The Unspoken Rules of Biking a Skatepark

So, you want to ride a skatepark on your mountain bike? Skateparks can be a blast whether you're on a skateboard, BMX bike, dirt jump bike, or even a trail bike. However, you need to know the unspoken rules of the skatepark-especially if you plan on riding a bike there.
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[@Sublimestylee1]

It takes balls to drop in on that bowl. For the people outside of Asheville the big bowl at that park is probably 10-12ft high. Major props for being able to do that and make it look easy.

[@BIG_C_2137]

didnt see it on the bmx bike tho..

[@sethchapman8001]

Yeah, that bowl is no joke! I remember when they first opened the park at an opening party, they had pro skaters (from team that helped design park, but can't remember name)skating the bowl and totally ripping it!

[@AJRMX159]

At my local skate park we have a 55 ft bowl 💀

[@auricgoulet798]

As someone who has skated just as long as I have mountain biked, I really appreciate how detailed and well explained this vid is, thanks Seth!

[@spoonrattler04]

as a skater, we love seeing anyone pull up to the park. i’m super glad you’re teaching bikers how to go with the flow, it definitely feels safer when everyone understands the few unspoken rules. great video seth!

[@smcdonough1427]

Damn that dude at 6:32 is shredding some gnar

[@bermchasin]

my local skatepark has lots of dudes "shredding some gnar" if you know what I mean. The pumptrack...even more so.

[@spencertidd]

Haha I saw this comment before watching the video and was looking forward to seeing it... got to 9mins and thought wait a minute...

[@wertugavw]

i don't get it​@@spencertidd

[@spencertidd]

@@wertugavw The original comment was /s.. the 6m32 time came and went with no one shredding...

[@BenSmith-rj3bt]

Ha

[@andrewsiasparks]

Yo! Seth doing his older style videos. I love it

[@gballh.526]

as a fellow bmx/bike rider of 20 years, i love seeing friendly helpful etiquette instructional videos like this for the futurre Groms to watch ! right on Seth, long time fan from Chicago

[@porterwashburn5777]

As a skateboarder I believe every mountain biker should watch this video, could solve a lot of issues

[@lom2981]

Fact. It’s hard explaining etiquette calmly after almost getting run over 😂

[@MTB_FANATIC99]

Same thing with scooter guys insulated for 15 years on boards 🛹 now ride MTBS but haven't taking mine to a skatepark yet wanna get an older GT performer like I had when I was younger I'm 39 now 😂😂

[@tich18]

Having Jamie Bestwick tell you how to drop in on vert is amazing. I don't think the younger viewers will realise how cool that is.

[@2468Zzzz]

Agreed. Good Shout 🙏🏽

[@deadjoey77]

YESSS its been 7 years or something ive been waiting for more bmx videos!!

[@Utoobdewd]

I don’t even own a bike, but i still watch every Berm Peak video. One of my favorite channels!

[@grummbeerbauer3527]

Whenever I see Seth pulling off awesome moves, whether on trails, in a bike park, or in a skate park, I really wish I could come to even 10% of his skill. I guess starting at a young age really helps. I got into MTB only in my mid forties and I doubt I can progress beyond a bit of flow trail and a small hop here and there - old bones heal slowly, so I am a bit risk averse.

[@deadjoey77]

I just ride low and slow. techy street fun. get some ankle braces and learn to do a fakie roll out off a curb or a ramp. you will gain so much bike control without much risk to yourself.

[@3clubforever]

That park is sick. The wall ride was so good. Showing your age with the sit down fakie haha! I can tell you were a very good Bmx rider when it was your primary focus

[@jnsdebraekeleer]

What a cool park! I grew up riding bmx too, stil do occasionaly and now again with my son too alongside us riding MTB together. One additional thing I would ad and see people struggle with a lot when starting out too is knowing when it's okay to drop in when you are not alone. Especially when it's a bit busier it get's tricky. The easy answer: "You take turns", but not everyone hanging on the deck is ready to go for a run. The way we did it is: sitting down, you are chilling, not in the que. Anyone with both feet on the ground is also chilling and not in the que. You are ready to go and "queing" for a run, when you stand up and put your front foot on the pedal/scooter deck/skateboard. And you should never que right at the edge of a ramp, stay at least a meter/3 feet away from the edge of any obstacle to give whoever is riding enough room to do his run. Starting a run while someone else is already riding or skipping other people in the cue is called "snaking" and is a great wat to get into a fight. Hope this helps!

