Whip

What it means

A whip is a style move: mid-air, the rider kicks the rear of the bike sideways so it lies almost flat, then brings it back in line before touching down. It is one of the most photographed moves in motocross and mountain biking, because the bike's silhouette against the sky shows the skill clearly.

A close relative is the scrub, where riders lean the bike low over the jump to stay closer to the ground and keep speed. In edits, a big whip is often the hero moment of a run, and it rewards a well-timed freeze frame or slow-motion replay.

How it works in practice

Film whips from the side of the jump, slightly below the takeoff, so the bike turns against open sky. The peak of the whip lasts a fraction of a second, so shoot at 120 fps if you want it slowed down cleanly.

A short shutter time keeps the bike sharp at the peak. In bright light an action camera handles this automatically; in shade or forest it may blur.

POV footage rarely shows a whip well, since the camera turns with the rider. The best whip edits combine a helmet POV approach with a side angle of the trick itself.

What to watch out for

Timing is everything. Start recording well before the jump and stop after the landing, so the edit can show the approach, the whip and the landing in one flow. A clip that begins mid-air loses context, and viewers cannot judge how big the jump really was.

Fisheye distortion bends the bike and the horizon near frame edges. Keep the rider near the center of a wide shot or use a linear lens mode.

Practicing a whip for the camera on an unfamiliar jump is risky. Learn the jump first, then film it, ideally with a spotter who can call when the landing is clear.