If you haven’t already, pick up the 2012, January Issue of TransWorld Business. California RampWorks’ Brian Harper gives insight into the future of skate contests, adding perspective from a designer and builder of some of the world’s largest action sports events. The article is part of a 3 issue series. The last issue on the Future of Skateboard Contests will be in March and will spotlight the top 5 builders in this arena. Keep your eye out for it!
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Phoenix—- AZ Foothills Magazine recently got wind of their local, accomplished action sports enthusiast and renowned businessman, whose company currently designs and builds for such events as the X Games. For those of you that don’t know, California RampWorks’ owner, Brian Harper, was a professional snowboarder for 10 years. Brian grew up snowboarding Snowbowl in Flagstaff, Arizona, and then took to traveling the world heli snowboarding as a professional. Brian won the first World Amateur Half-Pipe Championship in ’87 and landed many covers and spreads in the mags, such as TransWorld.
X Games 16 is just around the corn, July 29th-Aug 1, and building has already begun. This year’s Park, Street Course, and of course the MegaRamp is designed and built by CA RampWorks and CA Skateparks.
The Park (SuperPark in previous years) is a balanced mix for both skate and BMX events this year. With Dug Ketterman, Brian Haper, and Rune Glifberg designing on the skate side and Nate Wessel keeping it real for BMX, there are lines for tech, good flow, and getting big air. Furthermore, both the Park and Street courses have distinct pieces that reveal the creative minds behind them.
The Park
The Visor, inspired by a climbing wall at a dog park in AZ, is one of the pieces Dug Ketterman incorporated. He says, “Basically it was something I saw week after week and kept thinking, I know that could be turned into something skateable. Then, we were missing a key piece to bring the park together, so I put it in and it just worked. Nate tweeked it a bit to make it work for the bikers.”
Street Course
Lead Designer: Mike Sinclair
Contributing Deisgners: Nate Wessel and Dug Ketterman
The stand out piece of this year’s Street course will more than likely be the giant sculpture which resembles a tea cup. The tea cup, designed by Nate Wessel was inspired by Mike Sinclair’s idea to incorporate skateable orange peels (an existing art piece and skate spot in Miami, Florida).
