BMX Term
Resi
A resi is a ramp or landing covered in a soft, padded resilient surface that lets BMX riders practise flips and big tricks with less risk of injury.
Updated 2 min read394 words
A resi is a ramp or landing with a padded, resilient surface. It is used so riders can try flips, big spins and new tricks with a softer landing than normal wood or concrete.
Meaning
The word is short for resilient. A resi surface is made from foam and a covering layer that absorbs impact and then returns to shape. On a resi ramp, a rider who lands badly or falls hits a softer surface than a normal ramp, which reduces the chance of injury.
Resi ramps are used for tricks that carry high risk, such as backflips, flairs and big rotations. A rider can launch off a jump or a quarter pipe, land on the resi surface and roll out. Some resi setups are designed to be ridden. Others are made to catch riders who fall.
Resi surfaces are not the same as foam pits. A foam pit is filled with loose foam blocks. The rider lands in it and stops. A resi ramp keeps the rider moving, so it better matches a real landing. Many training sites use both. Riders try a new trick into foam, then move to a resi ramp, then to a hard surface.
Origin and usage
The word resi comes from the material description, resilient surface. Resi ramps are used in skateboarding, BMX, scooter and other board sports, and are common in training facilities and some indoor parks. The exact first use of the term in BMX is not well documented.
Resi is a noun and sometimes used as an adjective, as in "resi landing". Riders say "go to the resi", "hit the resi" or "try it on resi first".
Resi ramps are not common at every park. They are usually found at larger facilities and training centres because they are costly to build and maintain. They also need a good run-up, so builders often pair them with a flyout or a large transition.
Examples
- "I'm trying flairs on the resi until I'm comfortable."
- "He fell into the foam pit and walked away laughing."
- "The resi at the training centre is the only place I'll try a flip."
Related terms
- Flyout: a ramp used to launch out onto a deck.
- Quarter pipe: a ramp with one curved wall.
- Transition: the curved part of a ramp.
- Backflip: a full backward rotation.
- Flair: a backflip combined with a 180 rotation.
Frequently asked questions about Resi
What does resi stand for?
Resi is short for resilient, meaning the surface gives and absorbs impact. It is a soft padded top layer used on landings and ramps for learning.
Is a foam pit the same as a resi ramp?
They are related but not identical. A foam pit is a pit filled with foam blocks that a rider lands in. A resi ramp has a padded surface that the rider lands on and rolls out of.
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