In the activities, lights & shadow of Jordann's upcoming show in the Streb space, there weren't classes running, but that didn't stop some of the instructors from having a productive night...! We were hoping to get some training on lines, but they were building a huge octopus from cloth & wire for the show in the area we normally pull in. So, we used our time for other pursuits!
The fervent Lizzy H. & I were marking/timing her Forward Over catch OOM. We were close, and we respect the fact that bigger, rotating tricks like that demand additional measures of prudence & time to catch cleanly & safely. The young & intrepid Whit C. broke through a needless mental barrier that has lingered w/her for a while. She got to smoothly & safely catch her B/E Splits a few times, and she is SO light that it felt like I was still flying by myself in the catch trap! And, for the big news: the rock-solid Cody S. caught her Layout for her 1s time ever OOM! Great work, ladies!
The thing I was reminded of from this night was the penultimate importance of staying tight. Each of these flyers felt incredibly light in my hands during catches simply b/c they flexed the right muscles at the right times (read as: "all the time"). Cody in particular amazed me b/c, even though she had some over-rotation in her Layout, she completely negated that rotation by becoming as rigid as steel from fingers to toes at the moment we locked wrists.
Looking back: Sam G. has been a great & welcome addition to the team, and we'll miss him as he takes some time to travel internationally before attending school in NY. In his time w/us, he's toughened his hands, raised his swing & learned the basics of Angel returns!
"None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm." - Henry David Thoreau
Though not flying related, this quote made me laugh, so I felt I'd share it:
"... the 20th century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: The growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy." - Alex Carey
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008, Brooklyn, NY
We had a great, high-energy night of flying on our little rig in Brooklyn...!
The students that night were in similar skill ranges w/the tempos of their swings pretty much pitch perfect. So, we were having them up the ante on the power of their flying. On barely a whim, Patty added a nice, natural pull to the force out of her swing! Emily learned to sweep even higher, adding power & prepping herself for more power soon.
And, for the big news: Lauren S. caught her Full Twisting Straight Jump for her 1st time ever! I have to admit that a couple of those around us were a little incredulous, but I had faith in her trick! Here's Lauren's catch:
Looking back: We had the pleasure of flying w/Helen & Shirley for the 1st time in too long a while! Shirley flew w/us in a show a few years ago, but was busy having her 3rd baby! Congratulations, Shirley. Helen's flying has come along well; she's nailing her Splits like I've never seen her do so before!
"Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open." - John Barrymore
The students that night were in similar skill ranges w/the tempos of their swings pretty much pitch perfect. So, we were having them up the ante on the power of their flying. On barely a whim, Patty added a nice, natural pull to the force out of her swing! Emily learned to sweep even higher, adding power & prepping herself for more power soon.
And, for the big news: Lauren S. caught her Full Twisting Straight Jump for her 1st time ever! I have to admit that a couple of those around us were a little incredulous, but I had faith in her trick! Here's Lauren's catch:
Looking back: We had the pleasure of flying w/Helen & Shirley for the 1st time in too long a while! Shirley flew w/us in a show a few years ago, but was busy having her 3rd baby! Congratulations, Shirley. Helen's flying has come along well; she's nailing her Splits like I've never seen her do so before!
"Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open." - John Barrymore
Friday, February 22, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008, Brooklyn, NY
It can't be denied: Our programs are really bearing some much deserved, hard-earned & very welcome fruit...!
Our super-solid Cody S. made her debut as a Thursday night instructor! We offer her a warm welcome & can hardly wait to see what we can all accomplish together. And, I offer thanks to our beautiful & super-agile Myriah P. who teach on the trampoline for our programs. She gave me some great insight into the Full Twisting Whip.
The powerful Allegra G. joined us from her regular Tuesday evening to heighten her swing, take a stab at her Double & make one of her smoothest Layout catches ever! The comely Kristy M. did double duty this week as she was just w/us on Tue. She worked on adding more turn to her B/E Splits w/a Half Turn to the mat/net. Among the times she was trying to recreate her "Monto" return, the endearing Suzanne M. is experimenting w/a new technique of swinging & forcing out. She's taken to it almost too easily & now has to figure out what to do w/all that new power & different timing! Keep it up, Suzanne. You'll be flying as high as the best soon enough. And, for her big news: Suzanne caught her Layout for her 1st time this Thursday night!