[@maxbergmaier6453]

Love sethbikehacks type of vibe. Keep up the riding!

[@RikKoedoot]

He even sounds like Sethbikehacks

[@xcpt]

As a Skateboarder: Thanks for the whole part about "Skatepark Netiquette"! This is the most important thing about Security and Safety for everyone! Everyone whos following the rules will check your line and aligns his line to yours or wait if he dont cross you. That works not out everytime, especially if you have kids on the track, but dont be a kid as an adult... For Mountainbikers and Bikers i want to add something: If a park says "no bikes" or "no Mountainbikes", please follow the rules. Theats in 99% nit because they dont want you there, its because of the park itself. Especially if the park has wood elements. A Mountainbike damages the park if you fail something more than a Skateboard, Inliners or Scooter does because of its weight and metal parts. This damage is maybe not relevant for you, but for everyone else who has way smaller wheels than you. Just wanted to add this up. Everyone should still enjoy a Skatepark! Cheers!

[@chromz234]

Skaters slowly becoming what they swore to destroy… kicking bikes and scoots out but then cry when security guarda don’t let em ride a spot

[@xcpt]

@@chromz234 thats not what i said, bud ok bud.

[@firehazard1792]

Nettiquette is short for internet ettiquette. It's ettiquette for interactions online. Ideally you are skating a real park, and it would just be called ettiquette.

[@ZacDonald]

Some of the other big reasons there's often no bike rules: Pegs from a bike can VERY quickly start to take chunks out of ledge and make it unusable to anyone else. Bikes and scooters are really easy to learn and it's really scary for everyone else when newbies are flying around the park at 20 mph barely in control. Bikes are so much more dangerous to bump into than another person. Street skaters generally don't wear helmets and bikes/scooters increase the risk of head injuries and broken bones.

[@edgarmartinez6980]

Seth! You make this all seem so easy. I watch your channel all the time and this is very enjoyable and inspiring.

[@lostwithasmile485]

Awesome graphics on those walls!!

[@lawrencerodeback]

I prefer the flash-bang approach to riding parks. Drop in loud, cause confusion and anger and bust out

[@adamsmiths3016]

This needs to be a QR code at every skatepark for all newcomers.

[@onlylikenerd]

Thank you so much for making this video. As someone who used to go to the skatepark every single day... you can almost instantly tell if someone doesn't know what they're doing. It's not that them riding around makes you anxious, it's that it's DANGEROUS! I can't tell you the number of times I was riding the bowl and some biker just climbs in with their bike.... like come oooon one at a time!

[@corner_store_bill]

Parents of lil kids with mountain bikes are really who should watch this...also next time im in Asheville i need to skate and bike this park, it looks fun

[@Panda42-ul5if]

I like riding bikes, but I've never skateboarded/rollerbladed etc. I'm commenting three minutes into the vid, because I really appreciate the info. I have to admit, the one time I went to a skate park, I made all the rookie mistakes. Your explanation makes so much sense, and now I feel like I won't spoil anyone's fun or embarrass myself next time. Thank you!

[@irgendwer3610]

doing jumps while sitting down is a very good contraception method, I recommend

[@knoxrideswnc6501]

I remember back in the day, we would break in there at night to ride that park on dirt jumpers. Well, they were called freeride hardtails back in 02.

[@sethchapman8001]

nice! I used to jump the fence before it opened to skate it. never tried on a bike though!

[@davehause8571]

So good, the world needed this video. Stoked to see you ride the vert bowl, also nice to see they fixed the coping on it.

[@sethchapman8001]

yeah, that bowl is serious. I never could get up the nerve to drop in on the high side.

[@Trucktiger2468]

I’ve never been a skater, per se, though I had a couple of skateboards as a kid. I’ve watched skaters at various parks but never understood what was REALLY happening. Now I know. Thank you, Seth.

[@RamblingJosh]

That park looks sick! Love the video, I'm just getting into biking, but skating is where I started, so I really appreciated the crossover and the perspective!

[@hananas2]

In college I rode a decently deep (2m or 7 ft or so) skate bowl a few times with my MTB and with a single speed road bike and man by far the scariest part for me was airing out, I once missed by a hair and went straight backwards back into the bowl on the back of my head. Thanks helmet!

[@hunterhammer4978]

4:51 ahh yes super early in the morning. Reminds me of when I lost my teeth at 6:45 AM at the skate park all alone

[@barspinxup]

That wallride was dope seth! I was looking at the setup, I am glad you did it!

