Flying Trapeze: Learning My Swing

I love flying on the weekend.

Sunday morning, I headed to class. It was foggy and sprinkling rain so I kept checking my phone to see if class was canceled. The forecast had said cloudy, but it lightly raining at my house.

I drove to the rig, and sure enough there were people there. I pulled out the rain jacket that lives in my trunk (from college) and set up shop in one of the white plastic chairs. Class was on and the rain was dying down.

The ladder wasn't slippery and neither was the bar. In fact, the net wasn't wet like I thought it would be. The weather wasn't really an issue actually. I would have preferred sunshine, but it was dry enough to safely fly and I had a blast.

Class was eight people. Four regulars (I'm including myself in this!), two middle aged lady, and a couple. The girl was an experienced flyer who'd been to two other rigs, and her boyfriend was a newbie.

Today was the day I practiced my swing. Or at least the back half of it. You learn it in pieces.
(All the regulars practice their swings, so to me, it's a step that I'm moving up! I was ridiculously pumped to learn this.)

There are so many things to learn so I'm fine with this.

First time up, I don't go on hep. Haha. After one night of one-handed take-offs I'm still getting used to it.

The swing is: (my version of how I remember it is)

Take off

Hang straight

Towards the end of the arc, arch with your feet behind you.

Then, it's three kicks: forward, backward, forward.

You practice this a few times, and then it's the bullet drop.

You eventually drop straight to your back on the net.

My first time up, I swung way too hard. I also dropped like a dead bug to the net.

Shain told me to swing SMOOTHER and connect them together.

I was happy that I swung big enough. I've been doing these awful tiny swings so, I'm probably overcompensating.

The regulars tell me learning your swing is frustrating. Shain says not to try to be perfect the first time. I think I made a valiant an un-embarassing effort.

Try two: Take off was better. I think my bullet drop was closer to straight. Not quite there. Shain tells me the goal is to get into a rhythm, to try and get there.

Try three: More swinging. I'm trying to make it smoother. And I'm trying to anticipate the calls (which is bad, Just listen to Shain!) My drop on this one was awful.

We talk about it. I don't understand what I'm supposed to do for the drop. Am I suppose to kick on the "ready" call ? I will work on this more next week.

TRICKS
For my trick, I'd been doing a straddle whip for a few classes (and catching it), so Shain suggests a back end straddle. I've got this. He has Laura demo it for me.

I go up on the board and they put the lines BETWEEN MY LEGS.

Well this is weird. I take off. And when I straddle the LINES POP OUT TO THEIR NORMAL POSITION.

And IT IS THE WEIRDEST FEELING EVER. Am I supposed to move my legs out of their way? My brain is exploding. What am I supposed to do? And then I remember that Shain said that was supposed to happen and that means I did the trick right. I straddle. And whip for the catch. And save it.

It's not a perfect first attempt. I tell Shain the lines confused me. He said for a second I tried to thread my leg through the lines. But figured it out.

At this point, it's time for catches. I get lucky, because the couple has to leave early, and the ladies said they were done, so I get one more practice run while Alex puts up the catch trap (the bar the catcher swings from. Note: I save the day, with my Lululemon small towel, that they use to dry the bar).

And I get it! I don't let the weirdo lines between my lines phase me. I straddle, I reach. I fall to the net.

"Do it just like that for catches," Shain says.

Yasss, I am so awesome, I think.

Now, time for catches. After two practice runs, I get my catch. And I think it's beautiful. My toes are pointed. I catch. I sit perfectly in the mat. I look at the video and wonder I'm going to learn RETURN TO THE BAR. Look at my height. (Ha ha, I know this is months away. I also bent my arms on take-off, but this is a work in progress. I'll get there.)

My second catch is a little messier. But I didn't record it, so it doesn't count. I kicked backward when Shain said forward (brain, muscles? Hello, what are you doing) and had to muscle up to straddle, so my timing was a tad off, and then the catch was barely there—because I was searching for the catcher, while he was searching for me. I grabbed his wrist (no!) and it counts.

So for next week: Need to work on working in hands.

I know I'm not supposed to reach for the catcher! But some part of my brain wants to keep me safe and wants me to reach. (Maybe we should blindfold me? Doesn't THAT sound safe?)

And I want to work on that bullet drop. I need that explained again, to watch a few people do it.

