How to drop in

Dropping in is how you start a run on a mini ramp, a quarter pipe or a bowl: from the top, straight down the wall. Physically it's simple. The hard part is in your head, because everything in you wants to lean back, and leaning back is exactly what makes you fall.

Setup

1. Stand on the deck at the top of the ramp.
2. Set your tail on the coping, with your back wheels hanging over the edge onto the deck side, and your front wheels in the air over the ramp.
3. Back foot on the tail, pinning the board to the coping.
4. Front foot ready to go over the front bolts.

At this point the board is stable: your back foot holds it in place, and nothing moves until you put your front foot on.

Commit forward

1. Put your front foot over the front bolts.
2. Lean forward and put your weight onto your front foot. Push the front wheels down onto the ramp.
3. Keep your shoulders over the board as it tips down the wall. Your body should stay roughly perpendicular to the ramp surface.
4. Bend your knees as you hit the bottom.
5. Roll away across the flat.

The board goes where your weight goes. If your weight is forward, all four wheels stay on the ramp and you roll down. If your weight is back, the board shoots out in front of you and you land on your back.

Why leaning back is the big mistake

When you look down a ramp, it feels like leaning forward means falling forward. It doesn't. The ramp is curved, so to stay on the board you have to lean with the ramp, not against it. Leaning back takes your weight off the front wheels, the board rolls away without you, and you fall backward. That's the most common drop-in slam, and it's why people say to commit.

A worked example: the half-commit

Leo has set up on a small quarter pipe a dozen times without going. When he finally goes, he puts his front foot on but keeps most of his weight on his back foot. The board slides out and he sits down hard. A friend tells him to look at the bottom of the ramp, not his feet, and to stomp the front foot down like he's trying to touch the nose to the ramp. Next try, his weight goes forward, all four wheels stay on, and he rolls away.

Build up from small ramps

1. Practice on flat ground: stand with your tail on a curb and practice shifting weight forward.
2. Small quarter pipe or mini ramp: the lowest you can find.
3. Wear pads and a helmet. Knee pads let you slide out of a fall on a ramp.
4. Have a friend nearby for the first few.
5. Once small ramps are easy, move up a bit at a time.

Falling on a ramp

If you do fall, knee pads let you drop to your knees and slide down the ramp instead of catching yourself with your hands. That's one of the main reasons skaters wear pads in transition. Slide, don't reach.

Where to stand on the deck

Pick your spot on the deck before you set up. Make sure nobody is about to roll through where you'll drop, and that the flat at the bottom is clear. On a busy ramp, wait your turn and let people know you're going. Dropping in on someone who's already riding is snaking, and on a ramp it can cause a bad collision.

After the drop

Dropping in is only the start of a run. Once you're down, you'll roll up the opposite wall. On your first few, just roll up a little, let the board come back down fakie, and stop on the flat. As you get comfortable, you can add a kickturn on the other wall and roll back, or pump to keep speed. Pumping and carving in transition covers how.

Common mistakes

• Leaning back. The number one cause of slams.
• Half-committing. Partial weight on the front foot is worse than none. Go all the way.
• Looking at your feet. Look down the ramp at where you're going.
• Starting too big. Small ramps first.
• No pads. Wear them, especially at first.

FAQ

Do I need pads to drop in?

They help a lot, especially knee pads and a helmet. Many parks require them.

What if I'm scared?

That's normal. Start on the smallest ramp you can, and have a friend there. Most people need a few tries to commit.

Should my back foot push down?

Your back foot holds the tail on the coping until you go. Once you commit, your weight goes to your front foot.

Can I drop in on a bowl the same way?

Yes. Same setup, same commitment.

Next: Pumping and carving in transition

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