360

A 360 is spinning yourself and the bike a full turn in the air, off a jump or a bunny hop, and riding away forwards. It is the spin most other rotations build on.

What you need first

• A solid bunny hop and confident airs off a small jump or quarter pipe.
• A 180: turning half way in the air and landing riding backwards, or at least turning in the air comfortably.
• Knowing which way you naturally turn. Most riders spin the same way they would turn a 180.

In the video

• 0:43 Tricks to learn first and stance
• 2:11 Choosing the right spot
• 3:17 Technique
• 5:15 Progressing and combinations

Step by step

1. Pick the right spot. A small, smooth jump or a quarter pipe with a flat landing. Do not start on big jumps.
2. Roll in with steady speed. Enough to get clear air, not so much that you cannot control the landing.
3. Wind up. Just before take-off, turn your shoulders and head slightly the opposite way to load the spin.
4. Throw the turn. As you leave the lip, turn your head and shoulders hard in the direction of the spin. The bike follows your upper body.
5. Keep looking round. Look over your shoulder for the landing. Where your head goes, the rotation goes.
6. Land and ride away. Spot the landing, straighten the bars and land on both wheels, knees bent.

Common mistakes

• Not turning the head. The spin stops at 180 or 270 if you look down. Keep looking round.
• Turning too early. Spinning before you leave the lip throws you off the jump sideways.
• Too little height. Without air time you land half way round. Go a little bigger or find a jump with more lift.
• Bars turned on landing. Straighten the front before the wheels touch.

Stay safe

• Wear a helmet, gloves and knee pads.
• Learn on a small jump with a smooth, flat landing, or into a foam pit or onto a resi ramp.
• If you under-rotate, step off and let the bike go rather than landing sideways.

More on gear and bailing on the safety page.

What’s next

Once you land 360s every time, try one out of a bunny hop on flat ground, or combine it with a barspin. More Progression tricks →