The tight-bodied Thais K. made up a missed session this evening & was catching some nice Uprise Shoots! After tweaking her Cut Away, the liberated Tanya E. caught that elusive cut away bar for her 1st time! Nice flying, Tanya. The focused Renee F. is flying well using her Zen approach (no calls except "HEP!" & turn) w/her B/E Splits to the mat/net. The elegant Maryam W. is swinging strong & fighting the good fight to get her Drive Layout. Hot on the tail of doing her Layout OOM, the potently agile Molly G. is timing her B/E Splits catches. They're both there, Molly. We'll wait for you to be ready for when you want to take either of them across...
The promisingly agile Karen DL took her 1st swing OOM, looking great & confident! Getting back into her swing of things, the lithe & worldly Emma S. made some B/E Planche & Whip catches while also making progress w/her apron work. The strong Lex R. is easily making his catches & returns, and he is now in fervent pursuit of a full round trip & smooth, consistent B/E Uprises. And, the feisty Galit E. accomplished FOUR B/E Uprises in a row for her 1st time! The 1st three were solid & smooth w/her chest up & her heels back. Galit is quickly taking on both the Angel & Double Angel returns as her signature returns. She also devoted some energy & time to her Pirouette. AND, to top it all off, she caught returned her Flexus/Flexus again for her 1st time in months! Great flying, Galit.
"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was within me an invincible summer." - Albert Camus
Our super-solid Cody S. made her debut as a Thursday night instructor! We offer her a warm welcome & can hardly wait to see what we can all accomplish together. And, I offer thanks to our beautiful & super-agile Myriah P. who teach on the trampoline for our programs. She gave me some great insight into the Full Twisting Whip.
The powerful Allegra G. joined us from her regular Tuesday evening to heighten her swing, take a stab at her Double & make one of her smoothest Layout catches ever! The comely Kristy M. did double duty this week as she was just w/us on Tue. She worked on adding more turn to her B/E Splits w/a Half Turn to the mat/net. Among the times she was trying to recreate her "Monto" return, the endearing Suzanne M. is experimenting w/a new technique of swinging & forcing out. She's taken to it almost too easily & now has to figure out what to do w/all that new power & different timing! Keep it up, Suzanne. You'll be flying as high as the best soon enough. And, for her big news: Suzanne caught her Layout for her 1st time this Thursday night!
The tight-bodied Thais K. made up a missed session this evening & was catching some nice Uprise Shoots! After tweaking her Cut Away, the liberated Tanya E. caught that elusive cut away bar for her 1st time! Nice flying, Tanya. The focused Renee F. is flying well using her Zen approach (no calls except "HEP!" & turn) w/her B/E Splits to the mat/net. The elegant Maryam W. is swinging strong & fighting the good fight to get her Drive Layout. Hot on the tail of doing her Layout OOM, the potently agile Molly G. is timing her B/E Splits catches. They're both there, Molly. We'll wait for you to be ready for when you want to take either of them across...
The promisingly agile Karen DL took her 1st swing OOM, looking great & confident! Getting back into her swing of things, the lithe & worldly Emma S. made some B/E Planche & Whip catches while also making progress w/her apron work. The strong Lex R. is easily making his catches & returns, and he is now in fervent pursuit of a full round trip & smooth, consistent B/E Uprises. And, the feisty Galit E. accomplished FOUR B/E Uprises in a row for her 1st time! The 1st three were solid & smooth w/her chest up & her heels back. Galit is quickly taking on both the Angel & Double Angel returns as her signature returns. She also devoted some energy & time to her Pirouette. AND, to top it all off, she caught returned her Flexus/Flexus again for her 1st time in months! Great flying, Galit.
"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was within me an invincible summer." - Albert Camus
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008, Brooklyn, NY
This Tuesdays Catch & Return class was extremely productive...!
Once again the long, hard efforts of our students & staff are paying off w/some very welcome fruits! For her 1st time ever, the adorable Lauri W. caught her B/E Whip! After fighting for a while to get her B/E Splits (and, catching it once), she switched it up to better get her hips up. Congratulations, Lauri!