[@UltimateHomer]

Great video. One of the worst things I see occurring at skateparks are oblivious parents rolling up with little kids that are just learning to skate and setting them free in the main section of the park completely unsupervised. Come early or maybe climb into an unused pool with your child and help them learn and more importantly keep them and other skaters safe.

[@nachtfuchs7711]

Next video: How to skate a bikepark

[@Ken_Poe]

Dirt board for the pump track - done it.

[@bcrides1639]

Mountain boardin is kinda sick tho

[@atn_holdings]

in my experience paved pumptracks are really fun to skate, up to and including when dirt jumpers start flying overhead lol

[@se7en910]

I've been biking for 30 years since a lil pup, but the last ten years I've just been commuting on a mountain bike. Since seeing your vids in the last month I've bought a san quintin 1 and been on 3 epic adventures with my nephew.

[@MTB_DREAM]

This is the video that I've been waiting for! Neat to watch you ride this way.

[@buders2236]

Love seeing the long awaited follow up to ur old bmx and skatepark videos. Those videos got me into bmx and I still ride and love it to this day. Videos also helped me to not be the dumb kid at the skatepark snaking everyone wen I was younger lol

[@JBONACANYON]

Another banger from seth! Awesome love your content!

[@DakkyW]

Classic af vibes from ya and top quality as always

[@tonyboughman8050]

Seth, I've been wishing for more BMX / skatepark content from you. Thank you! Love your old BMX videos. I ride one with the intent of acquiring MTB skills.

[@Trailblazerz710]

I’ve always found skate parks intimidating. A lot of the parks around me are cement even when I was doing aggressive in-line skating. I appreciate you showing this because I’ve always kind of wanted to make an attempt at picking up some of the skills you get from going and riding a skate park and applying it too might Trail riding

[@Clarksmarineincindiana]

Awesome video, well done, great to see you whip the big bike around. Your all around bike skills are impressive Seth. Keep up the good work and love you venturing off the normal Mtb bike stuff. Old BMX racer here, Jaime Bestwick will forever be a legend and super nice person as well. Thanks for sharing that story, slightly jealous 😂

[@1one3_Racing]

I rode mountain bike for years, even running dual slalom. But i was NEVER able to drop in to a quarter pipe. I didn't spend much time at skate parks but when I did, I always WANTED to drop in, but could never build up the courage.

[@firehazard1792]

This was such a good video. It honestly kinda shows what has been missing from recent videos. I hope we continue to get topics like this in the future, too.

[@dayinnymtb]

I’ve been tempted to check out the local skate park, there are times that no one is there. I actually popped by one day when I saw people there and struck up a conversation about whether or not it’s OK to take a trail bike in there. The people I spoke to were pretty cool about it and said absolutely, no issues whatsoever. I occasionally have time off during the week so definitely planning on a weekday morning when no one is there.

[@miata8148]

This video was amazing! I'm just starting riding skateparks, bought my first bmx and this was really helpful to start off with!!!

[@MikeGlorfindel]

This is like saying you have to have experience before you get a job… I appreciate the explanation on the etiquette from this video but not everyone will see it so the people at the park should politely explain rather than get nervous and annoyed. 🤪 I like the hint of go early, as if you are just learning to drop in you will be focused on dropping in rather than having a plan for your run.

[@Ken_Poe]

Digging the new art at the Food Lion park. i remember when the street part at the top was a building where you were to pay 3 bucks to get in.

[@sethchapman8001]

yup, I hated having to pay. for a time they made you wear full pads too! yeah, the new art is cool, this was my first time seeing it. Been a while since I skated the park, at 52 the slams hurt way more than they used to.

[@62swampboy62]

Awesome vid. Answered some questions for me. Keep on pushing Substack - I'd love to see that succeed.

[@cjay91_]

Dude that skatepark looks awesome!

[@wcexplore1083]

I have always been nervous about dropping into quarter pipes and this helped!

[@WildWheelsMTB]

The “Food Lion” park! I love that skatepark! I totally know what you’re talking about too! I usually skateboard but brought my trail bike one day and I definitely got a lot of nasty goth and scary looks 😅

[@cmeonbmx]

So I'm a 40 year BMX veteran and I want to say that in the video talking about drop in directions and the mix match of some people. I carve a 1/4 pipe opposite the way I throw my 360° spin and I can throw both ways but naturally I want to alley op my 1/4 when I spin

[@jettsouza]

Watching berm peak while prepping my bike to ride this fine sunday.

