The purpose of this section is to explain the terminology involved with skatepark ramps, design and layout. It is intended to clarify any uncertainties for those who feel unfamiliar with the field.

This section does not include concrete bowls as each and every bowl has a unique shape and is near impossible to classify. However, much of the terminology covered can be applied to areas within bowls.

The sports of BMXing, skateboarding and inline skating embody an innovative nature and consequently the usage of skatepark equipment is subject to the individual and is very much ‘open ended’. Although the following descriptions include the typical user in some cases, this should not be taken as an absolute ruling.

Design Elements common to skate ramps

Transition - Curved section of a ramp, running from horizontal. Transition size is defined by the radius of the circular curve. Smaller transitions create steep, fast ramps while larger ones create a mellow, steady ride.
Platform (aka Deck) - Flat area on top of a ramp providing a waiting area for users and spectators. The deeper the platform the better.
Surface - Surface refers to the top coat of material covering the ride able area. It is imperative to the success of a ramp that the surface is smooth and not slippery (a metal surface is out of the question).
Coping (aka The Lip) - Steel bar running along the top edge of a ramp. Provides a durable edge and enables grinding and sliding tricks to be performed.

At this point in time it's most appropriate to bracket skatepark equipment into three groups:
Halfpipes
Street Ramps
Street Obstacles

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