What is BMX freestyle, and how is it different from BMX racing?
B · Beginner · The run · 1 of 4BMX freestyle is judged, not raced. Riders perform a routine of tricks and are scored on how well they do it. There are two specialities. Park is ridden over ramps and obstacles, with tricks in the air. Flatland is ridden on a flat floor, with balance tricks on a bike that barely travels.
How it works
- Judged: freestyle competitions are "judged events, in which riders are scored based upon their skill at executing a routine".
- Tricks: the manoeuvres that make up a routine.
- Park: timed runs through a field of ramps and obstacles.
- Flatland: timed runs on a flat area with no obstacles.
- Not a race: the regulations say so in terms, and only the parts of the general cycling rules that the freestyle part names apply.
- The run: the unit of competition. One rider on the course at a time.
- The score: each judge gives a mark from 0.00 to 99.99 for the rider's whole performance.
- Who runs it: one commissaire for the sporting side and a panel of three to six judges.
The glossary has BMX freestyle, the park, flatland and the run.
Tricky cases
Do riders race each other in the park?
No. One rider rides at a time and is given a score.
Is flatland an Olympic event?
It depends on the Games' programme, which is not in the part read. The regulations mention the Olympic Games only in connection with the park's construction.
Is there a set routine that every rider must perform?
No. The rider chooses the tricks and the lines.
Is the same bike used for racing and freestyle?
No, not usually. Both have 20 inch wheels, but the rules differ: a freestyle bike may have pegs on the axles and must have a saddle, and the racing rules on gears and brakes are not repeated in the freestyle part.
Why the rule exists
Freestyle grew from riders inventing tricks, so there is no finish line to race to and no list of compulsory moves. The rules give that a frame: a fixed time, a fixed space and a panel that compares what each rider chose to do with it.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Park | Ramps and obstacles, runs of one minute | UCI 6bis.6.001; UCI 6bis.6.029 |
| Flatland | A flat area, runs of one to three minutes | UCI 6bis.6.029; UCI 6bis.7.007 |
| BMX racing | A race round a track, first across the line | ../bmx-racing/ set |
From the rule book
Union Cycliste Internationale, Cycling Regulations, Part 6bis: BMX Freestyle Competitions (JCF edition 2025, amendments to 1 January 2026), articles 6bis.1.001, 6bis.1.002, 6bis.6.001, 6bis.6.004, 6bis.6.011 and 6bis.8.001. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: UCI Cycling Regulations, Part 6bis (PDF).