BMX Term
Steezy
Steezy is slang for riding with obvious style and apparent ease, so tricks look smooth, relaxed and effortless rather than forced or sketchy.
Updated 2 min read343 words
Steezy describes riding that has clear style and looks easy. A steezy rider makes tricks look smooth and relaxed, with good body position and control, instead of stiff, rushed or sketchy. The noun form is "steez", meaning a rider's style.
Meaning
Steezy is about how a trick looks, not just whether it was landed. Two riders can do the same tabletop or x-up. The steezy one holds it a little longer, keeps the bike flat or tweaked at the right moment, and lands soft with no wobble.
Common signs of a steezy rider:
- Relaxed body, no flailing arms or legs.
- Tricks held or tweaked at the peak, not rushed.
- Clean landings and smooth links between tricks.
- A personal look that is easy to recognise in a web edit.
Steezy is close to dialed, but not the same. Dialed means consistent and well practised. Steezy means it looks good. A rider can be dialed but stiff, or steezy but not yet consistent.
Origin
Steezy is usually explained as a blend of "style" and "ease". This is the most common explanation, but it is not well documented, and some people treat "steez" simply as slang for style. The noun "steez" has roots in hip-hop: a linguist quoted by NBC found it in a 1982 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five song, and Gang Starr's 1998 track "You Know My Steez" is often credited with popularising it. Skiers, snowboarders and skateboarders later took up "steez" and "steezy" for effortless-looking tricks, and BMX riders use it the same way. When it first reached action sports slang is not clear.
Usage examples
- "That no-hander was so steezy."
- "He has the best steez in the crew."
- "It's not the biggest trick, but it's steezy."
- "Less sketchy, more steezy."
The word is often used with a little humour, and some riders use it ironically.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions about Steezy
What does steezy mean?
It means stylish and smooth. A steezy trick looks easy and relaxed, with good body position, even if it is actually hard.
Where does the word steezy come from?
It is widely said to be a blend of "style" and "ease", though that is not firmly documented. "Steez" appears in hip-hop from the 1980s and 1990s, and skiers, snowboarders and skaters took it up later.
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