How to Build a Skatepark Funbox

Posted on March 5th, 2009 by Marck

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Skateboard enthusiasts want to pull off as many tricks as possible off a single object. Aerials, grinds, and technical tricks all need to be executed on a ramp, a rail, or an elevated platform. Now you can pull off amazing and cool skateboarding stunts and tricks on a skatepark or backyard funbox.

What is a Funbox?

A funbox is a set of different skateboarding objects assembled to form a single element on the skatepark. The simplest design for a funbox is a sturdy table with ramps on the sides, and is known as a jumpbox. Skateboarders, inline skaters, and BMX riders use the funbox to execute tricks from an elevated position. Some funboxes may also have rails and ledges where grind tricks can be executed.

Designing the Funbox

Amateur skaters can make a funbox out of a table and some ramps, but the resulting funbox can be unsafe especially for hard landings and technical tricks. If you’re designing a funbox, here are some important reminders:

Dimensions. The width, height, and length of the funbox should be enough for you to execute the right tricks properly and safely.
Strength. When you design a funbox, it’s necessary to overbuild. Landing on the funbox and executing tricks on it can put a lot of strain to the ramps and ledges, so you should reinforce and build the funbox with strong materials.
Components. For professional skateboarders, they must be able to execute a trick on every part of the funbox. Make sure that you can execute a line of tricks off the whole funbox. Add some rails, slopes, ledges, or kicking ramps to maximize flatland tricks, grind tricks, and aerials.

Tools and Materials

To build a simple funbox, you need the following tools and materials:

Concrete and a portable concrete mixer
Timber
Plywood (you can buy wood planks build for skateboarding at a hardware store)
Screws, nuts, and bolts
Pipe railings (depending on how big your funbox is)
Trowel and shovel

Steps

Here are the steps you need to take when constructing a concrete funbox:

Construct a frame for the funbox table using the timber pieces.
Fill in the frame with concrete, and allow the concrete to dry.
As soon as the concrete table is dry the next day, assemble timber and plywood to create the ramps on the sides of the funbox. You can fill in the ramp frames with concrete, or leave them as is with the timber and plywood. Now would also be a good time to lay concrete or plywood ledges along the sides of the funbox table.
When all the concrete parts have dried, assemble the rails. One side or the middle of the funbox table is a great place to put a rail, especially if you plan to pull off a grind by launching or kicking off the ramp. You can also place rails on the ramp if you want to pull off upward grinds or downward slides.
Allow the concrete to cure for three to five days to make sure everything has set completely. You can also paint and tag the funbox at this point.

Once you have completed the funbox, invite some skating buddies over to see how the funbox holds up to its promise. With a funbox, skating becomes fun, enjoyable, awesome, and extreme.