Here's Lauri's 1st B/E Whip catch!
Though she regularly takes non-program classes, Lauren joined us for a new, valuable experience. She made great progress with her Full Twisting Straight Jump, getting her body into the correct angle. Then, she managed to hold onto & catch a solid B/E Straddle Whip! The ever-smiling Debbie D. is making good headway w/her take-off, eliminating the pesky pike. Her swing tempo is virtually flawless, and her B/E positions are smooth. Uber-flexible Rebbecca S. joined us in the air again after a while off the rig to work on her form, make a few catches & work her 1/2 turn to the mat/net. The feisty Galit E. wasn't as feisty this evening, but that didn't stop her from catching & return a nice B/E Splits & trying out a Straddle Cut/Catch in my hands with her B/E Planche. The comely Kristy M. is gonna be such a diverse & strong flyer! She has a nice array of tricks under her belt already (including her Cut Away return!), and she caught her Layout for her 1st time this evening! Great flying, Kristy!
Kristy's 1st Layout catch!
The effervescent, oh-so-cute Kristin R. warmed up her swing w/some arches before improving her Layout & going for some catches. She even dusted off her Angel returns. Another flyer who flew great this night was Sharon C.! She's found new power & tempo with her stronger swing before making her 1st ever Angel return! A strong one it was! AND, this was Sharon's 1st return of any kind ever!
Sharon's stronger swing:
Sharon's 1st Angel return!
To much envy, eye-daggers, unbelieving grins & incredulous laughter, the prodigal Brandon performed a full swing with a force out & strong pull that was more indicative of a flyer of MUCH more air time! Did I mention that he started his swing roughly a week ago?! So, as we wanted to see what & how much he could accomplish, we had him try his 1st B/E position: a Straddle Whip. After a few practices, Brandon made his 1st B/E catch ever! LOL
Brandon's brand new, 1-week young swing:
Brandon's 1st B/E Straddle Whip catch!
"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar & seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous & exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power." - Alan Cohen
Once again the long, hard efforts of our students & staff are paying off w/some very welcome fruits! For her 1st time ever, the adorable Lauri W. caught her B/E Whip! After fighting for a while to get her B/E Splits (and, catching it once), she switched it up to better get her hips up. Congratulations, Lauri!
Here's Lauri's 1st B/E Whip catch!
Though she regularly takes non-program classes, Lauren joined us for a new, valuable experience. She made great progress with her Full Twisting Straight Jump, getting her body into the correct angle. Then, she managed to hold onto & catch a solid B/E Straddle Whip! The ever-smiling Debbie D. is making good headway w/her take-off, eliminating the pesky pike. Her swing tempo is virtually flawless, and her B/E positions are smooth. Uber-flexible Rebbecca S. joined us in the air again after a while off the rig to work on her form, make a few catches & work her 1/2 turn to the mat/net. The feisty Galit E. wasn't as feisty this evening, but that didn't stop her from catching & return a nice B/E Splits & trying out a Straddle Cut/Catch in my hands with her B/E Planche. The comely Kristy M. is gonna be such a diverse & strong flyer! She has a nice array of tricks under her belt already (including her Cut Away return!), and she caught her Layout for her 1st time this evening! Great flying, Kristy!
Kristy's 1st Layout catch!
The effervescent, oh-so-cute Kristin R. warmed up her swing w/some arches before improving her Layout & going for some catches. She even dusted off her Angel returns. Another flyer who flew great this night was Sharon C.! She's found new power & tempo with her stronger swing before making her 1st ever Angel return! A strong one it was! AND, this was Sharon's 1st return of any kind ever!
Sharon's stronger swing:
Sharon's 1st Angel return!
To much envy, eye-daggers, unbelieving grins & incredulous laughter, the prodigal Brandon performed a full swing with a force out & strong pull that was more indicative of a flyer of MUCH more air time! Did I mention that he started his swing roughly a week ago?! So, as we wanted to see what & how much he could accomplish, we had him try his 1st B/E position: a Straddle Whip. After a few practices, Brandon made his 1st B/E catch ever! LOL
Brandon's brand new, 1-week young swing:
Brandon's 1st B/E Straddle Whip catch!
