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Wikipedia defines Four Cross as "a relatively new style of mountain bike riding where four bikers race downhill on a prepared, BMX like, track, simply trying to get down first. 

These bikes are generally either full suspension with 3 to 4 inches of travel, or hardtails, and have, typically, quite strong frames. They run a chain guide on front and gears on the back. They have slack head angles, short chainstays and low bottom brackets for good cornering and acceleration". I think this is only a half decent definition and proves that anyone can write for the internet ;). But this bit I like "Four Cross is.....simply trying to get down first" .. OK, lets talk racing..

  

My first experience of Four Cross was at Chicksands, Bedford, England. I had been having fun on the Dual slalom course and thought this would be fun too. The ramp gate at the front is pretty steep and it takes you over doubles, more doubles and triples, berms and then more doubles and triples. Everything is roll able and I recommend the first time you do a four cross course you roll it all first time to get used to it. Once done you never have that far to walk up anyways. 

Go with mates. This is about racing with up to 4 riders.  Whether for fun or for real if you are on a 4X course it is always a race!! The other course I have ridden is at PORC (Penshurst, Kent, England). I actually preferred this one as there were bits I could actually get some decent air on ( I mean some air at least).

The coolest course is in Fort William, Scotland where I saw Brian Lopes take the World Champs title in September. Built by Phil Saxena it was awesome to see how these courses could be run f oyu knewwhat you were doing. 

OK,, Here is a more in depth look at what Four Cross is all about:

 

• Four riders compete on a specially designed and very challenging course.
• Each race is quick and looks crazy lasting between 25 and 60 seconds
  
• The courses is pretty much man-made with big or enormous doubles, triples, drop offs and berms on a steep descent
• There are loads of crashes as a) it is technically tough to ride these courses b) the riders are going super fast and in a mad frenzy to win. c) there are three other riders competing to win and they are inches from you.
  
•  Each 4X competition starts with a number of riders competing in knock-out rounds.
• The knock-out rounds can be decided by a series of heats called 'Motos' with riders competing 3 times before moving on to quarters, semis and final.
• The final consists of the last four riders left in the competition.
• Alternatively, riders compete against the clock to decide seeding positions before moving into the knock-out stages.

 Wikipedia has another description (odd to have two) which I also found and is much better......"4X, also known as 'mountain cross' or 'bikercross') inspired by the dual format and by BMX racing, this event pits four riders on the same course from starting gates to finish. There can only be one winner per event, so the races can quickly eliminate riders making the progression faster for a day's events. This is the reason it was chosen as the race-format to replace Dual-Slalom by the UCI at World Cup events. 4X also replaced Dual in the UCI World Cup series in 2002."

Wear enormous amounts of body armour and remember "there can only be one" Enjoy 

Tip

Try Dual Slalom first and work up. Chicksands has a great one. Go with a mate and beat them. If you fail to beat them the first time then ride them again and again until you do. Give up when it gets dark.

Skills:

 4X Courses:

PORC - http://www.ukdirt.com/porc/index.php

Chicksands -http://www.bedsfattrax.org/

Fort William - http://www.ridefortwilliam.co.uk/