Big Drop! Skateboarder Launches 28 Feet to Ramp

April 7, 2006 — -- In a true marriage of skateboarding and rock 'n' roll, pro skater Danny Way hurled himself off a giant Fender Stratocaster guitar for a record-breaking 28-foot free fall onto a ramp.

The event Thursday night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas was postponed by a day after bad weather initially halted his attempt. There were also complications with the ramp as designed by Way, but he was determined to pull off the stunt.

"Despite the variables in the ramp design. … We managed to make this challenge happen," Way said after he landed. "This event demonstrates the continued progression of skateboarding."

The previous world record for a "Big Air" jump was 12 feet, 3 inches, something Way was eager to change.

"I'm a little bit of a daredevil, so I do have that fire that burns," said Way by telephone as he prepared for the Vegas event. "I like to see what I'm capable of."

Those who follow skateboarding closely know he's capable of plenty.

The 31-year-old is an X Games gold medalist and has a string of firsts on his bio: world records in distance jumps and the distinction of being the only person to jump from a helicopter on a skateboard. His last high-profile event had him skateboarding across the Great Wall of China. (Click here to watch video of the jump.)

Despite these accomplishments, he had some jitters before he jumped from the Hard Rock Casino. "I get pretty nervous. I mean, I am human," he said. "I've got a family, a wife and two kids."

Before he could conquer the Great Wall or consider leaping from a giant Fender Stratocaster guitar, Way knew he first had to nail a math problem.

Hanging out on a skateboard and crunching numbers may sound like an odd mix of hobbies, but he learned early on that when it comes to vertical skating it's all about physics.

"When I was about 11 years old, I built my first ramp in my backyard, learned about dimensions and G-force and angles … and all the geometry that goes into the success of any design of a ramp."