BMX Freestyle

What is BMX Freestyle?

BMX Freestyle is a spectacular discipline of BMX sports where riders perform acrobatic tricks and stunts on specially constructed BMX bikes. Unlike BMX Racing, which focuses on speed, Freestyle emphasizes the creative execution of tricks, jumps, and technical maneuvers.

The discipline developed in the 1970s in California when young riders began performing tricks on their BMX bikes inspired by skateboard moves. Today, BMX Freestyle is an established sport with worldwide competitions and has been an Olympic discipline since the 2020 Tokyo Games.

The Five Main Disciplines of BMX Freestyle

BMX Freestyle is divided into five distinct disciplines, each requiring different skills and equipment:

1. Park

BMX Park is performed in specially constructed skateparks or BMX parks. These parks consist of various ramps, quarter-pipes, spines, and other obstacles that allow riders to perform high jumps and spectacular tricks.

Characteristics:

• Large air tricks and high jumps
• Flowing line through the park
• Combination of various obstacles
• Olympic discipline since 2020

2. Street

BMX Street uses urban obstacles such as stairs, handrails, ledges, benches, and walls. Riders creatively interpret the urban environment and perform technical tricks on everyday objects.

Characteristics:

• Technical grinds and rails
• Precise manual combos
• Creative use of urban spots
• Authentic street aesthetic

3. Flatland

BMX Flatland is the most technical discipline and is performed on a flat, smooth surface. Riders perform complex balance tricks where they balance on various parts of the bike and use it like a dance partner.

Characteristics:

• Extreme balance and body control
• No ramps or obstacles
• Choreographed trick sequences
• Comparable to breakdancing on a bike

4. Vert

BMX Vert (Vertical) is performed in a halfpipe with vertical walls. Riders ride up the ramps and perform spectacular rotations and tricks in the air.

Characteristics:

• Extreme heights (often 3-4 meters above the ramp)
• Rotation tricks (spins and flips)
• Halfpipe setup (usually 3-4 meters high)
• High speed

5. Dirt

BMX Dirt is performed on specially built dirt mounds (dirt jumps). Riders jump from one mound to the next and perform tricks in the air.

Characteristics:

• Natural dirt obstacles
• Large jump distances
• Style and flow
• Outdoor discipline

Basic BMX Freestyle Tricks

BMX Freestyle encompasses hundreds of different tricks that are constantly evolving. Here are the fundamental trick categories:

Air Tricks (Jump Tricks)

• Tabletop - The bike is rotated horizontally in the air so it lies parallel to the ground
• Superman - The rider stretches both legs backward while hanging only by the hands on the handlebars
• Backflip - Backward somersault with the bike
• Frontflip - Forward somersault with the bike
• 360° Spin - Complete horizontal rotation in the air
• Tailwhip - The frame rotates around the handlebar axis while the rider stays in the air
• Barspin - The handlebars rotate 360° around the fork axis

Grind Tricks (Rail and Ledge Tricks)

• Feeble Grind - Only the rear peg on the rail, front wheel beside it
• Smith Grind - Rear peg on the rail, front wheel over it
• 50-50 Grind - Both pegs on the rail
• Icepick Grind - Only one rear peg on the rail, bike balanced
• Crooked Grind - Front peg and rear wheel on the rail

Manual Tricks (Balance Tricks)

• Manual - Balancing on the rear wheel (like a wheelie without pedaling)
• Nose Manual - Balancing on the front wheel
• Hang 5 - Standing and balancing on the front wheel
• Endo - Switching from rear wheel to front wheel

Flatland Tricks

• Turbine - Rider stands on the pegs and spins around the stationary front wheel
• Megaspin - 360° rotation during a wheelie
• Decade - Rider jumps over the handlebars while the bike rotates
• Rolling Hitchhiker - Standing sideways on the rear pegs while the bike rolls

BMX Freestyle Equipment

The BMX Freestyle Bike

A BMX Freestyle bike differs significantly from a Racing BMX:

Frame:

