Social Round Up: Impressive Hits From These 12 PB Groms

 Oh. You jelly.

In all seriousness, there is something to this as far as access to proper jumps, parks and airbags, especially if you’re talking about tricks. But some of these kids are sending some pretty significant free ride terrain as well, and that’s not just sterile park stuff. I also will say that they all clearly spend a lot of time practicing and are clearly dedicated to their sport.

 @Hogfly: Yeah, the only jumps we had were the secret ones the BMXers built and would chase us off of when we got caught. Now in Denver there are three outstanding public parks with jumps and slopestyle features better than 14 year old me could have dreamed of.

So happy they are there (both for myself and these kids) and it's sick seeing 14 year olds pull backflips, but the rate at which access has changed makes me feel old as hell, and I'm still super young. Stoked for my kids though.

 Yeah, I'd find it much more inspiring to see someone start riding late in life and get really good

 You do sound like a twat, These kids could be staring at a screen like most of their peers. This is how extreme sports progress. People spend decades attempting what was thought of as impossible until someone achieves it and everyone else realizes they can also do it. Look at the backflip, it was once an impossible trick and now any freestyle rider that wants to compete needs to be able to execute one. Check out The Rise of Superman if you want to know more. How about some positivity for how talented these kids are and recognition of how much our sport is progressing. I can't wait to see what these kids can do! Awesome round up!

 you're missing a huge part of the equation, these kids have a way higher mountain to climb to be competitive when they are older. Not only due to the increased volume of skilled riders but also due to the crazy high ceiling of skills that have been developed. Imagine being 9 years old and wanting to be a slopestyle rider but knowing you need to do opposite 720s just to be even considering having a chance.

 @ipreferdirt: Truth. And if you don't live somewhere with access to an airbag or foam pit, you have almost zero chance. That's why, even though my son loves the thought of slopestyle, he's started to gravitate to racing and freeride instead (though he still loves jumping and learning tricks, he just can't progress at the same speed as someone with a bag).

 @Hogfly: A lake jump can be a decent substitute for a air bag. Depending on the season of course. Just a thought.

 Personally, I hate the rebuttal of "if only I had an airbag". It's called progression of the sport. Happened in skiing, snowboarding, surfing, moto, and virtually every mainstream sport like baseball, soccer, and basketball. Idk people in the mtb world get so butt hurt about kids who have access to facilities to progress their riding. Sure know that the people that came before you were complaining about how their progression was a lot slower. As technology increases so do our access to that technology. All we young people hear are whining adults hollering the classic line "back in my day"

 @CoffeeHouseMedia: Haha well said buddy!

 @hardcore-hardtail: You also sound a little twatty. Just because kids are throwing backflips and bar spins doesn't mean "most" of them aren't out living their best lives. Not to mention the shade you're throwing at young kids who are only capable of being involved the the activities their parents provide the opportunity for.

OP sounds a little jealous, yes, but you sound like a 30 something working part time duty as a spite filled boomer.

 It's just a shame that a lot of kids who don't have parents who can afford a decent MTB or a season pass to the nearby bike park will still miss out. Like a lot of 'extreme' sports it heavily biased towards those who are better off in society.

 @johnnyboy11000: so untrue it's funny. The "rich kids" of mtb almost never make it in the long run. Passion or drive for a sport doesn't come from wealth. Don't get me wrong, a helping hand can make a difference but almost all of today's pro's didn't get handed their position on a silver platter. There's always a backstory to a lot of these kids that obviously a quick video clips can't convey. I personally know Jacob and Sam and they are some of the most genuine dudes out there and work extremely hard for their progression. Emil Johansson is a great example. Man learned most of his riding on one medium sized mulch jump. If anything social media has allowed more underprivileged kids get noticed.

