Woodward X-Camp

Woodward X-Camp

by Chad Ison

Publication Date: May 1999

Throughout the existence of our magazine we have covered numerous types of extreme sports and activities. But one thing always come to my mind while watching these young athletes perform their extreme trickshow does one learn to do these tricks without killing yourself. I've seen how local kids build ramps and dirt courses in their back yards or practice tricks on local streets and alleys. But how does one learn to take their sport even more to the extreme? Who can teach you how to jump higher or do the extreme tricks you see the professionals do?

Woodward X-Camp in Woodward, PA is a summer camp facility unlike any other. From June through August, Woodward offers an aggressive training program and facility that serves as a catalyst for helping young athletes take their talents to the edge. Woodward's modern facilities, radical training ideas, and state-of-the-art equipment are incorporated with the best pros, to give each rider the best experience. The camp offers training for all levels in each sport - from beginners to pros. The camp is open for boys and girls, 7 years of age or older. No previous experience is required to attend the camp, only interest.

Each summer the camp brings together some of the finest skateboarders, inline skaters, and BMX freestyle riders and amazingly everyone gets along great. The instructors and counselors are a key reason for this perfect mixture. Each counselor is hand-picked not only for their athletic ability, but for their ability to communicate with the campers. The instructors help everyone learn together, while at the same time, tailor their instruction to each camper's skill level and personal goals. The instructors also serve as counselors for the camp.

The counselors stay with the campers in the cabins. This is a major attraction for the kids who get to stay with their favorite pros. When kids see pros it is usually at a contest or an exhibition. They don't usually get a chance to talk one-on-one with them, much less skate with them. However at Woodward it is a different storyeveryone skates together. Many of the visiting pros help with instruction, which adds to the learning experience for the kids.

Woodward's extreme sports facilities are constantly being improved to provide the ultimate in cutting edge terrain. The indoor skate/inline/freestyle area is housed in a building called "Egypt" that includes four street courses - two outdoor and two indoor. The area contains a 11' x 40' vert ramp with extension, a multi-level 8' ramp, two indoor bowls and two huge mini-ramps. The indoor street area also has flat banks, hips and a new vert ramp. For 1997 Woodward is adding a new 7200 square foot indoor area featuring innovative uses of foam, lexan and spotting devices, bringing the total indoor riding area to 40,000 square feet.

Woodward has implemented several ideas over the past to make it safer and easier to learn launch ramp tricks. A group of launch ramps has been set up for skaters and freestyle bikers to progress from one ramp to another without getting hurt. The first ramp has a foam block and resi-pit landing area where the rider can land upside down and still get a soft landing. The second ramp is used after the rider gets used to the feeling of the trick on the first ramp, and can land it properly. This ramp has a resi-pit landing area trimmed to the size and shape of a landing ramp or an ordinary launch ramp. There is a layer of special material on top which allows the rider to land in an area which absorbs the impact as he or she rides away. The kids then progress to the third launch ramp which is the standard wooden ramp.

Woodward's skateboard program is considered by many to be second-to-none. Designed by their staff and pros, attention was placed on skills, balance, and style. After the daily mandatory group instruction sessions, attention is turned to a rider's individual tricks. At this point an instructor usually works one-on-one with a skater throughout the vast complex.

The inline program priortizes the skater's training. The staff and pros take skaters through Woodward, instructing on bowls, mini-ramps, vert ramps, rails, and the street course. Custom made grind rails of varying shape and heights have been made to pro specifications.

Woodward's freestyle program has been improved with a hot line-up of staff and pros. The new "Taj Designed" dirt jumping area along with the freestyle BMX area dubbed "The Cage" was designed by BMX pros to provide riders with a terrain unmatched anywhere else. Both areas will include a spine, hips, box jumps, and vert quarter-pipes. The course was made and ridden by Taj Milhelich, Dave Mirra, Joe Rich, Matt Hoffman, Luc-E, Dave Friemuth, Kenan Harkin, and Jay Miron.

However Woodward is not just inline, skateboarding and freestyle BMX. They have a full line of optional recreational activities for campers to get involved with during their stay. Campers can participate in activities such as horseback riding, swimming, indoor rock climbing, volleyball, basketball, dodge ball, tennis, soccer, photography, overnight campouts, go-kart racing, movies, cookouts, dancing and much more.

So the next time you're at a competition or watching a pro on a tour doing a spectacular trick - chances are they learned it a Woodwardthe camp for extremists.