The Snitz
9th May 2004, 06:06 PM
The Catwalk is one of my favourite tricks, because you have a real sense of feeling free when doing this trick, running beside your bike, having a look out at the scenery or the crowd. On top of that, it's a good looking trick too, so you won't get bored doing this trick when you master it.
To be able to do a catwalk, you will need to be able to do a Double Can and be able to hold a double can for a fair while during the jump and be confident with it. If you haven't done a Double Can before, or you need some tips on how to make them better check the guide on them here : http://www.fmxaustralia.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3312
1. As you approach the ramp, have it figured out which side of the bike you want to Catwalk on. Try to keep yourself in a good "attack" position, knees bent and elbows bent. You might want to have a little more pressure on the foot on the side you are Catwalk-ing too. For example, if you Catwalk on the left side of the bike, put a little more of your weight on the left footpeg.
2. When you leave the ramp, because you have had a little more pressure on the left footpeg, it will push back of the bike just to the right a fraction. Not alot, but what this will do is give you more space on the side of the bike to do the actual running with your legs. What you want to do is straight away bring your knees up to your chest and straigthen your arms out. This will make your body come up, and have enough room for your boots to be above seat height.
3. Bring your right foot across to the left side just like a Double Can and bring both legs together.. Just for a split second. Push your body to the left side now aswell with your arms. You don't need to be too far past the bike, but just enough that you can move your legs and not be caught up by the seat. -
At this point you are in the Double Can position, your body is up above the seat a fair way, and just off centre off the seat, and the bike, if you decide can be just slightly off-centre to the opposite direction of the Catwalk. You're now ready to start running!!
4. Turn your body and legs, so that you're legs are going to run forward. In the Double Can position, your knees should be facing up to the sky... in a Catwalk you want your knees pointing forward to the horizon. What you need to do now to start running, is get used to splitting your legs. If you are on the left hand side of the bike, you need to push your right leg straight, directing it forward past the radiator shroud. This is a good guide to know where your legs are. Once you have your right leg forward, you just want to start pushing your left leg back behind you. This is your first "walk".
5. Now you have your first part of the catwalk. To get a full Catwalk, you want to now bend your right leg, and bring it back, make sure it is not touching the bike at all, but make sure you use the side of the bike as a guide to where your leg is going. Then simply push your left foot forward as if you were kicking it forward. Make sure you get this down very smoothely.
6. Now you just need to do this 2 or more times to get a smoothe looking Catwalk. When you feel happy with this and you've held the catwalk for long enough, make sure you legs are in a position to get your right leg back over the seat for landing. To do this, you need to at least have your right leg in neutral position or forward. This will make it easier to bring your knee up to your chest to get it over the seat and back for a safe leading.
When you feel happy with doing that, you can do as many "runs" in the air as you like. Push yourself to see how many you can get. At the moment my best is about 8, just don't leave it too long or you'll end up like Jayden Mulholland and keep running until you land still running and fall off (Homegrown 3 I saw that in :p) You can also push your body out as far from the bike as you like, this will make the Catwalk look much bigger also :)
Good Luck
If you want to extend the Catwalk, Check out the One handed and No Handed Guide soon in the Tricks & Ramps Forum
Pic - In this pic I was only learning Catwalks myself, You can see my right leg is straight and forward, with my boot just past the radiator shroud, and left leg is coming back. My body is just twisted and to the left hand side of the bike also.
Copyright © Steve Sommerfeld 2004. All Rights Reserved.
To be able to do a catwalk, you will need to be able to do a Double Can and be able to hold a double can for a fair while during the jump and be confident with it. If you haven't done a Double Can before, or you need some tips on how to make them better check the guide on them here : http://www.fmxaustralia.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3312
1. As you approach the ramp, have it figured out which side of the bike you want to Catwalk on. Try to keep yourself in a good "attack" position, knees bent and elbows bent. You might want to have a little more pressure on the foot on the side you are Catwalk-ing too. For example, if you Catwalk on the left side of the bike, put a little more of your weight on the left footpeg.
2. When you leave the ramp, because you have had a little more pressure on the left footpeg, it will push back of the bike just to the right a fraction. Not alot, but what this will do is give you more space on the side of the bike to do the actual running with your legs. What you want to do is straight away bring your knees up to your chest and straigthen your arms out. This will make your body come up, and have enough room for your boots to be above seat height.
3. Bring your right foot across to the left side just like a Double Can and bring both legs together.. Just for a split second. Push your body to the left side now aswell with your arms. You don't need to be too far past the bike, but just enough that you can move your legs and not be caught up by the seat. -
At this point you are in the Double Can position, your body is up above the seat a fair way, and just off centre off the seat, and the bike, if you decide can be just slightly off-centre to the opposite direction of the Catwalk. You're now ready to start running!!
4. Turn your body and legs, so that you're legs are going to run forward. In the Double Can position, your knees should be facing up to the sky... in a Catwalk you want your knees pointing forward to the horizon. What you need to do now to start running, is get used to splitting your legs. If you are on the left hand side of the bike, you need to push your right leg straight, directing it forward past the radiator shroud. This is a good guide to know where your legs are. Once you have your right leg forward, you just want to start pushing your left leg back behind you. This is your first "walk".
5. Now you have your first part of the catwalk. To get a full Catwalk, you want to now bend your right leg, and bring it back, make sure it is not touching the bike at all, but make sure you use the side of the bike as a guide to where your leg is going. Then simply push your left foot forward as if you were kicking it forward. Make sure you get this down very smoothely.
6. Now you just need to do this 2 or more times to get a smoothe looking Catwalk. When you feel happy with this and you've held the catwalk for long enough, make sure you legs are in a position to get your right leg back over the seat for landing. To do this, you need to at least have your right leg in neutral position or forward. This will make it easier to bring your knee up to your chest to get it over the seat and back for a safe leading.
When you feel happy with doing that, you can do as many "runs" in the air as you like. Push yourself to see how many you can get. At the moment my best is about 8, just don't leave it too long or you'll end up like Jayden Mulholland and keep running until you land still running and fall off (Homegrown 3 I saw that in :p) You can also push your body out as far from the bike as you like, this will make the Catwalk look much bigger also :)
Good Luck
If you want to extend the Catwalk, Check out the One handed and No Handed Guide soon in the Tricks & Ramps Forum
Pic - In this pic I was only learning Catwalks myself, You can see my right leg is straight and forward, with my boot just past the radiator shroud, and left leg is coming back. My body is just twisted and to the left hand side of the bike also.
Copyright © Steve Sommerfeld 2004. All Rights Reserved.