Try This Ponytail Trick to Jump Smoother and Higher on the Bike + Some Other Amazing Tips from Trish Bromley

When I interviewed one of my all-time favorite athletes, Trish Bromley, a few years ago, she blew me away with her super-sweet ponytail tip for nailing jumps on the bike. She's an amazing rider and the first woman to compete in the Red Bull Speed & Style at Crankworx in Whistler (which, hint hint, is sort of featured in book 2 of the Shred Girls series!) When I interviewed her for the Consummate Athlete Podcast, Trish told me about her best tip for how to figure out how a jump should feel, and I used that tip in the first Shred Girls book, Lindsay's Joyride: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bze0KZGHIZt/?igshid=42b4ans46bfi When you're trying to jump on a pump track or jump line:

"She taught me what she calls the ponytail trick. When I’m jumping, I’m supposed to go for the feeling of my ponytail going up in the air and have it come back down when I hit the backside of the jump. If I feel it, it means I managed to get enough momentum to get in the air. If I don’t, then I probably didn’t get off the ground."

(And if you don't have a ponytail, like me, you can still think about how a ponytail would feel—which sounds weird, but totally works!)

Watch Trish in Speed & Style:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lWeBc5bQqk A few other tips she shared on the podcast (which is a must-listen!)

first time at pump-track / jump park … what to do ?

–just get rolling – see environment – bring a friend

what gear to do you need for the first time

– flat (firm) soled running or skateboard shoes – if want to get into it get own pads (comfort / fit ) – parks often have rules about protecting/covering legs

Some Jumping + BMX Terms (that we talk about in the first Shred Girls book too!)

– Pump Track-> a course of rollers (whoop) that rider doesn’t pedal (much) on to generate momentum – whoop – bump on trails – berm – banked corner to help corner around – roll in -> the hill/ramp before the obstacle (jump, foam pit), – G-Out -> usually on a big roll-ins , when you hit the lowest – lip -> the take off of jump

How to Pump on a Pump Track

– get to pump track and ride is the first and most important step! – lower stance – bend elbows / knees -> practice athletic stance off bike – let bike move separate to body – let bike move under neath – feeling ups and downs, roll around to feel