What is BMX Freestyle?

BMX Freestyle comes in two different flavours: Park and Flatland.

Do the names make much sense? Not really.

But once you see the tricks these riders pull off on their bikes - seemingly against every single law of physics there is - you realise that nothing makes much sense in these wheelie-popping and jaw-dropping events!

Breakdancing on bikes!

The first thing you’ll notice about a Flatland event is the lack of ramps or rails… or anything other than a flat surface.

The second thing you’ll spot is what these amazing riders do with that blank canvas: they basically breakdance on bikes. Seriously.

In each 2 to 3 minute round, riders attempt to string together their most brilliantly imaginative and technically challenging tricks, all in order to make the crowd go wow and the judges award points.

The key for a medal-winning effort is flow. Judges are looking for a variety of creative tricks, performed in effortless sequencing, even when they require inhuman levels of skill. Balance, stability and control - of body and bike - are also paramount. So floor touches are a definite no. Which is easier said than cycled!

Tail-whips in the Park!

Park events are full of obstacles. But rather than avoiding them, riders use (or abuse!) them in inventive and even impossible ways, flying high off ramps and defying gravity on walls.

Similar to Flatland, the crowd is always buzzing as riders bring their best to impress the judges, who score each 60 second round out of 100 points. To nail a perfect run, riders need flawlessly executed tricks with a high degree of difficulty and use the obstacles in surprising ways. 

No two runs are ever the same, which is why this is one of the best events for spectators, whether you know about this cycling subculture or not. 

While most competition bikes are engineered for top speed over distances, BMX bikes are built small and light for maximum agility and control. 

That control gives freestylers the best possible chance to execute the trickiest tricks possible, which is what both Park and Flatland are all about.

Here are our top three tricks to look out for:

BUNNY HOP

This is one of the most basic tricks, but it’s a fundamental skill to basically every other trick there is. You’ll see riders do it all the time: jumping upwards, front wheel first, then landing on both wheels at the same time.

360

Pretty self-explanatory, but no less impressive. A 360 is when a rider completes a spin without the wheels touching the ground. Also comes in 180, 540 - and yes - even 720 varieties! 

SUPERMAN or SUPERWOMAN

Don’t try this at home! When a rider gets serious air on a jump, they take their feet off the pedals, stretch their body back from the saddle and with their body parallel with the bike, they look like a superhero mid-flight.

There’s also a chance that someone will invent a brand new trick, so make sure you’re with us at Glasgow Green to see history being made!

In August Glasgow Green will witness new champions crowned and challengers emerge within the world of BMX Freestyle. 

All the riders are capable of becoming UCI World Champion, but we've pulled out a few competitors for you to keep an eye on...

Join us for some intense Freestyle fun at Glasgow Green, where the crowd will be involved in all the action as the riders make every event one to remember.

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