How to side hop a MTB

Side hopping is a very useful technique for on and off the trails, since it allows you to shift your entire bike laterally.

Hopefully you already know how to bunnyhop. This is a slight variation on the bunny hop, as we’re just pulling up and to the side.

To learn this technique, practice doing manuals while pulling your front wheel to one side. This will set you up for the “pop” part where you push forwards into a bunnyhop.

Putting your seat down is going to help out a lot too while learning

Like anything else, you’re best off starting small, like on white lines in the street. Once you have the technique down, try hopping on to a curb or something low.

Just like a normal bunny hop, committing to bringing your front wheel up really high is going to result in a higher hop, and just like a bunny hop you don’t need to rely on clips or straps to bring the back wheel up. Just get your front wheel off the ground and push forwards.