From SoCal to Paris

The History of BMX. Pt. 2 From dirt tracks to olympics

Welcome back for part 2 of our history of BMX.  In our last email we looked at the birth of BMX’s racing roots. Now let’s check out how freestyle BMX started…

Explore Freestyle BMX

In the mid-70s, BMXers began experimenting with tricks and stunts, transitioning from dirt tracks to skateparks and empty swimming pools.

This shift led to the birth of freestyle BMX, focusing on style and innovation over speed. The earliest documentation shows Devin and Todd Bank in 1974 riding BMX bikes on a skateboard ramp they built.

Explore Freestyle BMX

By 1976, freestyle pioneers like Bob Haro, John Swanguen, Gary Turner, Scot Breithaupt, and Perry Kramer led the way, revolutionizing BMX. Haro, often called the “Father of Freestyle BMX,” founded Haro Bikes and formed the first freestyle team in 1979.

GT Bikes, founded by Gary Turner in 1972. Turner’s welding and frame design expertise led to some of the most innovative BMX frames, quickly establishing GT as a major player in the BMX world.

Then in 1978, Scot Breithaupt started SE Bikes with their JU-6. Then two years later, Perry Kramer made some modifications to the frame, creating one of the most iconic BMX bikes of all time – the PK Ripper.