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The Launch Ramp - Whips can be done on just about any ramp, but the best type of launch ramp for a whip is one that is fairly tall (at least 7 feet tall) with a nice gradual slope to it. Having a tall ramp allows you to get set up for the whip before you leave the ramp.

This is almost a perfect launch ramp for a whip. It could stand to be a little taller.

This is a picture of one of our fmx ramps which also has a good angle for whips.

Landing Ramps-Any landing ramp will do the job, but just like the take off ramp, there is a type of landing that is obsolete. The best type of landing ramp for a whip is one that is at least 7 feet tall and has a nice slope to it and is not too steep.

This is a great landing angle. Steep but not too steep. About 9 ft tall
and with a nice sloped out landing face.

The whip- As you start up the ramp, you need to be accelerating the whole way up the ramp. This accelerating will help the whip flatten out more once you leave the ramp. As you ride up the ramp begin to slightly lean the bike over(as shown in image 1). This is the beginning of the whip and should be started half way up the ramp. When you leave the ramp lower your body position closer to the seat. Lowering your body position will help you and the bike get flat faster once you leave the ramp. Slightly leaning the bike over as you go up the ramp is one of the most important parts of the whip process. Leaning the bike over as you launch the ramp sets the whole whip into motion. You can not have a good whip without leaning the bike over as you go up the ramp. When you are first starting out doing whips, only lean the bike as you go up the ramp. Once you get more comfortable and more experienced doing whips you should start leaning your body with your bike. Once you are airborne, turn your handlebars so that your front tire is facing the sky. While you are turning your bars, at the same time you should be pushing your bike to flatten out more by forcing the bike down with your bars. By this time you should be well into your whip. To bring it back you should pull the bike back up with the handlebars and using your legs to straighten the bike back out for the landing.

image 1

image 2

Notice in this picture Steve has almost reached his peak height and his front tire is turned towards the sky. He is also pushing the bike flat with his arms.

1) In the first image, I am just coming off the ramp and you can see that my body is already leaned over and my bike is coming with me. This is due to turning (carving) while going up the face of the ramp, and helped by leaning off the side to lead the bike help shift my weight.	2) Just feet off the ramp I am committed to the whip and my style here (a turn down whip) has me keeping the bike upright while turning to the left. Again, this was all setup by my carving up the face and the shifting of my body.	3) Because of the angle in which my bike is acending through the air, this frame looks similar to a traditional pancake-style whip, although that is cooincidence as I am just following through with my shift in weight here. I am patient and not trying to throw the bike too hard too quick.
4) Just about to the apex of my flight, and I begin to relax a little as I don't want to go too far and shift my weight to where I can bring it back. Some riders can do that; they are very good at whipping it and can push it to extreme levels. However, I am not that rider and I know it. I am comfortable with what I can (and can't) do on the bike and I know my limits.	5) This is just about as far as I'll take it, and I let the bike stall out here for just a split second as I relax my weight shift and prepare to shift my weight BACK the other direction.	6) This is at the end of my "pause" and I am already starting to rotate my hips back toward the landing (and my original flight path) to lead the bike.
7) As previously mentioned, I need to change my body's center of gravity in order to lead the bike and force it back where I want it. You can see how my hips are off the the bike's left as I am rotating my hips while keeping my weight over the bike with my arms and shoulders.	8) Bringing the bike back straight happens a little quicker than whipping it out, and I am spotting my landing as I raise my torso/shoulders a little as I lean over the front just a tad. I am doing that because it will help me drop the bike to the correct landing angle while also helping me to straighten it out.	9) I am just about to touch down here, and still a little crooked. At this point, even if my front end were to touch down a little early I am in control of the bike and my center of gravity is exactly where it needs to be.