Learning to corner well is like having a superpower. The ability to pass a rider every time you get to a corner is one of the most valuable weapons you can have in racing. It turns a straight-line battle into a tactical one — and that's where smart riders win.
High-low, block pass, railing the turn. These are the three moves every competitive BMX rider needs to know, understand, and be able to pull out at the right moment. Making the right split-second decision in a corner can be the difference between making the final and watching from the sidelines.
The High-Low
The high-low is the go-to passing move when you're behind and looking to get past the rider in front. The secret is simple: you need to be close enough to make it work. Too far back and it won't be effective. Get it right and it's almost unstoppable.
As you enter the corner, you want to be roughly halfway up the lead rider's bike — not too far back, not too far forward. Too far back and you won't be able to get your wheel in front to take the lead. Too far forward and you won't have enough space to create the gap you need to complete the pass. You should be on the outside of the lead rider with around two to three feet between you.
Once you enter the turn, weave out slightly to create space, then cut down under the lead rider using the momentum from being higher in the turn. Being higher means you can start pedalling earlier than the lead rider — they're still turning, still climbing the face of the turn, and slowly losing speed. You're already driving out of it. Once your wheel is in front, move across and block their line out of the corner. Take control of the race.
One more thing: as the lead rider exits the corner later than you, they'll have more exit speed. So make sure you move across and take their line — don't just get in front and leave them room to come back past you on the following straight.
Railing the Turn
Railing the turn is the alternative when the high-low isn't available. This usually happens when you've entered the corner almost shoulder to shoulder with the lead rider — you're too far forward for a clean high-low, but you're right there on the outside.
In this situation, keep accelerating and ride around the outside. The lead rider is lower in the turn. You're higher, which means you're coming off a better banking angle and a stronger turning position on exit. You haven't had to sacrifice any speed to set up a pass — you've stayed committed and carried your momentum through.
Done well, you come out of the corner with more speed and pull away down the next straight. It's not always the flashiest move, but it's one of the most effective when the positioning is right.
The Block Pass
The block pass is a great alternative to the high-low, and it's particularly effective when the lead rider takes a wide entry into the turn. Riders do this to generate a better line through the corner and carry more speed on exit — but it leaves them wide open if you're close enough and aware enough to take advantage.
When you see the lead rider going wide, you have a split-second decision to make: is there space for a high-low, or are they wide enough for a block pass? If they've left a gap on the inside, you attack early and dive underneath them, using the second half of the turn to straighten up and drive for the next straight.
The key is committing early. You're taking a shorter line into the corner, closing the gap, and essentially cutting off the lead rider's exit. If you can execute this without contact, it's one of the fastest passing moves in BMX. The lead rider will see it coming — but by the time they do, it's too late. They'll be looking to set up a high-low on you as they exit.
The most important part: make sure the lead rider is actually wide enough to make the move viable. If they're not, you'll run out of room and hand them the position. Read the corner before you commit.
BMX Berm Warfare
Every corner in a race is a decision point. High-low, rail it, block pass — the right move depends on your position, the lead rider's line, your closing speed, and the corner itself. The riders who win races aren't just the fastest in a straight line. They're the ones who read corners better and make better decisions faster.
The good news: all of this is trainable. Study your race footage. Watch where you were positioned entering corners and what options that gave you. Practice the moves at the track with training partners at controlled speed before you try them at race pace. Build the pattern recognition so that when the moment comes in a race, your brain already knows what to do.
A corner isn't just a turn. It's an opportunity.
See you on the gate.
Tony Harvey
6x Australian BMX Champion | Founder, HRVfit