• Compact, reinforced frame made of CrMo steel or aluminum
• Frame height: 20.5 to 21.5 inches
• Top tube length: 20.5 to 21.25 inches
• Weight: 10-13 kg (depending on setup)

Wheels:

• 20 inch diameter (standard)
• Reinforced double-wall rims
• 36 or 48 spokes for maximum stability
• Wider tires (2.2 to 2.5 inches) with high air pressure (60-100 PSI)

Pegs:

• 4 steel pegs (2 front and 2 rear) for grinds
• Length: 4-5 inches
• Diameter: 10mm or 14mm

Brakes:

• U-Brake or no brakes (often brakeless in Street and Park)
• Gyro system enables 360° barspins without cable tangling

Handlebars:

• Height: 8.5 to 10 inches
• Width: 28 to 30 inches
• 4-piece or 2-piece
• Reinforced CrMo material

Protective Equipment

Mandatory equipment in competitions:

• Full-face helmet (in Park and Vert) or skate helmet (in Street)
• Knee and shin guards
• Elbow guards (recommended in Park and Vert)

Optional equipment:

• Gloves for better grip
• Back protector
• Mouth guard

BMX Freestyle at the Olympics

BMX Freestyle Park was first contested as an Olympic discipline at the 2020 Tokyo Games. This marked a milestone for the sport and brought it closer to a global audience.

Olympic Format

Qualification:

• 2 runs per rider
• Best run counts
• Top 9 qualify for the final

Final:

• 2 runs per rider
• Best run counts for final ranking
• 6 judges evaluate each run

Judging criteria:

• Difficulty (40%) - Technical complexity of tricks
• Execution (30%) - Clean execution and landing
• Amplitude (15%) - Height of jumps
• Originality (10%) - Creativity and innovation
• Flow (5%) - Fluidity of run composition

Olympic Medal Winners (Tokyo 2020)

Men:

• 🥇 Gold: Logan Martin (Australia) - 93.30 points
• 🥈 Silver: Daniel Dhers (Venezuela) - 92.05 points
• 🥉 Bronze: Declan Brooks (Great Britain) - 90.80 points

Women:

• 🥇 Gold: Charlotte Worthington (Great Britain) - 97.50 points
• 🥈 Silver: Hannah Roberts (USA) - 96.10 points
• 🥉 Bronze: Nikita Ducarroz (Switzerland) - 89.10 points

Historic moment: Charlotte Worthington landed the first 360° backflip by a woman in an Olympic competition!

Worldwide Competitions and Events

UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has organized the BMX Freestyle Park World Cup series since 2016 with multiple stops worldwide.

Important stops:

• Chengdu (China)
• Montpellier (France)
• Edmonton (Canada)
• Hiroshima (Japan)

X Games

The X Games are the most prestigious event in action sports and have featured BMX Freestyle since 1995.

BMX disciplines at X Games:

• BMX Park
• BMX Street
• BMX Dirt
• BMX Vert

Legendary X Games athletes:

• Dave Mirra (24 medals)
• Jamie Bestwick (29 medals - record)
• Garrett Reynolds (11 gold medals)

FISE World Series

The FISE (Festival International des Sports Extrêmes) is one of the largest freestyle series worldwide with events in over 5 countries.

Simple Session

The Simple Session in Tallinn, Estonia, is considered one of the most innovative BMX events with unique park setups and high prize money.

The Best BMX Freestyle Riders Worldwide

Logan Martin (Australia)

Achievements:

• 2020 Olympic Champion (Gold)
• 2x UCI World Champion (2017, 2021)
• X Games Gold medal winner

Signature tricks:

• 720° spin
• Flair to barspin
• Double backflip

Hannah Roberts (USA)

Achievements:

• 2020 Olympics (Silver)
• 3x UCI World Champion (2018, 2019, 2021)
• X Games Gold medals

Pioneer: First woman to land a 360° no-handed backflip

Garrett Reynolds (USA)

Achievements:

• 11x X Games Gold (Street)
• Considered the best street rider of all time
• Innovator of numerous street tricks

Jamie Bestwick (Great Britain)

Achievements:

