BMX Trick
Fufanu
A fufanu is a BMX ramp trick where the rider stalls the back tyre on the coping or lip, front wheel up, then hops 180 degrees back into the ramp forwards.
Updated 4 min read771 words
A fufanu is a BMX trick where the rider rides up a ramp, stalls the back tyre on the coping or lip with the front wheel in the air, then hops and turns about 180 degrees to drop back into the ramp facing forwards. It is a rear wheel stall to a hop 180, and one of the classic old school lip tricks. It is still done on ramps, ledges, banks and dirt lips.
Overview
On a fufanu, the bike rises close to vertical at the top of the ramp and settles on the back tyre, right on the coping or edge. The rider holds the stall for a moment with their weight back, much like a manual, keeping the front wheel up. Then they hop off the coping, turn the bars and hips, and bring the bike round so it lands pointing back down the transition.
It is a close relative of two other tricks:
- The abubaca uses the same back tyre stall on the coping, but the rider hops back in without turning and rolls away fakie.
- The tail tap, covered on the tyre tap page, touches the back tyre on the deck behind the coping rather than on the coping itself.
The trick works on quarter pipes, mini ramps and bowls. Riders also do fufanus on ledges, kerbs, bank tops and dirt jump lips, where the exit may be a 90 degree turn that leaves the bike parallel to the edge.
How to do it
Get comfortable with tail taps and with a 180 near the top of a quarter pipe before trying the full trick. A small, mellow ramp with metal coping is the best place to learn.
- Ride up with steady speed. Approach straight or at a slight angle, with just enough speed to reach the coping.
- Hop near the top. Lift the front and hop so the back tyre comes up level with the coping.
- Land the back tyre on the coping. Set it on the coping or lip, with the bike angled up. Keep your weight over the transition, not out over the deck.
- Stall. Hold it with your weight back, as in a manual, so the front wheel stays up. A rear brake helps but is not essential.
- Look at your landing. Turn your head and shoulders toward where you will drop back in.
- Hop and turn. Pop off the coping and turn the bars and hips so the bike comes round about 180 degrees.
- Ride away. Land on the transition with soft knees, keep your head turned through the landing, and roll out forwards.
Fufanu versus nearby tricks
| Trick | What touches the top | Exit |
|---|---|---|
| Fufanu | Back tyre on the coping or lip | Hop about 180 back in, ride away forwards |
| Abubaca | Back tyre on the coping or lip | Hop back in without turning, roll away fakie |
| Tail tap | Back tyre on the deck | Drop back in |
| Disaster | Sprocket, bottom bracket or frame across the coping | Rock back in forwards |
These are guides only. Names for lip tricks vary between scenes and decades.
Variations
- Opposite fufanu. Turn the other way. Most riders have a natural side.
- Long stall fufanu. Hold the stall longer before hopping round.
- Ledge or kerb fufanu. Bunny hop the back tyre onto an edge, stall, then hop off with a 90 to 180 degree turn.
- One-handed or x-up fufanu. Take a hand off or cross the arms during the stall or exit. See x-up.
- Barspin out. Add a barspin as you hop back in. This needs good control.
Common mistakes
- Too much speed. The back tyre carries over the coping onto the deck, which turns the move into a tail tap or a hang-up.
- Too little height. The back tyre never reaches the coping.
- Weight out over the deck. Keep your weight over the transition so you can get back in.
- Front wheel dropping. Stay back, as in a manual, so the front does not touch down.
- Under-rotating. If the bike is not pointing back in, you land sideways. Turn your head and shoulders early.
- Landing on the flat. Come back in on the transition, not past it.
History
The fufanu is an old school ramp trick from the freestyle era, when riders were inventing and naming lip tricks on quarter pipes and halfpipes. Several stories exist about the name, but none is well documented, so this page does not repeat them. It has stayed in use on ramps and ledges, and mountain bike riders have borrowed it for dirt banks and jump lips. See freestyle BMX boom 1980s and vert.
Related tricks
Frequently asked questions about Fufanu
What is the difference between a fufanu and an abubaca?
Both stall the back tyre on the coping with the front wheel up. On a fufanu, the rider hops and turns about 180 degrees to come back in forwards. On an abubaca, the rider hops back in without turning and rolls away fakie.
What is the difference between a fufanu and a tail tap?
On a tail tap, the back tyre usually touches the deck behind the coping. On a fufanu, the back tyre lands on the coping or lip itself, and the rider hops 180 back in.
Where does the name fufanu come from?
There is no well documented origin. The name dates from the early freestyle era and several stories are told about it, but none is confirmed, so treat the origin as unknown.
Does it have to be a full 180?
A full 180 is the aim on a ramp, but plenty of riders come up a little short. On ledges and kerbs, a 90 degree turn that leaves the bike parallel to the edge is also common.
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