New Member - Skatepark Designer

dugketterman · 1 Feb 2012, 16:24

I just wanted to take the time to introduce myself to the SketUcation community.

My name is Dug Ketterman, and I am the lead designer for Californiarampworks.com

I have been using Sketchup exclusively for the past 5 years to design and develop skateparks and action sports equipment.

Some of my design and engineering work includes the X Games Street and Park designs (2010-2012), MegaRamp Events, The Berrics, The DC Embassy and many other projects for top professionals such as Danny Way, Bob Burnquist, Rob Dyrdek, Vaughn Gitten Jr., Jamie Thomas and PLG... to name a few.

Some of my international design work has been completed in Shanghai, Barcelona, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Santiago Chile, Kimberly South Africa and the list continues to grow.

I am currently planning out a video series that will give an insight into the world of skatepark design and fundamentals for those interested in getting into the field. Stay tuned.

Feel free to shoot me any questions in the meantime and i will try to get back to you in a timely manner.

Cheers!

-Dug-

Slimdog · 1 Feb 2012, 20:18

Sweet sounds like my dream job.

Feel free to share any screen shots of some models and finished products.

S

PS welcome to the forum

NickGenerator · 1 Feb 2012, 20:29

@dugketterman said:

I am currently planning out a video series that will give an insight into the world of skatepark design and fundamentals for those interested in getting into the field.

Really looking forward to that one.

dugketterman · 2 Feb 2012, 02:47

Thank you for the welcome.

Here is a photo for last years X Games Park course from last year that was recently featured on the Google Skethup Blog.

I am currently working on this years courses...I will release the pics as soon as I get the design approved.

NickGenerator · 2 Feb 2012, 16:56

I used to skate a little myself two decades ago and we don't have skateparks like yours here: So I don't mind if you just show everything you are allowed to show.

Richard · 2 Feb 2012, 20:39

Mate that is truly some amazing work being done in SU - and on top of being some amazing design work to boot!!!

Like Nic I used to skate a lot as a kid and only just the other day posted a ramp I designed back in year 9 at school - 35 years ago when it was all just kicking off, I'm amazed just how far it has progressed and the mad shit skaters do! It is so far different from those years when Russ Howell (? memory) was the big thing for cranking out 30+ 360's.

BTW what are the random pieces sitting around butting the fence?

And mate are each of your designs unique or do they follow semi standard prefab units then arranged in a variety of layouts and configurations?

Thanks a bundle for posting mate.

Richard · 2 Feb 2012, 21:15

I cant stop coming back to this and thinking how much fun that must be!

Mate BTW what is the material you use for the surface, looks like concrete but that could be deceiving given the temporary nature of the installation?

dsarchs · 2 Feb 2012, 23:27

Richard, about the random pieces by the fence -- whenever I put something together I usually find random pieces still in the box when I'm done... I just throw 'em out. Maybe it's the same thing here?

Richard · 2 Feb 2012, 23:56

Could be mate! Yeah I get the same when I pull something apart and put it back together. Spare bits!

dugketterman · 3 Feb 2012, 05:24

Those extra pieces on the deck are actually rotating banner space for the event sponsors. They scroll through to get as much air time for each sponsor on TV as possible.

Believe it or not, about 70% of what you see is concrete (later recycled) poured in place and the rest is made up of steel frame structures and wood sheeting covered in a 1/4" thick layer of Skatelite...designed for skatepark use. We do dress up the parks with a bit of paint.

Here are a couple of pics I did of the Street Course that same year.

Glad to see you are stoked.

Cheers!

z1ck · 8 Feb 2012, 10:21

dude, could you send me some love? cos im gonna be designing a skatepark for my thesis. i want to know some details before starting.

Richard · 8 Feb 2012, 22:15

Mate you could have blown me down that this is mostly cast concrete. My God!

pilou · 8 Feb 2012, 22:41

So a competitor to Jeff Hammond

[flash=560,315:ufqkvmrm]http://www.youtube.com/v/4Jgj30l29DE[/flash:ufqkvmrm]
[flash=560,315:ufqkvmrm]http://www.youtube.com/v/k4xqXl57888[/flash:ufqkvmrm]

Hieru · 8 Feb 2012, 23:06

Fantastic stuff Dug!!!

At some point I might have to pick your brains about building a mini concrete bowl in my back yard.

dugketterman · 11 Feb 2012, 05:17

@z1ck said:

dude, could you send me some love? cos im gonna be designing a skatepark for my thesis. i want to know some details before starting.

Sure, dude.
Send me some questions, I will see if I can help.

dugketterman · 11 Feb 2012, 05:20

@unknownuser said:

So a competitor to Jeff Hammond

[flash=560,315:20zgv1yi]http://www.youtube.com/v/4Jgj30l29DE[/flash:20zgv1yi]
[flash=560,315:20zgv1yi]http://www.youtube.com/v/k4xqXl57888[/flash:20zgv1yi]

Nah. I don't feel like anyone is a competitor in this field. I am just stoked to see so many rad spots being built all over the world. There are some really creative and talented designers out there.

dugketterman · 11 Feb 2012, 05:23

@hieru said:

Fantastic stuff Dug!!!

At some point I might have to pick your brains about building a mini concrete bowl in my back yard.

Thanks. What are you thinking about putting in?

Hieru · 11 Feb 2012, 12:47

At the moment I've got a timber 2ft micro ramp and it's taking up patio space and is a pain to maintain maintain in the UK climate.

After doing a lot of remodelling and landscaping on my house the last thing left to do is the back garden. So I was thinking of creating a patio area in the middle of the lawn with a sunken concrete kidney bowl that could be covered with decking when not in use.

Something like this (starts around 1:10):

http://video.mpora.com/watch/oz2OzM4us/

Either that or basic sunken min-ramp with just a transition at two ends.

dugketterman · 12 Feb 2012, 06:10

@hieru said:

Fantastic stuff Dug!!!

At some point I might have to pick your brains about building a mini concrete bowl in my back yard.

Cool. What did you have in mind?

dugketterman · 12 Feb 2012, 06:18

@hieru said:

At the moment I've got a timber 2ft micro ramp and it's taking up patio space and is a pain to maintain maintain in the UK climate.

After doing a lot of remodelling and landscaping on my house the last thing left to do is the back garden. So I was thinking of creating a patio area in the middle of the lawn with a sunken concrete kidney bowl that could be covered with decking when not in use.

Something like this (starts around 1:10):

http://video.mpora.com/watch/oz2OzM4us/

Either that or basic sunken min-ramp with just a transition at two ends.

That bowl looks pretty sick. I always love those tight tranny pockets.
Concrete is definitely the way to go.