BMX Term
Euro gap
A euro gap is a park obstacle where a bank runs up towards a deck but stops short, leaving a gap that riders jump up onto the deck or back down to the bank.
Updated 2 min read388 words
A euro gap is a park obstacle where a bank or ramp runs up towards a deck but stops short, leaving a gap between the top of the bank and the deck. Riders jump the gap up onto the deck, or out of the deck down over the gap onto the bank.
Meaning
The shape is simple: a bank, a gap, and a raised deck behind it. Riding towards the deck, the rider goes up the bank and has to clear the gap to land on the deck. Riding the other way, the rider rolls off the deck, clears the gap and lands on the bank, which gives a smooth roll-out. Some euro gaps use a quarter pipe or transition instead of a flat bank.
The obstacle gives air in both directions without a standard ramp-to-ramp jump, so riders can do spins and bar tricks either way. Street spots with a bank leading up to a raised platform, such as plazas with low walls, are also called euro gaps.
A euro gap is different from a flyout. On a flyout the rider launches out of a curved ramp onto or over a deck with no gap in the riding surface. On a euro gap the gap between bank and deck is the point of the obstacle.
Origin and usage
The name is usually linked to European contests. In the UK the same setup is often called a Wembley gap, after a 1997 Vans skateboarding contest at Wembley Arena where it was used, and in parts of Europe it is called a London gap. No single documented origin exists, and it is not certain who first used the term "euro gap" or when.
Today the term is used worldwide. Park builders often include one. Tricks include airs, tabletops, barspins, tailwhips and 180s. Riders also grind or manual along the deck edge before dropping in.
Examples
- "I'm doing a barspin off the euro today."
- "The euro in this park lands into a big bank, it's super smooth."
- "He boosted up the euro to the deck and tailwhipped back down."
Related terms
- Flyout: a ramp used to launch onto a deck.
- Ledge: a street obstacle for grinds.
- Hubba: a ledge that runs beside a set of stairs.
- Transition: the curved part of a ramp.
- Boost: height or air on a jump.
Frequently asked questions about Euro gap
Why is it called a euro gap?
The name is usually linked to European contests. In the UK the same setup is often called a Wembley gap, after a 1997 skateboarding contest at Wembley Arena where it was used, and in parts of Europe it is called a London gap. No single documented origin exists.
What tricks do riders do over a euro gap?
Riders jump up from the bank to the deck, or out of the deck down over the gap to the bank, with airs, spins, barspins and tailwhips. Some also grind or manual the deck edge before dropping in.
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