Do you struggle to progress onto bigger or more technical jumps?
These tips aren’t just for riders new to jumping. If you want to keep improving, you need to pay attention to the simple things you can notice when riding.
Follow this guide to understand jumping technique better, and break down improvements into bitesize chunks.
Understand what holds your jumping technique back: common mistakes, ‘casing’ & ‘going dead sailor’
You will have heard of jumping technique mistakes like ‘going dead sailor’. This is when a rider is stiff in the air and over rotate. This is caused by poor technique in getting the bike off the ground. If you dont apply enough pressure through each wheel individually as you jump the bike/body has a tendency to rotate more than expected as you leave the ground.
Casing is when either wheels hit the landing of the jump. In the case of front wheel case this is just due to not going far enough in the air. But it can also be caused by poor jumping technique. If your jumping technique doesnt give you enough lift or help to angle the bike down into the landing, the back wheel will hit first. Having your weight further forward can help to get a smoother landing.
Improve the take-off: get more air with less effort
The fundamental movement for jumping is to pump into the take off. This means approaching the jump, arms/legs bent then extending them as your wheels roll up the take-off. This will give you more lift for less speed.
For maximum lift on a jump you need to have your legs straight & weight centred over the bike, as your back wheel leaves the ground. (Weight centred means your hips are centred between the two wheels (or axles), relative to the bike)
How can you learn this?
Use a jump you can already clear. Then reduce the approach speed. In order to clear the jump now you will have to use technique to get more lift.
If you think you’ve got the technique right. Then video yourself and check your technique against this check list.
- Pumping into the take-off using a bigger range of movement
- Straighten legs on take-off
- Weight centred on take-off
If you struggle to straighten your legs properly. Focus on flexing your ankles. You may also need to move your feet forward on the pedals.
What should your jumping technique look like?
- Your body should follow an arc through the air, following the shape of the take off & landing of the jump.
- You and the bike should rotate together, so that the wheels match the angle of the landing. Landing weight centred.
- When you are in the air you continue to move fluidy, bending your arms & legs so you land in a position you can pump into the landing.
Gain style with better follow through movement
If you have a good take-off technique, but no follow-through movement in the air. Your jumping will look stiff, and lack the style to unlock new techniques (and tricks!). This follow-through movement is also important in managing small errors in take-off.
This follow through movement, can help to balance inertial forces as you leave the ground and make sure you land smoothly. Its also key in unlocking advanced techniques, such as turning the bike in the air or manipulating which wheel lands first.
Expert tips for common errors:
- The bike rotates away from you in the air – you need to keep your weight centred for a bit longer, as you take off.
- You are stiff in the air – practice squashing/pumping very small jumps. This is the follow-through movement.
- You land too far back on the bike – This can be due to the first point, or it can be due to going a bit short on a jump.
Summary
So if you are struggling with progress jumping. Follow through the process above. Often the key to unlocking a jumping skills is simpler than you think, but takes a lot of practice.