BMX Discipline
Dirt jumping
Dirt jumping is the BMX discipline of riding packed earth jumps, performing tricks over the gap between a take-off lip and a landing, often in contest form.
Updated 4 min read956 words
Dirt jumping is the BMX discipline of riding jumps built from compacted earth. Each jump has a take-off lip and a separate landing, and the rider performs a trick in the air over the gap between them. It is one of the original forms of BMX, descended directly from racing, and it was a core contest discipline through the 1990s and 2000s.
What it is
Dirt jumping grew out of racing. Early BMX tracks had jumps, and riders began building bigger ones in vacant lots to practise. By the 1980s "jumping" was its own thing, and by the 1990s it had become a contest format with a set of three or four large doubles built in a line.
In contest dirt, riders take two or three runs down a line of jumps and are scored on the tricks they do over each one. The jumps are big, typically six to eight metres from lip to landing, and the tricks are the same as in park: flips, spins, whips and bar tricks. The best dirt riders have always been able to do a different trick on every jump in a run.
Dirt jumping is closely related to trails but not the same. Trails riders build long lines of jumps in the woods and value flow, style and the building itself. Dirt jumping, in the contest sense, is about the biggest trick over a short, standardised set. The split between the two became sharper in the 2000s and remains a point of debate.
Where it is ridden
Dirt jumps are built wherever there is soil and tolerance:
- Contest sites: temporary jumps built for events, torn down afterwards.
- Public dirt parks: councils in some countries, including Australia, build and maintain dirt jump lines next to skateparks or in reserves.
- Private jumps: backyard and bush spots built by riders, often without permission.
- Bike parks: commercial mountain bike parks often include a dirt jump area that BMX riders use too.
Because dirt needs regular maintenance, a dirt spot only lasts as long as someone cares for it. Lips erode, landings flatten and rain turns everything to mud. Shaping and watering jumps is part of the discipline.
Typical bike setup
Dirt bikes are set up for stability on large jumps and rough landings.
| Part | Typical choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | 21 to 21.25 inch top tube, 74.5 to 75 degree head angle | Longer and slacker for stability at speed |
| Chainstay | 13.5 inch or longer | Longer rear end helps the bike track straight on landings |
| Brakes | Rear U-brake common | Speed control on the run-in; many still ride brakeless |
| Rear hub | Cassette | Instant engagement for pedalling into jumps |
| Tyres | 2.3 to 2.4 inch with some tread | Grip on loose dirt, see tyres |
| Tyre pressure | 50 to 70 psi | Lower than park for grip and to absorb landings |
| Pegs | Usually none | Not needed and they catch on lips |
| Gearing | 25 or 28 tooth with 9 tooth driver | Enough to sprint into a line |
| Seat | Slightly higher than street | Riders use the seat to steer with the knees on whips |
See frame geometry for the effect of chainstay length and head angle.
Key tricks and skills
Dirt jumping starts with jumping well. Before any trick, a rider needs to:
- Pump the lip to gain height without pulling
- Match the arc of the jump so the bike lands on the downslope
- Absorb the landing with bent arms and legs
- Case a landing safely when they come up short
Core tricks, in roughly the order riders learn them:
- X-up and no-hander
- Tabletop and can-can
- 360
- Barspin and tailwhip
- Backflip, usually learned first into a foam pit
- Combinations: flip whips, 360 bars, truck drivers
- Double flips and 540s at the top level
The difference between dirt and park tricks is mostly time. A big dirt jump gives the rider longer in the air than a quarter pipe, which is why double flips and multi-trick combinations appeared on dirt first.
Culture and media
Contest dirt was a headline event at the X Games from the first Games in 1995 through the 2000s and into the 2010s. Ryan Nyquist was one of the most consistent dirt competitors of that era, and Dave Mirra competed in dirt alongside park and vert. Dew Tour also ran dirt contests in its early years.
Through the 2010s, contest dirt lost ground. X Games left it off the schedule in some years, and rider numbers fell as park and street took over the mainstream. Many riders who would once have competed in dirt moved to trails or focused on park.
In video, dirt appears in nearly every full-length of the 1990s and 2000s, including Props Video Magazine contest coverage and the Road Fools tours. Riders such as Chase Hawk and Mike Aitken bridged dirt and trails, bringing trails style into contest settings.
Dirt jumps have a strong presence in Australia, where councils have built public lines in many towns. The Australian scene produced several riders who competed in X Games dirt during the 2000s and 2010s. See BMX in Australia.
How to get started
- Find a public dirt jump spot with a small line. Ask locals which line is for beginners.
- Learn to bunny hop and jump small rollers on flat ground first.
- Roll the jumps without jumping to learn the shapes and speeds.
- Jump the smallest double until landing is automatic. Stay low and let the lip do the work.
- Add an x-up or no-hander once straight airs feel boring.
- Help maintain the jumps. Bring a shovel. Riders who dig are welcome anywhere.
Wear a helmet and consider gloves and knee pads. Dirt landings are forgiving compared with concrete but bails still hurt. See how to start riding BMX.
Related
Frequently asked questions about Dirt jumping
What is the difference between dirt jumping and trails?
Dirt jumping usually means a short set of large jumps built for tricks, often for contests. Trails means a longer hand-built line of jumps in the woods, ridden for flow. The boundary is fuzzy and many riders do both.
Can I ride dirt jumps on a street BMX?
Yes. Most riders use the same 20 inch bike for dirt and park. Dirt riders often add a rear brake, run slightly bigger tyres and may prefer a longer frame for stability.
Is a mountain bike or a BMX better for dirt jumps?
Both work. Dirt jump mountain bikes have suspension forks and 26 inch wheels, which suit bigger jumps. BMX bikes are lighter and better for spins and whips. Most purpose-built BMX jumps are sized for 20 inch wheels.
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