But overall, I'm super happy with the class. I started working on my swing. (Yes!) I went two for two on catches. I'm making progress, learning new things and getting better with (most) every class.

Shain said "Good job today" (Shain's the tough one, so this is awesome.)

Rod, the white haired guy who'd never seen me fly before, told me I was amazing. Yes, I can catch my trick after two practice runs!

(I also love watching the other girls get so much better! It warms my heart to see a girl that was awesome before, be a total bad-ass in the class. Erica and Tara! This is you).

Flying trapeze made my weekend so happy. Now I have to wait another week to do it again. See you soon, trapeze!

Flying Trapeze: One Handed Take Off

I am official in the intermediate trapeze level. Tonight I learned a one-handed take-off.

A few of the staffers have been asking me for weeks if I'm a one-handed take-off yet. And as of tonight I am! Wa-hoo! I am finally getting there.

To prep, I watched videos online. It looks easy. Like when you jump off the board, your second hand comes to the bar, so you're never really hanging one handed off the trapeze. (Could I hold myself with one arm? Kaz said yes, but it would hurt.)

Kaz took me aside at the beginning of the class. We used the practice bar (the kind I caught with my single reverse) and by holding on to one of the rig poles.

You stand on the board like normal. You put your right hand on the bar, like normal. But here's the difference. When you bend your knees on the "ready" command, you're also going to dip the bar down and to the right. On hep, you snap the bar up to center and kind of jump and grab the bar with your other hand at the same time. You want to catch the bar at eye level. (My interpretation. I could be really off!!!) That jump/ arm and bar swing combo will give you more momentum. (In my mind it's sort of jump a gymnastics punch into the air.)

And I was thoroughly confused by the explanation.

It looked so easy in the videos, I said. "Is it easier to do than explain?" I asked.

Then, I climbed up to the board and practiced a few times. Only I was doing a set straddle, so my hand goes in the middle of the bar, so I just pull the bar up and down—not so much right.

The first time off the board, I felt like I stalled. I thought the staffer wasn't going to let go of my belt. So I stuttered off the board. AND then my arms got all tangled up.

Because I did a set whip instead of a set straddle.

I thought I remembered the trick last week, but I didn't. (My muscles remembered something close.)

And I confused the line worker, so I just sat down on the net and laughed.

I am the queen of epic fails.

I went over to the practice bar and practiced the set straddle. Hands together, feet outside on the bar in a frog position. Ahh, that's better.

I tried the take-off the second time. And I'm bending my arms, and pulling up on the bar. Which also isn't right. (I have been practicing my pullup, so this makes sense.) I went over to the Tivo and watched this. My arms were so bent. NOT GOOD.

So now there are lots of things to remember: KEEP MY ARMS STRAIGHT. LOCK THEM OUT.

Kaz also told me to really exaggerate the motion. To swing down a lot, and explode up/out (I don't remember which, but explode).

(We had a discussion about down/forward and which direction to go, which confused me since I am completely dyslexic with directions. Seriously, I have this alien sense of direction and don't see them like other people do.)

I had one swing where I went out, and then realized my hands were supposed to be together, so I shifted my hands mid swing, so I could save my straddle. (I think they were ready to bring me down. But I can muscle it. Maybe not safe, but ha ha).

My hands weren't together, because I WASN'T LOOKING AT THE BAR ON TAKEOFF.

Not sure what I was looking at. I was probably worrying about straight arms, so I didn't think to look at the bars (SO MUCH TO REMEMBER)

Other corrections for the night:

1) It's a set straddle not a set split. So toes down more and not out. (What's the point of having a killer middle split then?)
2) Don't kick up my feet when I let go for my catch. (I swear they told me last week to explode more and kick my feet, but apparently I remembered it wrong. Haha.)
3) Don't look for the catcher (with you hands). It makes their job harder when you're both searching for each other. Just present and let them find you. I got this correction twice. I know not to do it. But on some primal level, my brain thinks I must.

I got both my catches for the night (same as last week). I'm not piking as much on the catches (still a baby amount directly after) but it's getting better. My sits are getting better after the catch releases.

Next week: LEARNING MY SWING!!!

I will really feel like I made it when I learn my swing. Wa-hoo!

Flying Trapeze: Pullover shoot

Where Sara is told to "THROW IT DOWN"

Pretty sunset at class.