[@cam.cooks.preeeemium]

Loved the positive approach to a possibly contentious subject. Great ambassador for the sport as always!

[@keep-it-shreddy]

That is so cool! I think I'm going to hit the Asheville skatepark tomorrow. Nice and early just to get a practice session and I haven't rode skatepark in forever.

[@malcolmsmith8858]

Wish I would have seen this 6 years ago before breaking my wrist jumping a spine for the first time. Great video Seth I hope it helps keep a lot of people safe

[@rouxenophobe]

Looks great fun Seth. Meanwhile here in the UK. Skatepark = metal cage with one "jump" between two three foot "half-pipes". Usually there's a mother pushing a toddler on stabilized bike over the "jump".

[@MuddySalsa]

Wish I had seen this video when I was a kid. I remember some rough lessons learned.

[@Create_o_raptor]

Finally a classic Seth video

[@Vincent-_-123]

Congrats on the 1 million.

[@Rob-zg7rt]

After years of watching your videos of all types of bike content to being reminiscent of the bmx days... how about 1 more bmx 50/50 on a handrail before you are completely Gray and have more kiddos? Just a thought or an addition to your bucket list.. keep it up while you can, haha🤙🤙🤘

[@sethchapman8001]

As an Asheville resident, I used to skate this park all the time! I actually used to hop the fence and skate it before it opened. Was getting pretty good with dropping in and skating the halfpipe, until one day I had a really hard slam, thought I had broken my hand (just broke and tore the soft stuff, not the bone). After that, I kinda slowed down on ramp riding. It's been a few years but I did enjoy going back and skating the kiddy bowl.

[@mamashecrazy7423]

Love that you showed your bmx skills!

[@Trails_trout]

I am a skate boarder and a mountain biker I very much like this video because both of the people who ride bikes at the skate park have no clue how the flow of a skate park goes

[@themostlymikeshow]

Very cool! I always wanted to do some of these things. The indoor Bike parks like Ray's in Cleveland, and the Wheel Mill in Pittsburgh are pretty cool. Sadly, the Wheel Mill has recently closed. I would love to see someone purchase it or partner up with Harry, the previous owner, and make a go of it. It was a great place for people of all ages, but awesome to give the kids something to do in the city regardless of weather.

[@akairborne]

What a fun and educational video! Makes me want to go find a park!

[@jaybainum9513]

Seth, great job as always kicking out more fresh & creative content !👍 but I got one for you. How bout doing a klunker build & pay homage to mountain bikes beginnings?

[@bigmike4923]

Recently I've gotten a friend into bmx who had never been on a park before we went. It was weird to have to go back to the basics again😂 Its awesome to see the progress though, the first time we went he was learning to go down a bank and now a few weeks later he has done flyout out of a quarter and is dropping in soon

[@midnightindigo2364]

I've spent many a morn at the Ashevile skaptepark, good flow and transition plus there's some decent street spots around the city you can hit if you get bored.

[@lewhub7668]

I was just thinking that looks like a sick skatepark, but where is everybody? Is it usually that dead?

[@midnightindigo2364]

@@lewhub7668 nah usually just in the early mornings, the skaters and riders come out later in the day

[@aurisnow]

Great video. I have watched a few of your videos thru time but this one is for sure a public service! Thank you. Will hit the sub button just for that. Learning them mountain bike people how to behave properly.

[@BigKidCasey]

The Ole food lion skate park looking good!

[@sethchapman8001]

right? really digging the new art

[@jonabub]

I waited all my life for this video.

[@jmdequina]

Fun Informative and entertaning Thanks for this topic

[@matthewgray9896]

I love the mix up! I def learned something today. . . that I want to visit a skatepark now.

