The Switchblade. Making your No Footed Can Cans that much bigger.

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When Mike Metzger invented this variation of the no footed can in 1999, he invisioned a trick that was simply taking a staple FMX trick at the time (the No Footed Can Can) and making it capable of being infinitely extended. The way his legs rotated out and extended from the side resembled a switchblade knife opening up, so he named it after the weapon of the streets. This trick really has no limits, because the torso and hips can continue rotating as far as the rider allows them to - provided he/she can do it safely. Greg Hartman took the switchblade (a staple trick for him) to the next level when he did an inverted switchblade at the 2007 X Games in Mexico, and got fourth place. He then took it to XGames Dubai later that year and won the gold. Let's turn our heads to Greg and see how he executes a switchblade while jumping one of the dirt FMX hits at Camp Chuck in 2005.

Greg's summary for a Switchblade:
  The most important thing to remember with switchblades that 90% of the trick is done as you're leaving the takeoff. Switchblades aren't a trick you can do once you're already in the air. However don't jump off your pegs as hard as you can first try! If you already do no foot cans, just do them a little bigger and a little bigger all the while keeping the steps I talk about in the sequence in mind while trying. I learned them by just trying to no foot cans bigger and bigger and eventually I would look back. The more comfortable you get, really try jumping off your pegs hard. Your levers should catch you from ever getting too far away from the bike. Also, it's okay to watch your boots once you're completely turned around. I normally give them a glance to make sure I'm not making it look like an indian air. Now if you want to do a switchblade backflip, just repeat that whole process upside down!

Steve's Tip:
Get forward. As you come off the pegs to do your super-big no footed can can, pull yourself over the front of the bike more than usual. As you do this, rotate your hips back and your legs will follow. Looking back also helps tons.

Step By Step Below


  When I approach a jump to do a switchblade I go a little slower at the ramp than what I normally would. I almost use a slow approach like I would for a whip to make sure I keep the front end up. If you run into the ramp too fast, and then try to spring off your pegs with a lot of force, it can cause the bike to nose dive a little. Switchblades are the most comfortable with your front end up a little, so keep that in mind when approaching the lip. Make sure you're on the balls of your feet as well, to really be ready to pop off the pegs.

 


At this point you're really springing off your pegs. Remember that when you do a full switchblade, it's almost a totally different trick than a no foot can, but if you already do no foot cans, that's the place to start. In this photo, I'm springing off the pegs really hard, but take your time at first. The harder you jump off your pegs the bigger the trick will be. If you try to be conservative on your pop, but then extend harder in the air, the trick will look rushed and kinda lame. Remember that you're not just popping straight, but also twisting all in one motion. You want to be starting that twist almost with your tires still on the lip.

 

 


If you're gonna do a full switch and turn your legs completely around, you wanna make sure they clear the seat to start. So make sure you pick your feet up high, and try to imagine your lower body light and like it's definitely gonna go higher than your head. Also at this point you're really starting to turn around. I already started to turn my head as well. Don't listen to people tell you to follow your head on a flip, but on a swithblade, it makes a difference!

 


 At this point you're mostly just continuing to turn your head and twist your hips. Really here, you're just following the motion that you started off the lip of the jump. If you popped off your pegs hard enough, you're just along for the ride at this point.

 


 This is pretty much full extension of the trick, and you can feel it when your legs have turned as far as they're going to turn. Once you feel them stop make sure to pull your lead leg together with the follow up leg. It takes some practice but, make sure to put them together. Some people make sure they touch. I normally can see my boots and like them to be maybe like a foot apart. For a lot of guys, the bike is whipped a bit depending on how big they do the trick. My bike normally hits the stops so, mine whips quite a bit.

 


 You got there, now you have to bring it back! Just turn your head back to the direction you want your legs to go, and pull back on the bars a bit to get your body falling again. Your whole upper body should be pulling your legs back down and turning them in a forward direction. Also if your bike has whipped, try to be pushing the steering stops back the other way.

 


  In this shot, I'm over the front and pushing my wrists into my levers just like coming back from a kiss of death. To get my legs that high I really have to trust my levers to pull back. This is a hard concept to grasp when you're not used to it, but it should happen naturally the higher you get your legs. Just make sure you keep your clutch perch a little tighter than usual.

 


Just like I said in step four, once again your body is just following the direction you gave it. If you already started to snap your body back, you're just along for the ride right here. Sometimes if I do a really big one, the whip part gets a little out of control here and I give a little rev to keep the bike straight.

 


If you eased into learning the trick, you should be familiar with where your pegs are and have no trouble finding them right here. Your bike may be a little crooked so if you have to adjust your feet a little, no big deal. Sometimes I use my right leg against the frame to straighten things up a little once my right foot has hit the peg.


If you're still whipped a little bit, just keep your head looking forward and you may want to give your bike a little gas. No big deal to land a hair crooked, your bike will correct itself once it hits the ground. You should be pumped you just landed a swithblade but make sure to stay cool acting if your buddies are filming you and not act too excited!

 


With time, practice, and alot of patience, this could be you one day. Here Greg Hartman showcases the trick he turned upside down - The Switchblade. It won him an XGames gold in '07 as well as the respect of the entire motorcycle industry.