"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar & seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous & exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power." - Alan Cohen
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008, Brooklyn, NY
It was a very productive & fun night on our little rig in Brooklyn this Friday evening...!
Staff-wise, many of the new trainees & even some of the seasoned people are making progress & working together as a team. Cody S. pulled lines for a catch for her 1st time! She pulled like a champ our Amy G. across to our Yoni G. Matt T. & Keith were combining their trainings to pull & call for KHs. Nice work, guys. And, for the big news: both Cody & Matt made their 1st catches (as catchers) ever! Excellent work! Here's video of Matt's debut as a catcher:
And, the class right afterwards was a fun one. I was so fired up from the staff training beforehand that it added to the class following! Newcomer, Michelle, fought the good fight to get her KH. Everyone, including Michelle, was so happy when she got it! Keith's Billy as going for his Set Planche catch. Though we didn't complete the catch, Billy is close to getting it if he could only remember that he's the flyer & I'm the catcher. My lovely wife, Catherine, & her twin Julie were once again taking to the air. Catherine's swing is coming along well & Julie went for her Set Splits catch! Ahh... combining passions & enjoying those moments...! It doesn't get much better.
"You can stand tall without standing on someone. You can be a victor without having victims." - Harriet Woods
Staff-wise, many of the new trainees & even some of the seasoned people are making progress & working together as a team. Cody S. pulled lines for a catch for her 1st time! She pulled like a champ our Amy G. across to our Yoni G. Matt T. & Keith were combining their trainings to pull & call for KHs. Nice work, guys. And, for the big news: both Cody & Matt made their 1st catches (as catchers) ever! Excellent work! Here's video of Matt's debut as a catcher:
And, the class right afterwards was a fun one. I was so fired up from the staff training beforehand that it added to the class following! Newcomer, Michelle, fought the good fight to get her KH. Everyone, including Michelle, was so happy when she got it! Keith's Billy as going for his Set Planche catch. Though we didn't complete the catch, Billy is close to getting it if he could only remember that he's the flyer & I'm the catcher. My lovely wife, Catherine, & her twin Julie were once again taking to the air. Catherine's swing is coming along well & Julie went for her Set Splits catch! Ahh... combining passions & enjoying those moments...! It doesn't get much better.
"You can stand tall without standing on someone. You can be a victor without having victims." - Harriet Woods
Friday, February 15, 2008
Looking (way) back...
Over 2 years ago, the powerful & cheery Molly G. first caught her Full Twisting Layout. And, she return it! Actually, she returned her Full even before returning here regular Layout! Talk about a blast from the past. Molly was very good back then, but compared to now, she's much more of a cleaner & stronger flyer!
We've all come a long, long way in our flying together over these years. I remember a time when Galit fought the good fight w/her Set positions, Lex was trudging along w/his Hox-style KH, Maryam was just discovering the tempo of her swing, Suzanne's Goldfrapp costume for a past fly show, Marisa's Hox Saulto catch, Oleg making strongly crazy/crazily strong catches & returns, Samantha B.'s clean lines, the 1st time Amy Gr. caught her B/E Splits, Laura M.'s progression right after the birth of her 2nd baby, and when our Ruben 1st became an instructor...
"Your past is unchangeable; your future is unavoidable; but your present is forever unrestrained." - Matt Wagner
We've all come a long, long way in our flying together over these years. I remember a time when Galit fought the good fight w/her Set positions, Lex was trudging along w/his Hox-style KH, Maryam was just discovering the tempo of her swing, Suzanne's Goldfrapp costume for a past fly show, Marisa's Hox Saulto catch, Oleg making strongly crazy/crazily strong catches & returns, Samantha B.'s clean lines, the 1st time Amy Gr. caught her B/E Splits, Laura M.'s progression right after the birth of her 2nd baby, and when our Ruben 1st became an instructor...
"Your past is unchangeable; your future is unavoidable; but your present is forever unrestrained." - Matt Wagner
Thursday, February 14, 2008, Brooklyn, NY
Happy Valentine's Day! I hope it was as fun as mine...!
