Made in Australia: Jigsaw Jumps
Jigsaw Jumps have made quite the impression recently, with the modularity and portability finding favour with all ages of riders.
Have you recently seen countless videos of riders boosting off small jumps in parks, playing around with features? Chances are, the riders are using one of the compact and transportable ramps made by Sam Knight of Jigsaw Jumps. The jumps were born out of necessity, as Sam told me when I spoke to him up at Crankworx Cairns.
'We started selling in August 2021, but I came up with the idea during lockdowns living in Melbourne, during July 2020. We couldn't go more than 5km and there were no trails within that radius from my place. And they brought out the rule that you couldn't drive to go exercise. So I had to come up with something that was portable enough that I could carry it on the bike, but big enough to be fun.'
'I happened to get my hands on an Uber Eats delivery bag, and at home with a jigsaw I cut out some pieces of plywood that would fit in that bag. I cut it out like a puzzle so I could assemble it without using any tools.'
The original jump Sam made was one size, it couldn't be adjusted.
'It was one size, adult size. I redesigned it to make it modular, which means I could convert it to make it a roll over or a kicker. And I could make it smaller so there was something to suit different aged kids.'
Getting the jumps to the polished product that you can buy today was actually quite a rapid process, with Sam telling me he went through a lot of rapid development.
'Because I was making them myself I was able to develop quite rapidly. I was making coreflute mock ups and taking them to the park. Word got around in my neighbourhood that I was there every Tuesday and Friday during lockdown. We had about 30-40 kids lining up to ride the jumps, socially distanced of course.'
'I had about 5 different ramps, trying out different sizes and different angles. When I started doing bigger ramps for riders who really wanted to send it I'd make a prototype and get them to ride it. Then I could adjust the angles to get it dialled.'
Making the jumps here in Australia means Sam has enjoyed pretty fast turnarounds, and now Jigsaw Jumps have a huge range of ramps and extensions, with the backpacks to make them easy to transport. The range is still expanding.
While Sam started making the jumps himself, he now has a couple of employees as well, and they're based in Warburton, Victoria. Staying local is important to Sam, and while you can buy from their website, Jigsaw Jumps are stocked in a few bike shops as well.
Take a look at a few other profiles for Made in Australia brands
Devlin Cycles
Frameskin
Rubber Side Down
What's a Jigsaw Jump made out of?
The jumps use 12mm structural ply, so they are super strong. A waterproof glue means they will stay that way, and the top uses a special non-slip film that provides excellent grip. The treatment means they're fine to hose down if they get muddy but you shouldn't leave them out in the weather all the time.
Each piece locks into place and is held in place with a short bungee cord. They have all been strength tested and are fine to use with eMTBs – but they aren't rated for motorbike use.
What models of Jigsaw Jumps are there?
Jigsaw Jumps make four ramp models, but there are extensions for the Medium and Large jumps, to add extra levels of progression (and plenty of boost!)
The Junior
With a nice and mellow jump radius, the Junior is targeted at riders as young as 3 years old with a total height of 22cm and expandable with the J+ Extension up to a total height of 39cm. You can even set it up as a mellow roll over for balance bikes, or rollable jump to get started.
The Pocket Rocket
A very lippy and compact kicker that for its size gets some serious height thanks to its tighter radius. You can build it as a mini jump, a rollable version or a very short kicker. This one packs down super small and can be transported in a school bag as it weighs just 4.2kg, you can take it anywhere!
Medium
The Medium jump provides the best progression of the lineup providing families and more advanced riders with all they need to take their jumping skills to the next level, from wherever they may be starting. This versatile ramp can transform from a small two-way roller ramp, progressing to a small rollable jump right through to an 80cm high booter with the new M++ Extension, that can be carried in 2 backpacks. It would make a great addition to any riding family'ss activity arsenal, take it to the park, away camping, the possibilities really are endless.
Large
If your jumping game is already more advanced, the Large Jump has a tighter radius and taller launch height, providing more aggressive airtime. It also has a wider 50cm takeoff compared to the 40cm wide Medium jump. This ramp still provides the 3 stages of progression with the additional L+ Extension huge gaps and tricks can be setup anywhere without the need for hours of shovel time!
On test – Jigsaw Jumps Medium
Sam sent Ryan Walsch a Medium, plus the M+ Extension and the brand new M++ Extension for Ryan to play with. So far it's been popular in every single setting, from roll overs for his young girls, through to backyard booters. His review will be in Issue #200 – on sale on December 5.
