CHAPTER 1 Dropping In Jasmine stands at the top of the vert ramp The wind blows her ponytail Jasmine loves skateboarding She rides around the park with her friends But she also wants to learn vert skateboarding Vert skating is done on a ramp The ramp’s sides go straight up Jasmine has been taking lessons at the skate park First her teacher taught her how to fall It seemed silly But vert skateboarding can be dangerous Athletes go high in the air Jasmine can’t put her hands out when she falls She could break her wrist She learned how to fall on her knees FUN FACT There is a skateboarding hall of fame and museum in California
Dropping in on a vert ramp can be scary for skateboarders of any age
Next she learned how to pump Pumping is how skaters go up the ramp She started rolling toward the ramp Her knees were bent She straightened her knees when she hit the wall She bent them again when she reached the top It was hard at first But it’s like pumping her legs on the swing It helps her gain momentum Skate parks have many ramps and other obstacles where people can practice vert skateboarding skills
Jasmine also practiced dropping in She started on smaller ramps But now she’s ready for the big ramp Her teacher shows her He balances his skateboard on the edge of the ramp Then he stomps down He rolls down the ramp to the other side Then he whooshes back up to Jasmine
