A funbox is a standard element of a

skatepark A skatepark, or skate park, is a purpose-built recreational environment made for skateboarding, BMX, Freestyle scootering, scootering, and aggressive inline skating. A skatepark may contain half-pipes, handrails, funboxes, vert ramps, stairw ...

. It generally consists of a box shape with a flat top and a

ramp An inclined plane, also known as a ramp, is a flat supporting surface tilted at an angle from the vertical direction, with one end higher than the other, used as an aid for raising or lowering a load. The inclined plane is one of the six clas ...

on two or more sides. A funbox may also include other elements that allow for more complicated

skateboarding trick A skateboarding trick, or simply a trick, is a maneuver performed by manipulating a skateboard, usually with one's feet, in a specific way to achieve the desired outcome – the trick. History Though skateboards emerged in the 1900s, skateboardi ...

s.''Skateboarding Skills: The Rider's Guide''
by Ben Powell (Firefly Books, 2008) Like other skatepark features, funboxes are used by

skateboarders Skateboarding is an action sport that involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard, as well as a recreational activity, an art form, an entertainment industry job, and a method of transportation. Originating in the United States, ...

, roller skaters using inline skates or quad skates, and BMX-riders.

Features

Table-top - The main characteristic of a funbox is the standard table-top; the flat top of the main structural ''box'' component. The table-top can vary in height and surface area. Ramps - To allow access to the table-top, a funbox will generally be surrounded (on two or more sides) by ramps or

stairs Stairs are a structure designed to bridge a large vertical direction, vertical distance between lower and higher levels by dividing it into smaller vertical distances. This is achieved as a diagonal series of horizontal platforms called steps wh ...

to allow tricks or transitions on, off or over the table-top. Other elements - A funbox may also include a number of other elements including ledges,

rails Rail or rails may refer to: Rail transport *Rail transport and related matters * Railway track or railway lines, the running surface of a railway Arts and media Film * ''Rails'' (film), a 1929 Italian film by Mario Camerini * ''Rail'' (1967 fi ...

, spines, copings, angled ramps, wall sections to allow "wallrides" and improvised

street furniture Street furniture is a collective term for objects and pieces of equipment installed along streets and roads for various purposes. It includes bench (furniture), benches, traffic barriers, bollards, post boxes, phone boxes, streetlamps, traffic ...

pieces. A funbox with ramps on opposite sides may allow for the conduct of aerial tricks. As such, funboxes are commonly placed in line with the "outlet" of a larger ramp to allow for a build-up of speed. Typically, a funbox with ramps or transitions on all sides of the table will be placed in the middle of a park.

Construction

Funboxes are generally constructed of

concrete Concrete is a composite material composed of aggregate bound together with a fluid cement that cures to a solid over time. It is the second-most-used substance (after water), the most–widely used building material, and the most-manufactur ...

(as a permanent element in a skatepark) or wood (as a moveable or customizable element for

street skateboarding Street skateboarding is a skateboarding discipline which focuses on flat-ground tricks, grinds, slides and aerials within urban environments, and public spaces. Street skateboarders meet, skate, and hang out in and around urban areas refe ...

). Some variations include

steel Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...

frames and both concrete and wood constructions will often include steel copings or rails. Some funboxes will be constructed in sections to allow for further customization.''Ramp Plans: Learn How to Build Vert Street Mini Launch and Bowls (2000 Edition)''
(High Speed Productions, 1999) ''Thrasher'' magazine">hrasher_(magazine).html" ;"title="eleased by Thrasher (magazine)">''Thrasher'' magazine/ref> The construction must resist dynamic structural load resulting from aerial tricks or jumps onto the funbox.

References

{{Skateboarding Skateboarding equipment