With Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) from Ramp Sports
By Stephanie Nitsch
To call RAMP Sports a ski or snowboard company is a bit of a misnomer. True, the Park City-based manufacturer produces an entire line of powder planks that are proudly hand-built in the USA, but when the snow melts, the company’s crew of avid mountain mavens grabs a different kind of board to satisfy their seasonal boardom.
RAMP, an acronym for Riders Artists Musicians Project, is a collective of outdoor enthusiasts and creative pioneers that brings year-round innovation to the boardsport lifestyle. Backed by a team of Olympic athletes and eclectic “pro” talent (think lead singer Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction and Hollywood silver screen actor Luke Wilson), RAMP has earned industry recognition for its patent-pending vacuum molding process and eco-conscious construction. This summer, however, the company hopes to make a new statement with stand up paddleboarding (SUPing) as a compliment to the ski and snowboard season.
RAMP is one of Park City’s newest outfitters to join the SUP movement. This modified form of surfing doesn’t require any actual waves—let alone an ocean—thus making it an ideal setup for landlocked residents that crave a little aquatic reprieve in the summer. And with a handful of reservoirs near the Park City area, you don’t have to travel far to try it out. In fact, free RAMP-hosted SUP demos at Jordanelle and Rockport reservoirs this summer o call RAMP Sports a ski or snowboard company is a bit of a misnomer. True, the Park City-based manufacturer produces an entire line of powder planks that are proudly hand-built in the USA, but when the snow melts, the company’s crew of avid mountain mavens grabs a different kind of board to satisfy their seasonal boardom.
RAMP, an acronym for Riders Artists Musicians Project, is a collective of outdoor enthusiasts and creative pioneers that brings year-round innovation to the boardsport lifestyle. Backed by a team of Olympic athletes and eclectic “pro” talent (think lead singer Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction and Hollywood silver screen actor Luke Wilson), RAMP has earned industry recognition for its patent-pending vacuum molding process and eco-conscious construction. This summer, however, the company hopes to make a new statement with stand up paddleboarding (SUPing) as a compliment to the ski and snowboard season.
RAMP is one of Park City’s newest outfitters to join the SUP movement. This modified form of surfing doesn’t require any actual waves—let alone an ocean—thus making it an ideal setup for landlocked residents that crave a little aquatic reprieve in the summer. And with a handful of reservoirs near the Park City area, you don’t have to travel far to try it out. In fact, free RAMP-hosted SUP demos at Jordanelle and Rockport reservoirs this summer mean you don’t have to do much else than pack your swimsuit and show up.
While RAMP produces its skis and snowboards from within their own factory, the company has chosen to partner with C4 Waterman in Hawaii to supply a quiver of high-performance paddleboards. The inflatable boards, available for demo or purchase at RAMP’s headquarters, are constructed from military- grade PVC material, making them stronger, more stable and more portable than their typical fiberglass counterparts—a perk for novice and expert paddlers alike.
If your sea legs aren’t up for the challenge, RAMP has yet another way to cruise around Park City this summer: longboard
skateboards. Built with the same sustainable materials and patent- pending vacuum molded process as their skis and snowboards, the new longboards are built for bombing hills as much as rolling flats.
Both longboards and paddleboards are on display at RAMP’s factory in Silver Creek. Visit RAMP’s website for the most current SUP demo dates and locations, or stop by the factory on any weekday to demo a paddleboard on your own time.
www.rampsports.com | 888-406-0567 6407 Business Park Rd., Park City