• Record: 29 X Games medals (Vert)
• 11x X Games Gold (Vert)
• Dominance of Vert discipline for over 15 years

Other Top Athletes:

Training and Progression

For Beginners

001. Master the basics:

• Safe riding and braking
• Balance on the bike
• Bunny hop (basic jump without ramp)

002. Learn first tricks:

• Manual (rolling on rear wheel)
• 180° spin (half rotation)
• Small jumps

003. Safety:

• ALWAYS wear a helmet
• Start in skateparks with soft obstacles
• Train with experienced riders

For Advanced Riders

001. Trick combinations:

• Connect different tricks together
• Develop flow and style
• Create your own lines

002. Specialization:

• Choose a main discipline (Park, Street, etc.)
• Develop signature tricks
• Participate in competitions

003. Conditioning:

• Strength training for explosive power
• Cardio training for endurance
• Flexibility training for injury prevention

Common Injuries and Prevention

Typical Injuries:

001. Wrist Injuries (30% of all injuries)

• Cause: Falls with outstretched hands
• Prevention: Wrist guards, proper fall technique

002. Knee Injuries (25%)

• Cause: Hard landings, twists
• Prevention: Knee guards, warm-up exercises

003. Head Injuries (20%)

• Cause: Falls without helmet
• Prevention: ALWAYS wear a certified helmet!

004. Abrasions and Bruises (15%)

• Cause: Falls on concrete or asphalt
• Prevention: Long clothing, guards

005. Ankle Injuries (10%)

• Cause: Twists, poor pedals
• Prevention: High-quality pedals, ankle braces

The BMX Freestyle Community

Skatepark Etiquette

Unwritten rules:

• Respect the order - wait until the previous rider is through
• Don't "snake" anyone - don't cut in line
• Help beginners with tips
• Clean up your equipment
• No music without headphones
• Be friendly and inclusive

Online Community

Important platforms:

• Instagram - #BMXFreestyle, #BMXLife
• YouTube - Trick tutorials and event videos
• The Come Up BMX - News and videos
• Ride BMX Magazine - Print and online
• FATBMX - European BMX news

Local Scene

Find your community:

• Visit local skateparks regularly
• Participate in jam sessions (informal meetups)
• Join local BMX groups
• Support local BMX shops

Checklist: Your Entry into BMX Freestyle

• Buy a bike - Appropriate size and setup for your discipline
• Protective equipment - Helmet (most important investment!), knee and elbow guards
• Find a skatepark - Explore local parks, beginner-friendly areas
• Learn basics - Bunny hop, balance, safe falling
• Find community - Meet other riders, learn from experienced ones
• First tricks - Manual, 180°, small jumps
• Video analysis - Film your own runs, study pros
• Train regularly - At least 2-3 times per week
• Be patient - Tricks take hundreds of attempts to perfect
• Have fun - That's the most important thing!

BMX Freestyle vs. BMX Racing

Although both disciplines have "BMX" in their name, they are fundamentally different:

Future of BMX Freestyle

Growing Popularity

Factors for the boom:

• Olympic recognition increases global interest
• Social media makes tricks go viral
• More skateparks and BMX parks worldwide
• Professionalization of the scene

Technological Developments

001. Bike technology:

• Lighter, stronger materials (titanium, carbon)
• Improved pegs with less friction
• Electronic safety systems

002. Training:

• Virtual reality for trick visualization
• Motion-capture analysis
• Foam pits for safe practice of new tricks

003. Competition innovation:

• AI-assisted jury evaluation for more objectivity
• Live streaming to global audiences
• New contest formats (team events, best-trick contests)

New Markets

Growth in:

• Asia (especially China and Japan)
• South America (Brazil, Argentina)
• Africa (South Africa, Ghana)

Related Topics

Discover other exciting areas of cycling:

• BMX Racing - The speed discipline of BMX sports
• BMX Race - Everything about BMX racing on the track
• BMX at the Olympics - BMX as an Olympic discipline
• UCI - Union Cycliste Internationale - The international cycling federation

Last update: November 12, 2025