Interview and illustration by Chester Jones
The DNA of any DIY ramp building is inextricably associated with the almighty pallet. The two main different types of pallets the present day laymen may find in any shady corner of the curved earth will most likely be a stringer pallet or a block pallet. Both designs have their inherent merits, come in stock sizes and serve purposes mainly associated with forklifts and heavy liftings of your favorite consumer goods.
Oddly enough BMX’s own Ryan Corrigan lifted the illustrious pallet loop at the 2004 FBM Ghetto Street Comp in Binghamton, New York while standing on top of a fucking forklift.
Corrigan’s cleverness and regard for the rad tilted the shreddable scales and it was as if the pallet was where he took his paints from; spreading them thick and thin into the eye of hurricane Ivan painting a real-life picture of Picasso proportions.
We shot Corrigan’s Corner some queries about his quest for the famed Pallet Loop nearly 15 years ago.
Historically speaking, the pallet loop was a 1st (still is). Can you recall your process behind the idea for the loop? Seems like something so wild was just a joke at first? What’d Crandall think of it?
It was pretty simple. My idea was that a loop is just two arches. They will hold themselves together. Pretty much you put enough nails in something it’s hard to knock down.
It was right around when loops were just becoming a big deal in BMX. It just went along with the ghetto comp vibe, that not much is a big deal in BMX so let’s make a loop out of garbage. I remember talking to Steve and telling him I was gonna come build a loop. I remember he was silent for about 15 seconds, then replied with “you can do that?” I think my answer was, “why can’t we do it.”
Whats your favorite aspect about building with pallets and recycled materials? There’s a crude craft in it.
Yeah, just the wing it factor makes it fun. You can’t help but smile when you make something out of pallets and wood from an abandoned building.
The whole experience of sourcing materials and making something out of nothing are hardwired into some of us. Any wild wood snatching stories?
For the loop, and that years ghetto comp as a whole, a lot of the wood came out of the building that was above FBM. People were just tearing the top floors of the abandoned building apart and throwing wood out of the broken windows. It was beautiful site.
Would you care to expound on any pallet intelligence you may have? Best ways to utilize, stack and create curvatures? (The CC has been developing a decentralized pallet quarter pipe plan-set system, that could dovetail in some of your intel, if you’re interested.)
Just stack them up, step back and take a look. If it looks good run with it.
Approximately how many pallets did it take to build the pallet loop? No need for a tape measure right?
I bet around 30-35. I can’t really remember; we had on the run in and run out. Yeah I didn’t measure anything till it was finished. I measured vertical and horizontal at the end and it was less than a 6” difference. We called it good enough.
How many beers were optimal for pallet loop production? I heard this dude Chickenwrap was site supervisor.
I don’t think that many while actually building it, but probably a big beer or two. I couldn’t understand anything chickenwrap said.
Did you reference anything? Or just prop up opposing over-vert quarters and link the two of them together? You didn’t use a centerpoint to define any radius to define the circumference? I was always perplexed on you you actually did it.
I started in the flat and worked each side up and met in the middle at the top. I couldn’t tell you what the radius was. It took a lot of just looking at it and trying to make each side the same while staggering each row a little bit over than the last row to make it exit on the right.
When I got to the top two rows, It was two pallets wide, I took some door hinges and connected the two rows then lowered them down on the shop fork lift until it wedged into place. Then I just added some ply, took out the temporary supports and there it was. During the event people were actually on top of it to watch, that made me a little nervous.
Have you built anything since then that can compare to how ludicrous the loop was?
Ludicrous is a relative term.
I’m sure you’ve had this happen before, building ramps and people frothing over dropping in on it the minute its done. With the loop, it seemed like everyone was just straight spooked on it?
Yeah. It was around 15 years ago in shitty parking lot in Binghamton, New York. People were spooked pulling into Binghamton. The loop was just the cherry on top of Binghamton.
After you built it, did you think anyone would actually loop the thing? Jim Cielenski and Fisher were the only ones to conquer the curve correct?
Yeah they were the only successful ones. Two other people tried it peddling up the hill and they didn’t make it. I learned later one of them was Big Daddy.
I’ve seen some rumblings about the pallet loop being recreated for this years Swampfest. Will you be making a run to Florida?
You never know what can happen. Trey and I keep in touch and I’m stoked he’s keeping the laughter in BMX events.
Other than the loop, is there anything else that sticks out about the jam in ’04? And lastly, did you get honor in tearing the loop down?
After the Loop and the 900; Crandall and myself basically said, That’s it. We’re done. I didn’t get to tear it down. Big Dave, aka spooky Dave, aka Pedal Driven Cycles Dave tore it down and said it wouldn’t come apart. They took the fork lift, raised it as high as it would go into a big egg then dropped it and it just formed an oval in the other direction. He said it was amazing.
This was originally published in Challenger BMX Magazine, Vol. 2, Issue #4 Winter 2018/2019
It’s surreal to accomplish a goal you’ve been directly working your ass off towards for 5 1/2 years and wanting for 22 years. I have this bad habit of grossly underestimating the amount of time, energy, and money it takes to do things in general. It’s almost like I get so psyched on whatever crazy ass idea that pops into my head that my subconscious keeps me from truly considering what’s involved. Thank you so much Ryan Corrigan (@holdonherewego ) for leading this build, offering your invaluable design input, and putting up with our bullshit (#screws ). Thank you @skatelite for making the best ramp surface money can buy. I went with the Skatelite Pro in Natural color and between the constant rain followed by direct sun along with the perpetual humidity here, backyard ramps in south Louisiana get beat to death in only a few years so it was imperative to me to use a riding surface that would prolong the life of my ramp for many years to come. Not to mention, riding @skatelite is sooo nice. It’s fast, grippy, and the additional layer of @skatelite on top of the plywood makes your ramp feel that much more solid, not to mention it basically lasts forever. I’ll never build another ramp without it. Also, big thank you to @grizzdolphin@andrew_sanford @haynkme @stoopking@p_d0llaz @danieldisalvo @bennyiaquinta@dudemanwill @samchabert@shake_bake8000 and whoever I’m forgetting and everyone else who helped, gave me design advice, came by and said something positive, or messaged me congratulations. This was a team effort. I love y’all.
This is the first episode in July’s focus on the importance of the James River where Ryan Corrigan talks about the James River Association. Their mission is to be guardian of the James River. The James River Association is a voice for the river and takes action to promote conservation and responsible stewardship of its natural resources. They achieve these goals through core programs: Watershed…
Stop joking around for one minuteI'd rather cry right now
And play those sad notes on the piano
Let the rest of the band go home
'Cause I'll lead you until the morning
Please be here until the morning
Hold my hand until the morning
Brings the light of day to our eyes
