How to Do a BMX Backflip

BMX-style riding started in California toward the end of the 1970s, as teens took their bikes off the streets and onto the dirt. With the introduction of the Summer X Games Extreme Sports competition, the popularity of BMX bikes and various tricks performed on the bikes has grown exponentially. The BMX backflip has become a standard in many extreme sports competitions today. Jose Yanez landed the first backflip on a BMX bike in 1986. You can learn to perform a backflip by practicing for many hours to get it right.

Things You'll Need

• Solid ramp
• Foam pit

Instructions

1. Find a place to practice the BMX backflip into a big foam pit. You need to do the practice time in the safest environment possible. If you don't have a foam pit in your area, consider making a solid one yourself.

2. Set up a ramp so you will land in the foam pit during the jump. You need plenty of landing room in the foam pit without a gap from from the ramp to the pit. If you are fortunate enough to live near a BMX practice facility, a foam pit should be available with a ramp.

3. Pedal hard to the ramp, and jump straight into the pit to get the sensation of landing in the foam pit. You need to know what to expect when landing your practice jumps.

4. Line up for an attempt at the backflip. Make sure you are aligned to take the ramp straight over the jump and to the landing area.

5. Pedal hard to get your speed up as high as possible.

6. Compress your body on the bike as you approach the ramp. Both your elbows and your back should be bent. Do not approach the ramp in an upright position.

7. Pull your body back into your normal riding position just after hitting the lip of the ramp. Do not try to pull your body over the back of the bike, because you can pull yourself out of position for the landing.

8. Look up (which will become down) to see your landing spot. As soon as you see your landing spot, do not let it get out of your sight. You need to stay focused on the landing.

9. Keep your shoulders square to the handlebars during the whole jump, including the period of time you spend looking for your landing spot. If you look to the side for your landing spot, you shoulders will pull the handlebars and create a monster crash.

10. Pump through the transition from being upright, to upside down and upright again.

11. Land with both bike tires hitting the landing spot at the same time. You can be off a little, with the front or rear tire landing first, and still land the jump. If either tire hits the ground significantly sooner than the other tire, you will crash land.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear the normal protective gear (helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and gloves), and add a protective cup and chest gear. You will crash often and hard.

• Attempting a BMX backflip is extremely dangerous and should only be attempted by well-experienced bike riders (experience with tricks and ramps). Don't try a backflip with a big, heavy bike, as it will lead to injury.

• Don't get careless jumping into the safer foam pit (you can still get hurt). Each practice run needs focus on performing and landing the backflip.