Anyone can fly high at Vert Jungle
The first thing to know about Vert Jungle, a skateboard paradise for serious skaters, is that you don’t have to be a serious skater to enjoy yourself.
Sure, the star of the show at this Arroyo Grande skate nirvana is the towering structure, known as a vert ramp, at the center of the five-acre property. The highflying Tony Hawks of the world favor such ramps. But don’t let that intimidate you. For one thing, Vert Jungle has other charms. Owners Rob and Megan Beaudoin also run a bamboo business, giving Vert Jungle a tropical touch. The Beaudoins’ four children (all skaters) are sweet and charming — and shred like you wouldn’t believe.
There’s plenty of heart here, down to the mama cat and kittens. Accommodations range from basic tent camping to a luxury studio.
Skate sessions are primarily at night, and rippers of all ages come from around the world and put on a show.
As a skate instructor, Rob understands that not every skater has the guts to stand atop a vert ramp and plunge over the side — a free-falling act known as “dropping in.” Rob knows acrophobia when he sees it, and it was written all over me. Just thinking about standing at the top of the ramp (15 feet at its highest point) sent my pulse into a frenzy.
Fortunately, Vert Jungle’s ramp was designed with wimps like me in mind. Unlike most vert ramps, this one includes much lower roll-in entries, gentle as playground slides. I rolled in from the lowest point, just 3 feet high, and had a blast. And if that’s still too much? Relax on the viewing platform and watch the serious skaters fly.