Another night of Flying Trapeze. I was super excited all day, looking forward to going to my happy place. I got to trapeze insanely early. I was that excited.

Tonight class was me, a medical student, a gymnastics coach and a family of four first-timers—a young mom, her cousin and two nieces or cousins.

It was my second night of working on a pullover shoot, which I kept forgetting the name to and was calling a popover. The instructors seemed to understand what trick I was referring to, so close enough!

Last class my trick did not go well. I wouldn't let go of the bar so my goal for the night was to let go of the bar. !! I'm afraid that heavy bar would slam into my legs and bruise me. (They assured me it wouldn't.) So to prepare, I watched the video of the trick a dozen times. It looks like I can do this. Will my brain let me?

First go round, I didn't let go of the bar. I rushed my pullover—way too fast. I can slow it way down and it will actually be better for the trick to not sit on the bar waiting forever for the call.

Second time up, I almost let go of the bar. I let it go for two inches and then got scared so I regrabbed it. ! (They did tell me I have an excellent pullover. I didn't tell them I practiced on a pullup bar for an hour this week. Let them think I'm a natural ;)

My third time up, I let go of the bar. I didn't pump shoot so I totally belly flopped, nose-dived and went straight into the net. But I let go. Which is a step in the right direction. I did more of the same the next time up. I put my hands forward too fast for a catch and need to worry more about going up. I also needed to pump my arms and legs and throw the bar down more.

"Throw it down," Kaz said.  Quote of the night.

I got a good lesson in NOT locking my arms out and throwing the bar down with open hands. Kaz is such a good, positive instructor.

Then it was time for catches. The coach was working on a front somersault catch. She is amazing to watch. The medical student worked on her swing most of the time and then worked on catching a cutaway (which is very similar to a layout and gorgeous and fun to watch). I love coming to leap to watch the tricks the others do.

The four first-timers were working on knee hang. I wanted so much for them to catch the trick. It's such a great feeling to get that catch. Two of them caught it. I was happy. We all cheered for them. The other two said they had fun and need to come back to get it. Getting your feet over is hard. And I was really happy everyone at my birthday party caught their trick. I have awesome friends. :)

I didn't think I'd catch the pullover shoot. I asked Kaz if he wanted me to try catching something else. He said no. So I was going to work on the trick. At worst, two more practice attempts at pullover shoot. I could use the practice.

First time up, I totally belly flopped off the bar and touched fingers with the catcher. Progress! Second and final time up, I pushed down better (still could throw harder)  and touched a hand with the catcher. I told Kaz, the instructor, I felt like two or three more tries and I'd have the trick. The class had one fewer student than normal, so he said if the catcher had it in him, I could possibly go again. I kept my safety belt on.

Everyone finished their tricks, and the medical student got a third try at catching her cutaway. They touched hands. It was so close. But she didn't catch it. I have a video of her super-close-almost-catch and Kaz screaming "Noooooo" when she missed was the funniest thing. He wanted her to get it sooo much.

I was taking my belt off thinking I wouldn't get a bonus turn, when Kaz asked if I was going. Yes, yes I want to try it again! So I had one of the ladies help me put my belt back on and scrambled up the ladder. I didn't think I'd catch it, but if I could throw the bar down harder I could be that much closer to catching it next time.

And I caught it!!!!

I screamed with a dork. I was so excited.

It was a totally off-balance catch. Rhuben caught my hands, not my wrists and I slipped out early. But it was a catch. He held me for a few seconds before I fell onto the net. I think he almost took my pinky nail with him he was trying to hold on so hard. I was worried I hurt him. We both assured each other we were fine.

I watched the video, and you can see my legs pump shoot. So much better than last time. My pullover is more controlled. I threw the bar down some. Yes, I could clean the trick up some and it needs work. But I feel like once you get a trick, then you work to clean it up. It doesn't have to be perfect the first time.

So I was high as a kite for 90 minutes after the catch. And I do really like the trick. I like pulling over the bar.

This is why Leap is my happy place. It's a great feeling to master a new trick—that adrenaline is amazing. It's cool to watch the video and see what your'e capable of. The people are so nice, positive and encouraging.

Can I get a flying trapeze in my backyard because I'm obsessed?

I really want some glow in the dark tights for my next class. Anyone know where I can buy some?