[@chriskunce3331]

Asheville 🤘😎🤘

[@southernoregonrockhound]

As a skater and a biker, thank you for this video

[@rustymustard7798]

Learn footplants on transitions and quarterpipes, it's the single most useful park skill there is because it will often save your ass. It also builds a huge amount of confidence and leads to learning other stuff like bomb dropping in. Practice on a bank, berm, or even curb. Ride up, hop, plant the top foot then lift the bike and stall there for a second. Next, jump away from the lip or face and back onto the bike. When you take it to transitions, roll up, bunnyhop and turn, and just try to 'kick' the wall. Kick higher and higher until you're planting just under the coping, then plant on top of the coping. Once you've planted on top of the coping, stall there for a few seconds then drop, congrats you just learned how to bomb drop. Now you can walk up to the coping, put one foot on a pedal and just jump off the deck and onto your bike instead of roll dropping, or bomb off a small ledge, wall, rail, or fence like a boss. And now that you know that works, you'll start doing it all over the place to dab, bail, abort, explore new lines without having to commit fully first try, feel out that new spine, or just do a sick looking wallplant instead of a wallride. Also you're now doing one footed airs to get into it so you can just kick a foot out over a box or summat and NOT plant and call it a onefooter. Kick that foot over the toptube and you're starting to do cancans.

[@ryanjonsson]

Little tip for people trying to learn spins on a bmx… dont practice out of quarter pipes. Learn them flat, get used to generating the height and spin needed for spins without relying on a quarter or jump. It’s easier to take the jumping part out of a 360 than it is to need to learn to jump with enough height and spin to do it flat. This is especially important for 180s. If you can do a spin flat, you can do the spin out of any quarter or jump, not the other way around.

[@brenmtb]

nice video I skated for 10 years before I picked up mtb and yur rght about being at ease. Its not just about the bike you can tell when someone is new to. If you ever see someone dont hate gie them advice and hope they takeit

[@stuartbaumgardner597]

To practice dropping in on a quarter pipe, I recommend starting on a grass hill to practice your technique.

[@Create_o_raptor]

Almost Feels like I'm back home from school watching "seth's bike hacks" trying to learn how to bunny hop.. Also . I can jump spines.. But alwaysscared.. I go straight up and go street dog and land flat (gapping the landing transition) .. Your method feels way less sketchy . I'm gonna try it.. should come in handy for spin tricks over too..

[@cmeonbmx]

I absolutely love this video

[@mead813]

Its cool seeing you ride skateparks, you should do it more often, but it doesn't need to be an educational video, just a riding video.

[@TorebeCP]

Solid advice here.

[@windowshots]

Well I didn’t know this. Now I feel a little less intimidated by going to a skate park. Thanks.

[@Keeg02.]

Either Seth or his editor love Office Space

[@letsridebikes]

wow, transfer on the spine. Mind blown

[@J2krazyyy420]

This really helped me learn skatepark ethics and skills love the videos man keep it up

[@Conversationpace87]

I'm a lifelong skater and do enjoy playing around on a bike in a skatepark (especially the one next to the trails) but I only hit it if its empty for these reasons.

[@icecreamo]

And the most important rule, use a trail helmet when riding a trail bike and a skate helmet when riding a bmx/dj. Super important!

[@Cesar722]

Can you do an update on how your Lightning is doing, with so many people saying why they got rid of theirs. How about an interesting video of what mods you’ve done for biking etc..

[@z383tpi]

Trying to ride my bike in a skatepark now, in my late 30's, gives me anxiety. Just staring at attemping a spine again, provoked a bowel movement. 😂 Wish my kids could have seen how brave/ cool I was in the 90s. 😅

[@chesterossa]

At 53, I feel this in my soul

[@sethchapman8001]

yup, 52 here and I feel this. last time I dropped in at a park I slammed HARD, and hurt for weeks. I used to heal so much quicker, and things didn't hurt quite so bad!

[@brianpeck697]

Good ol Food Lion park!

[@sethchapman8001]

right? looking through the comments seems quite a few of us have been to that park

[@ToddNZMTB]

09:15 that ambulance! Ha ha ha! 😂

[@amdisthebest]

Love the shoutout to Jamie Bestwick.

[@JohnnyThe_G]

in Australia, we have NO 'no bike' restrictions at a skatepark, Bikes are allowed at all public skateparks.

[@ThomasMcFarland]

This is super helpfull thank you!

[@shelbygonzales1019]

Hey Seth! Great video as always! I had a random thought today wondering what the best 5 states are to live in for mountain biking? I live in Utah and it’s becoming so expensive here to live and am considering moving but feel so attached here because the riding is amazing. Anyways thought it could be an interesting video idea. Love your channel!

[@randomidiotv2544]

Hey, could you give a basic guide for how to ride features you would find at a bike park? ex: jumps, drops, skinnys, etc. it doesnt have to be super in depth, just enough to do it safely.

[@potato4481]

Good idea for a vid

[@devanbmx1012]

Seth's bike hacks come back fr