Vert skateboarding
Riding a skateboard on a steep incline
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vert skateboarding, short for vertical skateboarding, is the act of riding a skateboard on a skate ramp or other incline and involves the skateboarder transitioning from the horizontal plane to the vertical plane in order to perform skateboarding tricks.[1]
History
During the 1970s, vert skateboarding had its genesis in "pool riding": the riding of skateboards in an emptied backyard swimming pool.[2]
As riders moved from general street skateboarding and occasional "pool riding" into purpose-built skate parks, vert skateboarding became more popular. Skateboarders began to develop, and then practice, tricks and techniques specifically for vert skateboarding.[3]
Vert skateboarding became a common style of skateboarding and was introduced into many competitions and events, including the X Games and the Maloof Money Cup.[4]
In 2008, ESPN and X Games organizers announced that vert skateboarding would be removed from X Games competitions in favor of free-movement skate-park-style courses where participants would still be able to perform vert skateboarding tricks but would need to do so in combination with other street skateboarding elements.[5] After public condemnation from professional skateboarders Bob Burnquist, Tony Hawk and others, organizers re-instated vert skateboarding.[5]
In 2011, ESPN announced, however, that the X Games would no longer feature a Women's Vert Skateboarding event, citing a lack of "a growing participant base, an established annual competition schedule", and "myriad other factors". Professional skateboarder Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins said the decision would "end the growth for women's vert skating as we know it".[6]
Skateboard set-up
See also
- Dropping in – Skateboarding trick
- Vert skating – Sport discipline