Bike
BMX
Revolutionary Rotations: Six Insane Flips
The biggest two-wheeled flips ever thrown down.
Part of this story
Both front- and backflips have been a staple of the MTB freeride and BMX tricktionary for years now, but they're still firm rider favorites. Here's our pick of the best:
1. Bienvenido Aguado Alba doubles up in Sweden
Now, it may seem odd to kick off a list of flips not only with a frontflip but with a double frontflip, but this effort from the Martin Söderström Invitational is the perfect example of their ability to drop jaws.
Ride fact: Attempting the world's first competition double frontflip? Maybe save it for finals? Nope, Alba launched this assault on rotational sensibilities in qualifying!
1 min
The first double frontflip
The first double frontflip
2. Kriss Kyle's fakie backflip
Glaswegian rider Kriss Kyle is well-versed in redefining what is possible on a bike and has a lengthy CV of world firsts. This fakie backflip however was first debuted on an incredible Vital BMX edit last year.
A freecoaster hub allows Kyle to flow backward without the pedals rotating, but the rest is all down to the man himself. Incredible!
Ride fact: Kyle is not only a regular at Glasgow's Unit 23 skatepark but actually used to live there. Want to improve your riding? Live in a skatepark.
3. Danny MacAskill's nose-bonk frontflip
Danny MacAskill is another Scottish rider who blurs the lines between possible and impossible when it comes to technical trials riding. Not content with "simply" mastering the frontflip, he used his epic Epecuén edit to showcase it being ratcheted up a notch.
The nose-bonk frontflip saw Danny start the rotation from a kicker before casing his front wheel into a sign post in order to propel himself through the rest of the loop.
Ride fact: The trick also stars in MacAskill's hotly acclaimed "The Ridge" video but sees him pull it on a trail bike, over a fence. There's also a video of it going a bit wrong.
4. Tom van Steenbergen comes so close at Red Bull Rampage
The ochre earth and soaring temperatures of Virgin, Utah, are unforgiving task masters when it comes to landing flips. The annual Red Bull Rampage event can make heroes and indeed careers, however it's also something that can often tempt younger riders to push the envelope just a smidge too far.
Tom van Steenbergen attempted this huge frontflip over one of the course's biggest gaps and very nearly pulled it off. The line between pain and glory is most definitely a fine one to judge...
Ride fact: This attempt holds the title of the longest-ever attempted frontflip — a colossal 72 feet from takeoff to landing.
1 min
Tom Van Steenbergen frontflip
Freerider Tom Van Steenbergen gets bucked off his bike at Red Bull Rampage.
5. You may need to watch this a couple of times
Szymon Godziek etched his name into freeride and backflip history with this absolutely incredible tsunami flip at Red Bull District Ride. The Polish rider rightfully netted Best Trick against the backdrop of historic Nuremberg.
Ride fact: Szymon utilized FMX-style "flip bars" to pull this trick off. The flip up handles allow the rider to halt his rotation via his forearms.
1 min
Szymon Godziek Tsunami Frontflip
Polish shredder Szymon Godziek pushes things forward with a world-first at Red Bull District Ride 2014.
6. Cam Zink and the flip seen around the world
The 2013 installment of Red Bull Rampage is always going to be remembered for Cam Zink's incredible backflip from the Oakley Icon Sender. The 70-foot step-down flip is widely credited as being the biggest in history, yet it was Zink's close friend, Kyle Strait, who would walk away with the title.
Ride fact: Zink was given permission to add a small kicker ramp to the lip of the otherwise flat deck to get the flip started. You can just make it out in the clip below.
1 min
Cam Zink's Red Bull Rampage backflip
100ft plummet from the Oakley Icon Sender in 2013.
For all the incredible action from the world of bike don't forget to check out the RedBull.com/Bike Facebook page.
Part of this story
