In 1980, Paul Heuberger became Swiss champion for the first time at the age of just 14 and set a junior Swiss record in the skateboard high jump with a height of 1.19 meters. At the age of 17, he founded the Riehen Skate Club. In the years that followed, Paul won the title of Swiss halfpipe champion several times and reached European level in skateboarding.

During a camp in Bourges, France in 1987, he had the opportunity to connect with big names like Tony Hawk, Mike McGill, and Kevin Staab, which inspired him to become a professional skateboarder. To be able to skate daily, he lived in Geneva for a while, where the only skate hall in Switzerland was located.

Paul received sponsors, was photographed for Swiss magazines, and was well on his way to earning a living from skateboarding. His dream was to live and skate in the USA as a pro. However, after a series of serious injuries, he had to realize that a career as a professional skateboarder was no longer feasible.

In 1989, Paul visited his skater colleague Dan Bourqui in Brazil. There, after a break of almost two years, he found his way back to skateboarding and developed a technique that enabled him to skate without falling. The idea of building professional skateboard facilities matured in Brazil. At the end of July 1989, he founded the sole proprietorship Vertical Technik Paul Heuberger.

In 1997, Vertical was transformed into a public limited company. From a one-man operation, the company developed into a recognized name on the international scene. From 2000, the skatepark sector experienced a boom, and at the same time Vertical Technik AG employed up to 25 people. By supplying events in Switzerland and other European countries, the company quickly gained an excellent reputation as a provider of quality and reliability. Vertical Technik AG’s products found their way to almost every country in Europe and to many communities in Switzerland. At the request of professional skaters, mobile show ramp systems were rented out to Australia and sold to the USA and Brazil.

In 2001, Paul was commissioned to design a show ramp for Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huck Jam Tour, which toured the largest cities in the USA from 2002 to 2008. This halfpipe is considered the best ever built. It consists of a sophisticated aluminum construction that is collapsible and can be transported in a minimal space. The riding surface is made of beech plywood. To this day, it is used daily in Tony Hawk’s indoor skatepark and regularly features at events.

The first concrete skate park in Switzerland was built in 2015 with the development of the wet-spraying process. With innovative concepts and contemporary designs, Vertical Technik AG has since become the market leader. Passionate skaters work in the skatepark design department and are an important pillar of the company.

Vertical Technik AG has been shaking up the calisthenics market since 2017 with the development of innovative street workout equipment. With two product lines, customers are offered a variant called “Light”, which has the following features: the most affordable calisthenics facility available on the Swiss market with a money-back guarantee and the Power version, a product line in the top quality segment with galvanized posts that can be powder-coated in all RAL colors according to customer requirements. Vertical Technik AG has become an important player thanks to the combination of fitness and ninja elements as well as sophisticated complete offers.

In 2018, Vertical Technik AG was able to build a national performance center (NLZ) for young athletes as a total contractor for the Spiritus Sanctus College in Brig. A former indoor swimming pool was adapted to the needs of the athletes. The project, including planning, construction management and execution, was completed in a record time of just 3 months. It houses facilities such as a skateboard bowl, a mini ramp and several skate modules, a big air with landing airbag for skateboarders, a dry slope with rail and quarter pipe, two Eurotramp Grandmaster trampolines with wall walk and pit airbag, a five square trampoline and a 20 m long air track, mobile parkour elements from Cube, a slackline, a treadmill with laser shooting equipment for biathlon, a minitramp and a functional fitness zone.

In summer 2019, Vertical Technik AG developed the first skate modules made entirely of granite, which means they require no maintenance. The first skate park with granite elements was installed in Arlesheim.

At the request of the Baselland Sports Office, a climbing caterpillar was developed in 2020, consisting of square and hexagonal cubes that can be assembled as required and expanded by combining them with add-on elements such as poles or ropes. The climbing cube has since become an integral part of Vertical Technik AG’s product range.

The first indoor parkour project with Chris Harmat was planned for 2021. He is a professional parkour athlete and Ninja Warrior, the reigning overall World Cup winner in parkour and is currently ranked number 1 in the speed category in the International Gymnastics Federation’s world rankings. Chris’ dream was to run a professional training center for the trend sports ninja, parkour, chase tag, street workout, tricking and trampoline facilities. Vertical Technik AG planned and realized this dream in collaboration with Chris. Overground opened in Basel in 2022.

In 2016, the International Olympic Committee decided to include skateboarding in the program. To give this sport a public presence, skateboarding was presented at the start of a special exhibition with an event on June 11, 2021, for which a skateable sculpture was specially developed and built by Vertical Technik AG. The sculpture was designed by Berlin-based Swiss artist Rylsee, who is a skateboarder himself and has become internationally renowned for his graffiti and graphics as well as his avant-garde approach. The rideable sculpture was erected in front of the entrance to the 2022 Olympic Museum. After the exhibition, the sculpture was transported by helicopter to its new location at the skate park in Lausanne-Vidy.

In 2023, Vertical supplied the ninja elements for the Extreme Ninja 2.0 event in Niouc in Valais. This involved erecting 1.2 tons of steel on one of the highest suspension bridges in Europe, at a height of over 200 metres. The 56 enthusiastic participants from 13 different countries were offered an extraordinary and thrilling experience full of excitement and adrenaline. The atmosphere was characterized by intense energy and each participant was able to put their skills to the test.

The year 2024 was characterized by a high order situation, with all Vertical Technik AG products in demand. Skate parks, combined parkour and street workout facilities, climbing cubes and generation parks were all popular products. For the first time, playfit® exercise equipment was supplied in combination with street workout and climbing facilities.

In 2025, Vertical Technik AG was appointed the official playfit® distribution partner for Switzerland and Liechtenstein. This strengthens our position in the outdoor fitness sector, and we will offer a wide selection of high-quality outdoor fitness equipment made of 100% chrome steel, such as vGYM and RunVT. Our strength training equipment for communities features an adjustable weight system, ideal for communal outdoor training.