BMX Trick
Lookback
A lookback is a BMX air trick where the rider turns the bars and twists the bike and body so they look back over their shoulder toward the takeoff in mid-air.
Updated 3 min read689 words
A lookback is a BMX air trick where the rider turns the handlebars and twists the bike and their upper body so they are looking back over their shoulder toward the takeoff in mid-air. The front end turns back, the bike lays over to the side, and then the rider unwinds to land. The two best-known versions are the flat lookback and the inverted lookback.
Overview
A lookback combines two movements. The bike lays over, much like a tabletop, and the bars turn so the front wheel points back the way the rider came. The rider's head and shoulders follow the bars, so at full extension they are looking behind them.
It is often compared with a turndown, because the two tricks twist in opposite directions:
| Trick | Bike position | Where the rider looks |
|---|---|---|
| Tabletop | Pulled up and laid flat | Forward, at the landing |
| Turndown | Twisted down, bars turned | Forward, at the landing |
| Lookback | Laid over, front end turned back | Back, toward the takeoff |
The lookback appears on dirt jumps, hips and quarter-pipes. The inverted version is closely linked with vert and big ramp riding.
How to do it
Learn the lookback once you can do a solid tabletop on the same jump. You need good height and a landing that forgives a late return.
- Ride in with steady speed. Keep your weight centred.
- Take off cleanly. Leave the lip level and balanced.
- Start the tabletop. Push the bike over to the side with your legs and hips.
- Turn the bars. As the bike lays over, turn the bars so the front wheel swings back toward you.
- Turn your head. Look back over your shoulder, following the bars. Your upper body twists with them.
- Hold at the peak. Keep the shape for a moment.
- Unwind. Turn your head back to the landing first, then straighten the bars and pull the bike back under you.
- Land. Both wheels together, bars straight.
Leading with the head
Your head drives the twist. Turning to look back pulls the shoulders and bars around with it. Turning your head forward again is also the signal to start unwinding. If you lose track of the landing for too long, the return gets rushed.
Variations
- Flat lookback. As commonly described, the bike is laid out level, like a tabletop, while the front end is turned back.
- Inverted lookback. The bike tips past flat until it is upside down or close to it, with the rider looking back. It is a classic quarter-pipe and vert air. See invert.
- Half lookback. A smaller twist with the bike only partly laid over. A common learning step.
- One-handed lookback. One hand off at the peak. See one-hander.
- Lookback on a hip. The change of direction on a hip can add to the twist.
How far the bike needs to go before a lookback counts as flat or inverted varies between riders and commentators.
Learning progression
- Tabletops. Get these reliable first. See tabletop.
- Head turn only. On a small jump, do a small table and turn your head back briefly.
- Add the bars. Turn the bars a little with the head turn.
- Increase the lay-out. Push the bike further as the return becomes consistent.
- Try an inverted lookback on a ramp. Only once flat lookbacks are solid, ideally into a foam pit or onto a resi. See resi.
Wear a helmet, gloves and pads. For inverted lookbacks on vert, wear full protection. See protective gear.
Common mistakes
- Turning the bars without laying the bike over. This makes a crooked x-up rather than a lookback.
- Looking back too long. Leave enough time to find the landing again.
- Late unwind. Landing with the bars turned can throw you over the front.
- Not enough height. The twist needs air time.
- Twisting only the arms. The head, shoulders and hips all need to move together.
History
Lookbacks are a long-standing style air, and inverted lookbacks in particular are associated with vert and quarter-pipe riding, going back to the ramp era of the 1980s. Many riders did them, and the trick has no widely accepted inventor. See freestyle BMX boom 1980s.
Related tricks
Frequently asked questions about Lookback
What is the difference between a lookback and a turndown?
They twist in opposite directions. In a turndown the bike is turned down and the rider keeps looking forward at the landing. In a lookback the bike is laid over with the front end turned so the rider ends up looking back toward the takeoff.
What is an inverted lookback?
An inverted lookback is a lookback where the bike tips past flat until it is upside down or close to it. It is usually seen on quarter-pipes, vert and big dirt jumps.
What is a flat lookback?
A flat lookback is commonly described as a lookback where the bike is laid out level, like a tabletop, with the front end turned back. Riders do not always agree on the exact line between a flat and an inverted lookback.
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