FINGERBOARDING MAGAZINE 

Islander Ramps: Born to Build

The minimalist look of Islander Ramps obstacles are no mistake, its in part how former molecular scientist Josean Rodriguez-Nieves sees the world around him, including fingerboarding.
Growing up in the 90’s in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, skateboarding and TechDecks were part of Josean’s everyday life. Although, in one shape or another, skateboarding and fingerboarding were always present throughout his life, it wasn’t until the COVID era that fingerboarding truly turned his world upside down. After countless obstacle builds using scraps from home improvement projects and sharing them with friends, Josean realized that he could provide fingerboarding enthusiasts around the world with a new choice and experience, leading to the establishment of Islander Ramps. Islander Ramps, a family-owned small business, specializes in handcrafted fingerboard obstacles built fusing PVC; a synthetic polymer that acts and behaves just like hardwood and provides a perfectly smooth, grippy and reactive surface to ride. Josean’s obstacle designs are focused on practicality with minimal aesthetics, acting as an blank canvas that allows the user to be part of the creation process. Such creation process collaboration is pictured here in the shape of a custom obstacle requested by local rider Reggie Hernandez and illustrated by local artist Elouis Morales, a truly unique and functional work of art.
Josean’s most memorable fingerboarding moment was hosting Roll’n Fingers at Roll’n Skateboard and Warehouse skate shop in Barceloneta last year. With more than ten fingerboard parks and different core communities from every corner of the island present inside the skate shop, a unique celebration of fingerboarding took place that is still remembered by everyone that was present. From that day on, in collaboration with neighbor brand Bootleg Dept., Islander Ramps has been co-hosting free public events every two to three months that emulate the spirit experienced at Roll’n Fingers by participants; with challenges, prizes and gifts for everyone that participates. Josean has also been actively involved in contributing to the many other fingerboarding events taking place around the island by different brands and communities.
In terms of the future of Islander Ramps, Josean is heavily invested in expanding the manufacturing capabilities of Islander Ramps to create bigger and more complex pieces, as well as, different modular designs that will bring more use out of the different obstacles fingerboarders already own. Limited collab obstacles are also in the horizon. With regards to new ventures, significant efforts by Josean have been focused on streamlining and improving the production of the very well received Islander Ramps fingerboard decks.

Website: www.islanderramps.com
Instagram: @islander_ramps