This is a guide for beginners who want to learn how to build and start jumping dirt jumps.

What you need
-Land
-A couple shovels
-A couple people (or you could do it by yourself but its always easier and funner with someone else)
-Water
-And a wheelbarrow is always helpful

Land
Your going to want to find a place where the jumps are not going to get in anyone’s way, and no one will take them down. Private property is the best, as long as it is your (or someone you know, and you have permission from's) property. Preferably this land will have a small hill, or incline on one end, and be straight or at least straight enough to build a couple jumps. It doesn't matter if it is in the woods, or in a field, both have their positives and negatives. In the woods there is shade, the trees calm the wind way down, but their are trees to run into. In an open field it can become windy, and the sun can be hot, but your not going to run into any trees.

Shovels
Your going to want to use some spade shovels, and some flat head shovels. Spade shovels for building dirt, and flat shovels for forming and packing.

(Spade shovel on the left, flat shovel on the right)


Dirt

The dirt you use will determine how well your jump packs. The better it packs the easier it will be to work with. STAY AWAY FROM SAND. Sand does not pack easily, and will be horrible to work with. Sand will take a long time to get stable enough to hit day after day without having to fix it. To determine if your dirt is good, take a handful of it and try to make a snowball and throw it at a tree. It should stay in one clump until it hits the tree, and then some of it should stick to the tree. Another option is buying dirt, but its not all that cheap, and alot of times pointless.
Using things like logs, old couches, etc. to use as fillers works, but I would not recomend it. These things makes the consistancy of the dirt not all the same, and makes it pack in weird places, and takes more time to form good.

Here is where we begin

Make sure the area that you are going to build your dirt jumps is flat (free of bumps), and clear of all brush/grass/tree stumps/anything else that is in your way. You can do this by taking the flat shovel and scraping it against the ground so that the shovel takes all the impurities out of the ground. You can use that dirt to start with the jump.


For the Jump
Get dirt from a hole that you will make close to the jump, but make sure it will not get in the way of the jump you are making, or any other jumps you plan on making. (You don't want to start digging in-between the jumps yet) Put the dirt into a pile, and once the pile gets about a foot and a half high, 2 feet wide, and 2 and a half feet long start packing it down and make a little lip out of it. Make sure you pack it down enough, and if your dirt is not moist, putting water on and in the jump is a real great idea. For the first couple jumps you don't want it too steep, just a little launch pad. Hitting this little jump will teach you basic skills to hitting jumps, and you will teach yourself how to hit a good jump. Once you get it all packed down, start hitting it. Make a note to where you land so you know where to build your landing.

The Landing
Don't get lazy on the landing. A nice landing will make a big difference on how nice your trails are. A nice landing is one that is tall and wide. You want your landing to be at least as tall as your jump. To start the landing you will basically do the same thing with the jump, except make it wider. Pack it down ALOT, and give the landing a nice gradual slope, nothing to steep.

Packing it down
A well packed down jump and landing is crucial to some good jumps. If the dirt you are using is not moist, you will want to make it wet. Wet dirt packs better. Just make sure that you don't turn the dirt into mud. Packing the dirt can be done in several ways. Stepping on the jump, or wacking it with the backside of the flat shovel works good. After packing it down like that, take the flat shovel and carve your lip and make it all smooth. Then pack it some more. Take your bike and roll it up the jump putting pressure on your front wheel to make sure that you will not sink in, causing you to mess up horribly. Also, packing the sides and the back of the jump are just as important as packing the top.

Your takeoff jump should now be about a foot high, foot wide, 1-2 foot gap, and foot high, 2 foot wide landing.

Here is where it is up to you

Now I can't tell you exactly how you want your jumps, and exactly how to make them because I can not see what your using or how good you are, etc. Once you get used to the jump you have now, start putting more dirt on it, and play around with the lip to see what you like. Some people like dirt jumps that almost look like a quarter pipe, that launches you really high, but only like a 5 foot gap. Some people like long jumps, some people like both. Just play around with it, and see what you like. Once you feel comfortable with the jump you have, build it up. Move the landing back, and then you can start digging out the pit inbetween the jump. The jump size will progress with your riding ability, which is a big pluss when making your own jumps.

Be patient. Good trails take time to make, and alot of digging and patting.
Here is a video of my trails. The end clips (smaller jumps, when its sunny) were taken about 9 months before the other clips (bigger jump, night time) Our trails look different now, but they need some work. lol.

http://media.putfile.com/BMX-dirt-jumps

The main thing to keep in mind is to have fun with. Play around with the formation of your jumps, and you will teach yourself much more than anything that anybody can tell you.

Good luck, and here is a thread with pictures of some REALLY nice jumps. Keep in mind that these jumps were more than likely built with bobcats, or over many years time.
Dirt Jumps

And Remember, just by going out with a couple shovels, and getting a little dirty, over time you will teach yourself everything there is to know about building, forming, and riding good dirt jumps.

Any questions, either PM me or post in this topic.

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