 I can kinda see both sides of it.....I do sorta agree with you but at the same time it is progression, all sports do it. It's hard to compare generations, we can't compare what Tony did with the 900 to what kids are doing today, in his time, in his era it was epic. I remember the first time I saw a backflip on a BMX bike in the movie RAD!, mind blown, they practiced it on dirt and ramps at the time. Same for moto, the first guys doing backflips didn't have foam pits or bags....Carey Hart tried and 'sorta' landed the first one to dirt in a competition after never really attempting one before, that takes massive balls....kids have it MUCH easier.

I don't personally like seeing kids sending huge booters and drops....the pain and suffering that we had to go through tempers our view of what we should be doing, these kids didn't have to live that and may not be as close to the reality of the consequences either, especially at their age.

One key difference I think (I don't have kids!) is most of 'us' older generation folk wanted to be good and had very little recognition and lived through lots of pain to get there, we were highly internally motivated. With the younger crowd things are different they have mentors in their parents, other folks pushing them and teaching them, they are massively influenced by social media (positive and negative)....we'll see if they stick with it and continue to push the limits as they get older...

 As the father of a kid who took the training wheels off at 4 and was sending 3's at the city concrete skate park at 12 and surpassed my ability hitting prolines at Whistler at 15 I am thankful he has a community that is positive, physical and outdoors. I am also thankful that my son and I get to share a passion. He is privileged to have a father who loves to ride bikes and has the means to support it. I would ask all of the "I never had a airbag" folks would they want their kid to have access to one? If your child loved to ride like you do what wouldn't you do to support them? I don't think this is a jealous of the next generation thing. We all know riding bikes makes life worth living and these kids just found that out sooner the us and in a world that supports that passion better. I call this progress. I hope more kids find their way to the mountain bike, BMX, dirt jump, messing around in the woods with your friends on bikes promised land.

 These kids are out there sending it and your crusty old ass is just on the computer finding something to complain about. Go ride man.

 @me2menow: haha! I don’t really know how you could practice for the drop I hit. Just send it man that’s all i can say to all of u.

 @hardcore-hardtail: THIS! Say whatever u will about better grom bikes, opportunities for progression, or whatever, but the point is these kids are ripping and pushing the envelope in a day when many parents are signing their kids up for Coding Camp... Whatever the F that is! More bikes, fewer computers, more dirt, less tech, all fun!

 Did you even play Lucy’s clip? Dynamite.

 @CoffeeHouseMedia: I think you & I may have a different definition of "underprivileged". I'm referring to people who can barely afford clothes and food - and there are plenty of them in the world unfortunately. Those who can only dream of being able to afford such luxuries as a bike, or the time to learn how to ride it well.

Also I never said anything about today's pros not having to work hard for it, so I don't know where you pulled that from.

 @CoffeeHouseMedia: I agree. I think the future pros will need both aspects; wealth, or at least space to build the right training ground, AND the mental side of it all. One of the local Air Rec Center 15 year olds is already sending flip whip to bar spins, cork 720s etc on the mulch jump there. Does having an indoor training facility with an air bag, mulch jumps, dirt jumps, and a skatepark at your disposal help? Yes, but it all means nothing if you don't have the drive and kahunas to get the tricks done.

 Your just embarrassed that a 12 year old who in-fact does not have access to a foam pit is better than you could ever hope to be. A twat is what you are go hit the massive drops and do the jibs these kids were doing. Now get off the internet since your an adult and find or build your nearest jump and get to progression you sorry excuse for a mountain biker... no offense

 Having access and good gear doesn’t mean you will have the desire to send and practice every day. What’s to say you wouldn’t be one of the millions of kids getting fat in front of a TV?

 Grompage is a thing... or was pre-COVID. The Outlaw kids basically just had it again with their team a month or so ago as well, I think. At least they were all out in the area.

 No more reality shows please. We've seen enough people changing tires

 @Hogfly: I’m an outlaw kid haha

 Hah! Very true!

 been following that kid since his first post! hes got a bright future!

 So sick dude!

 defenetly! pinkbike needs to jump on some of us Midwest and OZ groms!

 Stfu