BMX - Is dirt jumping still popular?

When I was a kid, growing up in the seventies (the golden years of bmx) air was everything to us. None of my friends were all that interested in racing. We always met out in the Canyons of Southern California to get air. We had a great jump and just launched over and over, trying to get as high and wild as possible.

Is that still hip? I never see it where I live (Atlanta). I know guys are into skate parks and ramps and such, and I see guys ride the streets and bounce off things, of course...do drops, etc., but what about big airs?

From what I see, yes. Flatland seems to be taking a hit though. Everyone saw all the cool tricks in the 80s and they take actual skill so not many people go that route.

I'm starting to look for a BMX to build and get back into it. I'm interested in just messing around and actually learning flatland tricks.

I'm not sure I really understand what you mean by flatland. In the 80s we had what we called freestyle, and those were the guys who did tricks on flat surfaces (riding on their handlebars, going backwards, etc.). That sounds okay, but I'm interested in getting back into airs. What I'd really like to do is find a big dirt hill and put a jump right in the middle of it so that you get speed, launch, do a trick, and then land on the hill (like a ski jumper). I don't like landing on the flats. It hurts and I'm too old to do the stop, drop and roll too often.

I know what you mean, just different terms I guess.
I'm sure there's a few places around hidden away where people are jumping there. Of course, that hard georgia clay is tough to just build up a ramp without equipment. I lived in Atlanta for several years too. Fewer people seemed to ride when I was out there.

http://sasquatchcanyon.blogspot.com - look through the links

Pretty. Plenty of companies make bikes specificly for dirt jumping, and they are pretty popular, around here anyways. Around here it is, anyway.

theres nothing like hitting a good dirt lip in my mind

its most definitely still very popular. Just lots of trails are well guarded secrets.
Lots of jumps out in the open end up getting torn down by the city, so as a result, they are rebuilt rather well hidden

Here in Denmark it is a kinda new sport really. I have two friends who started riding dirt jump like two years ago, and noone (including me) knew what it was at the time :) But I guess everything gets later to Scandinavia....

i dont think dirt jumping will ever go away, all you need is a bike, a pile of dirt, and a guy crazy enough to take a run at it..

I'm 14 years old and I race bmx, today me and my friends just got done making a dirt jump, we make our own tracks with the dirt jumps to get air.

goggle sheep hills

I agree that Dirt Jump will always be around, because it's easy to start and a lot of fun!!