BMX Defined - Breaking it down.....

BMX (acronym)
Bicycle Motocross:
Family oriented, off-road bicycle sprint racing held on a closed course consisting of a variety of jump and turns. BMX began in the early 1970's when groups of children, imitating their motorcycle motocross heroes, built dirt courses in their neighborhoods and began racing one another.  BMX became known nationwide when the film "On Any Sunday" premiered.

Moto:
A single race for one of the many groups and proficiencies, held during a BMX event.

Starting gate:
Usually a metal construction holding up to eight riders during a moto which, when triggered by an electric box, swings down from the bottom, allowing the riders equal chance onto the track.

Holeshot:
Believed to have come from automobile drag racing as the first person to leave the starting line.  Loosely defined in BMX as the first rider to reach turn one during a moto.

Berm:
A hill, or curb, in the shape of a bowl around the outside of a turn allowing riders to carry their speed through the turn.  Most modern day turns on BMX courses are bermed corners.

Lip:
The top part of the front of a jump, which can send a rider into the air over the obstacle.  The "lip" is also known as the "takeoff".

Roller:
A small, usually no larger than three foot tall, obstacle (jump) on a BMX course with a smooth, rounded, front and top with a long backside,  Also, a piece of construction equipment, used to flatten and smooth the BMX track.

Tabletop:
An obstacle on a BMX track, varying in size, with a "lip" on the front side, a flattened top and smooth, rolling backside.  Also, a trick performed by a rider, over a jump, where the rider throws his/her bike into a position that is parallel with the jump, then back into normal position before landing.

Double:
A variably sized jump consisting of two "rollers", the first roller is the "takeoff", with the back part of the second being the backside.  Also, the act of jumping and clearing two obstacles.

Step-up:
Essentially a "tabletop" with a "roller" on the end that is formed into the backside of the "table".