Superman

A superman is a BMX air trick where the rider takes both feet off the pedals and extends their legs straight back behind the bike while holding the bars, so the body lies close to horizontal in mid-air. The rider then pulls the legs back in, finds the pedals and lands. The best-known variation is the superman seat grab, where one hand holds the seat.

Overview

The superman is a style trick. There is no rotation, and the whole point is the stretched-out shape. A full superman has the legs straight, toes pointed back and the body nearly level with the bike, with only the hands connecting rider and bike.

Because the feet are completely off the bike, the rider steers and balances through the bars alone. That makes it a bigger commitment than a one-footer or a can-can. It needs a jump with real air time, so it is most common on dirt jumps, box jumps and park jumps rather than small ramps.

The trick is shared with freestyle motocross, where the same pose and name are used. Which sport used it first is not clearly documented.

How to do it

Learn this on a jump you already ride smoothly, with a long, forgiving landing. A resi or foam pit helps a lot for early attempts. See resi.

1. Ride in with steady speed. You want a clean, predictable trajectory with plenty of air time.
2. Pop off the lip. Take off level. A bike that is nose-high or twisted makes the trick much harder.
3. Pull the bars up toward you. This brings the bike up under your hands and makes room for your legs.
4. Kick both feet off the pedals. Push your legs back and up behind the bike.
5. Extend. Straighten your legs behind you and let your body stretch out. Keep your arms firm and your grip strong.
6. Hold briefly. Keep your eyes on the landing, not on the bike.
7. Bring your legs back early. Pull your knees in and drop your feet onto the pedals before the bike starts to descend.
8. Land. Both wheels touch down together, with feet set and knees bent.

Finding the pedals again

Getting the feet back is the hard part. Most riders bring the legs back in a tucked position first, then set them down. Pedals with good grip help, and so does keeping the cranks level on takeoff so you know where the pedals are. See pedals and cranks.

Variations

• Superman seat grab. One hand leaves the bars and grabs the seat while the legs extend. The rider steers with one hand and controls the bike with the other through the seat. This is the version most people picture. See seat and seatpost.
• Half superman. The legs come off and go partly back, without a full extension. A common stepping stone.
• One-footed superman. Only one leg goes back, which is essentially an extended one-footer.
• Superman with a one-hander. One hand off the bars while the legs are out. Advanced, with only one contact point left. See one-hander.
• Superman tabletop. Some riders tilt the bike sideways while extended, borrowing shape from a tabletop. Naming varies.
• Superman into an x-up or no-hander. Combinations are mostly seen at high level on big jumps. See x-up and no-hander.

Combination names are not standardised, and riders and commentators describe the same shapes in different ways.

Learning progression

1. One-footers. Take one foot off and put it back, until it feels automatic.
2. Switch feet. Practise one-footers on both sides, so you are not reliant on one leg.
3. No-footer. Take both feet off for a moment without extending them. This teaches you how the bike feels held only by the bars.
4. Half superman. Push both legs back partway.
5. Full superman. Extend fully once the return is reliable.
6. Add a seat grab. When the full superman is comfortable, try reaching for the seat.

Wear a helmet, gloves and pads. If your feet are not back on the pedals in time, push the bike away and bail clear of it rather than landing with your feet loose.

Common mistakes

• Not enough air. A small jump leaves no time to get the feet back.
• Weak grip. If your hands slip, there is nothing else holding you to the bike. Use grips in good condition. See grips.
• Kicking too early. Leave the lip first, then take your feet off.
• Late return. The most common crash. Start bringing your legs back at the peak.
• Looking down for the pedals. Keep your head up and feel for them instead.
• Crooked takeoff. Any twist off the lip gets worse once your feet are off.

History

The superman became a familiar pose in dirt jumping and freestyle in the 1990s and 2000s, and it is still a staple of dirt and park contest runs. Who first did a superman on a BMX is not reliably documented, and the trick is also strongly associated with freestyle motocross. See dirt jumping and BMX in the 1990s.

Related tricks

• One-footer
• Can-can
• No-hander
• One-hander
• Tabletop