DIY spots are synonymous with skateboarding. You probably built your first quarterpipe or launch ramp in the street in front of your house, or waxed up the nearest curb as soon as you learned how. In ...

Pat Smith mixing concrete for a quarter-pipe at Mosquito Beach while Max Lockhart, a skater, looks on. Photo: Daniel Karel Pat Smith mixing concrete for a quarter-pipe at Mosquito Beach while Max ...

One of the most intimidating tricks for beginner skateboarders is dropping in on a ramp. The thought of throwing yourself down a ramp can be terrifying, especially for those with a fear of heights.

Mark Hanley, rocking a grease-stained button down that suggests an adeptness with power tools, is gripping the handle of drill. He points out patches of poison ivy lurking along the fence near a ...