In this video I attempt the biggest jump I’ve ever hit on a mountain bike. Spoiler: it didn’t all go perfectly. Ever since I started building my mountain bike trail, I’ve dreamed of creating a creek gap jump. My jumping skills might not have been quite ready, but the trail was, and I found the ideal spot to bring this vision to life.
The Perfect Location For A Creek Gap
I’d already built a fun jump out of the gully that lands in a 180-degree berm, sending riders hurtling back down towards the creek.
The area was overgrown, so I quickly cleaned it up to see what I was dealing with. I cut a trail coming straight down the hill and decided to build a wooden jump that would launch riders over the creek and onto the embankment. Using tomato stakes to visualize the landing and an orange pole to mark the jump location, I played around with the takeoff angle. A 30-degree angle seemed right to clear the creek, but I was unsure about the gap size. Coming up short would mean a painful fall onto the rocks below.
The Plan
To figure out the ideal gap size without risking my face on the rocks, I decided to construct the wooden jump in a nearby grass field. This way, I could test the jump and gradually increase the gap until I found the right speed and distance.
How I built the MTB Jump
I built curved stringers to support the riding surface, each made of two pieces held together with a wooden gusset plate. After building two of these, I assembled the rest of the jump with temporary legs.
Using salvaged wood from previous builds, I ensured nothing went to waste. I prepared a dirt landing with trenches at the back to slot in the jump’s supports perfectly.
I spent a couple of days test riding the jump to feel comfortable before deciding it was time to move it to the creek.
Building the Creek Gap
With the jump built and tested, it was time to move it to the creek. Originally, I planned to disassemble and reconstruct it, but the wood had shrunk in the sun, making the screws impossible to remove. So, my dad and I MacGyvered a crane on the tractor to transport the jump without taking it apart.
The Final Test
Running up to the jump for a practice run, I felt the nerves. My brain was holding me back, but I knew I could make the jump. After overcoming the mental block, I sent it. The first attempt was a bit rough—I overshot the wood landing and nearly crashed. I adjusted my speed for the second attempt and landed on the wood, but it still didn’t feel right. The landing wasn’t steep or long enough, so changes are needed.
Conclusion
Despite the sketchy landing, the takeoff felt amazing. I need to make some adjustments to the landing or takeoff, but this creek gap jump is going to be an incredible feature on the trail.
