Physics of Vert

It looks like magic. When skateboarders launch off the lip of a vert ramp to fly into flips and spins, it appears they’re defying gravity. In fact, these athletes are exploiting the laws of physics.
Legend Tony Hawk and the world’s best vert skaters did the ultimate physics demo for free at Vert Alert 2024, hosted at the Jon M. Huntsman Center at the University of Utah on June 14 and 15. Kevin Davenport broke down the physics that allows vert skaters to huck themselves into the stratosphere!
Credits:
Kevin's Davenport, assistant lecture professor, University of Utah Department of Physics & Astronomy
Video was produced by:
Lisa Potter, research communications specialist, University of Utah Marketing & Communications
William Wallace, media visualization student technician, J. Marriott Library Video Studio
Thank you for the footage provided by Tony Hawk's Vert Alert team!

[@holly6157]

This genuinely might have helped me improve my pumping. Everyone just says "bend your knees," so I didn't realize I needed to stand up before reversing the direction

[@Mrrugbykid1]

please more physics and skateboarding

[@i-never-look-at-replies-lol]

no this is all post-modern pseudointellectual crap where people start applying theory & knowledge to the most inane things to sound smart. physicists should probably stick to figuring out the secrets of the universe or whatever. no skater needs to understand the physics behind skateboarding to be a good skateboarder. no physicist who understands all the nuance of skateboarding physics can skate. the physics of skateboarding could go entirely unknown for all of human existence and yet humans still make great skateboarders. you don't need to know physics to skate, you need physics to show off what you know about physics.

[@WiiSpords]

Totally agree, if Newton was pro he definitely would have been on creature.

[@ErgoCogita]

Sit in an office chair and spin with your arms outstretched. While spinning, draw your arms in. That is analogous to a downward pump (straightening your legs on the way down) on a ramp. That's how speed is generated. You don't really generate velocity on the way back up, you conserve it. Your feet and board may increase velocity by pumping on the way up,like a double pendulum, the velocity of your center of mass does not increase. All of the energy input to go faster is in the down pump.

[@zacktaylor1143]

My favorite part about skateboard physics videos is the pseudo-physics circle jerk that goes on in the comment section 😂😂😂

[@jessejamesb]

now explain how the coping 'bonk' sends you back so you don't hang up on the way down.

[@jtrncr]

🤯 Pump. I Tell my skateboard students all the time, skateboarding is physics!

[@theMrGrowl]

nice video

[@WiiSpords]

Physics and skateboarding content! Yes! Please do flat ground ollie next! I have always want to hear a physicist explain how skateboarders maximize pop using their bodies and the responsiveness of the maple skate deck

[@yocoachfred9932]

Good collaboration

[@joe.nail1]

I made it until 1:25 before I couldn’t comprehend anymore 😂

[@shalabazertheboltstruck8645]

Really good stuff but the audio is unexeptable guys

[@marcusprince3999]

Your spelling is "unexeptable."😜 It's *acceptable.🤙

[@zutrong]

Please learn to balance audio... almost unwatchable

[@Lame-Over]

Ugh I'm so sick of seeing tony hawk, there's literally hundreds of other pros to choose from