loose trucks and just weaving through the pillars sometimes too. I honestly don't skate in there that much anymore because you absolutely have to sweep the shit out of it and it takes forever.

I also have to consider the noise. Rooms one and two are below my apartment and a Dr's office that hasnt had a patient since the pandemic started so I can skate in there pretty much whenever. The big room stretches across 4 units which are all occupied by students. I try to be respectful since it's definitely loud enough to disturb someone who's trying to sleep or study and I tend to skate early in the morning.

[FUBAR]

Buttfart (why is that fun to type? OH, because I am a manchild) thats a sick setup!

Im thinking of a low box for the basement…like a 4 or 5 inch curb, or maybe a Blunt Steel roll on metal thingy. The 9” box Im skating down there now is good but I wouldnt 5050 it without worry of a head bonk. I did circle on the ground where the lights hang down so I don’t do anything in that spot.

[Ray C. Usery]

Don't know about basements but my house used to look like this



If you have any building or maintenance questions @ me

[biaherl]

Here is the view so far-- skated this morning and super fun.

Looks perfect

Wish I had a wake up spot/end the day/bad weather spot again

[FUBAR]

Looks dope, man! I just brought my slap pad doen to the basement too. Twas a huge ass pain but now I have something curb height to skate no matter the season or weather!

[GumOnMyGrip]

2 feet tall by 13 feet wide. Covid project that I have torn down and rebuilt 3 times already.
Currently a brio trains spot for my son.
It’s helped me through many a winter day.

[manysnakes]

2 feet tall by 13 feet wide. Covid project that I have torn down and rebuilt 3 times already.
Currently a brio trains spot for my son.
It’s helped me through many a winter day.

That's absolutely insane. I love it.

[GumOnMyGrip]

Expand Quote

2 feet tall by 13 feet wide. Covid project that I have torn down and rebuilt 3 times already.
Currently a brio trains spot for my son.
It’s helped me through many a winter day.

[close]

Nice this is absolutely sick-- what is the ceiling clearance?

Thanks- with the joists it’s about 8.5 feet. Technically 9’ ceiling.

I’m just over 6 and the ramp is 2 ft= no ollies.

It was originally on the floor as quarter pipes with concrete flat but after a few slams I went with a built up flat .

If anyone wants info it’s 24” tall, 13’ wide.  6.5 transition on one side, 6 on the other. Roughly 7.5 ‘ of flat.
The 6.5 side is too mellow and it would be better with a little less flat but I had to build a 4 year old beginner in mind. I have also found through experience that any change in transition is magnified exponentially on tiny ramps. Tighter feels better to skate but is a total speed killer.

[FUBAR]

Been hitting the other side of the ole slap pad lately

[FUBAR]

Yeah took me a minute to get used to the slap side. Kinda gotta focus on riding up a little before turning into the grind.

[FUBAR]

I ride straight on. Toes hanging a little off the deck (Im doing backside slappies) turn hard and bring your weight up at the same time, aiming front truck onto the coping. Bringing your weight up on the back foot (kind of like a hop) and switch it all to your heels once you feel youself getting up. I hope that made sense.

[FUBAR]

Did you get slappies on it? Hope so!
The slap pad is funny because I was learning backside slappies on curbs when I got the pad and tried one on the banked side and it seemed impossible. After getting backside slappies on curbs for a few months I tried it again and after a slight adjustment for the bank on the slappy side of the pad, I was getting right up. I really want to try frontside slappies on it. If I fly off while trying to get into it, Ill go right into a padded wall, which can’t be all bad I guess.

[FUBAR]

Right on! Keep em going. I can have a whole session doing those, they are so fun.
Switch noseslides and those nollie tail slides are up next for me, on the other side of the slap pad.
We are in full basement-session season where I live.

[collie]

I typically try not to repost on top of my last post, but since this one is pinned what the heck.

Has anyone ever put up skatelite onto a brick wall?  Ive got a pretty large piece and there is a place where I (try to) do old school hand standy garbage wall rides and wall rides to nollie and its both rough and constantly ripping chips of paint off (the bricks are painted red) which gets all over the riding surface. 

That said, I'm not sure how I'd actually attach a piece of cut ramp surface to wall. 

Any ideas from construction folks?  My fear is even if I try to like Molly bolt it or something it would come out from the pressure of wall rides.  I also don't want to totally destroy the wall as I'd likely take this out at some point once it got raggedy.  Is this a dumb idea?

Could try to Hilti a 1/2” plywood to the wall then fasten dkatelite to that

[Ray C. Usery]

Tapcons and polyurethane construction adhesive.

You can even use plastic mollies with deck screws might be even stronger. Pilot screw through the skatelite and use the holes so you can place the mollies right with a hammer drill and a masonry bit. Most cordless drills have a hammer switch on them for drilling through concrete

[Giftedly Hater’d]

Definitely agree that you’d be better off attaching a more substantial piece of plywood to the wall (3/4” would be best for allowing you to countersink your fasteners) and then attaching your skatelite to that. Is there framing nearby that you can build off of and lay studs (regular or sleeper) in front of the brick wall? Obv at some point you cross the line of how much $$$ this is all worth to you.
 
Another idea would be just to build your wall like a box/manual pad and French cleat it to the wall. You’d have minimal fasteners in the brick and the obstacle would be easily moved out of the way (and you could also lay it down and have a manual pad).


Whatever you do, try to use mechanical fasteners rather than adhesives (1. harder to demo and clean up/repair  later on down the road, 2. Less secure… it will only be as good as the bond that the paint beneath has with the brick, 3. Especially in a basement that prob has more dramatic swings in temp/humidity the expansion/contraction of the wood throughout the year my work the adhesive loose)

[layzieyez]

I’m sorry to hear that. For my basement, I’m getting ready to add some new features. Really hoping you can find a sanctuary.

[Cheshire Cat]

This is my favourite thread that also makes me insanely jealous.