You should see the elegant Maryam W.'s swing! She's already getting great height while she's still developing her technique & conditioning. Soon enough, we'll be asking her to tone it down to avoid the ceiling. And, hot on Maryam's heels using a new technique, the sweet Suzanne M. is learning to boost here force out straight up vertical. She developed so much power on her 1st attempt that it wowed the bunch of us, and she didn't know what to do w/the additional power. Suzanne's gonna find her timing & have to duck the ceiling soon, too. And, as a great Valentine's Day celebration, Suzanne's hubby, Josh, tried flying trapeze for his 1st time ever! When I said to him, "I bet you have a greater respect for what your wife does now," Josh replied, "I've always had a great respect for what she does!"
And, for some pretty big news: the strong Lex R. mounted the bar for his 1st time using his B/E Uprise! He did this twice this night! Snagging that return bar is getting so frequent for Lex that he was the closest he's ever been to doing a full round trip & remounting that pedestal board this night! Great flying, Lex. The highly adept Karen DL has upped the ante on her tricks by learning her Cut Away very quickly & nicely! The U.K.'s Emma G. was dusting off her Full Twisting Layout as she is also ready to learn some, new exotic tricks. The comely Kristy M. joined us for the night to accomplish her 1st ever Face Off to the mat/net! Kristy soaks up our teachings like a sponge.
The feisty Galit E. is easily getting her Splits/Angel returns & Planche/Dbl Angel returns so frequently & making round trips off of those as well as her Half Turn returns. And, more importantly, she's exhibiting such safety & prudence thru all of her flying. Very nice flying, Galit. The happier & free Tanya E. has been tweaking her apron-work timing & going for some close catches of her Cut Away. Soon enough, Tanya, you'll be getting that cut away bar & snagging that return bar using a Straight Jump return.
On Wednesday evening, it was "twins night". My Catherine & her twin, Julie, joined us for more flying right after our Montreal trip earlier this week. My Catherine flew into my hands using her Whip. I got to catch Julie for our 1st time! Lex R.'s twin off-springs, Max & Tina, flew together to make it a family outing. Max got his Uprise Shoot caught & Tina got her 1st KH catch ever! Happy in the pursuit, Sharon C. is SO close to grabbing that return bar w/her Angel return. Prodigal flyer, Brandon is discovering the tempo of his swing & again showing such promise as he works the apron off his catches. And, just earlier this week, the powerful & demure Allegra G. was back to making a full round trip! Nice work, Allegra. It was so cute watching Allegra develop her Force Out Turn Around w/such power that she left her toe-prints higher than ever before on the wall beyond the pedestal. She had a grin that she tried to quickly hide, but I saw it!
"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love." - Albert Einstein
"We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own." - Ben Sweetland
You should see the elegant Maryam W.'s swing! She's already getting great height while she's still developing her technique & conditioning. Soon enough, we'll be asking her to tone it down to avoid the ceiling. And, hot on Maryam's heels using a new technique, the sweet Suzanne M. is learning to boost here force out straight up vertical. She developed so much power on her 1st attempt that it wowed the bunch of us, and she didn't know what to do w/the additional power. Suzanne's gonna find her timing & have to duck the ceiling soon, too. And, as a great Valentine's Day celebration, Suzanne's hubby, Josh, tried flying trapeze for his 1st time ever! When I said to him, "I bet you have a greater respect for what your wife does now," Josh replied, "I've always had a great respect for what she does!"
And, for some pretty big news: the strong Lex R. mounted the bar for his 1st time using his B/E Uprise! He did this twice this night! Snagging that return bar is getting so frequent for Lex that he was the closest he's ever been to doing a full round trip & remounting that pedestal board this night! Great flying, Lex. The highly adept Karen DL has upped the ante on her tricks by learning her Cut Away very quickly & nicely! The U.K.'s Emma G. was dusting off her Full Twisting Layout as she is also ready to learn some, new exotic tricks. The comely Kristy M. joined us for the night to accomplish her 1st ever Face Off to the mat/net! Kristy soaks up our teachings like a sponge.
The feisty Galit E. is easily getting her Splits/Angel returns & Planche/Dbl Angel returns so frequently & making round trips off of those as well as her Half Turn returns. And, more importantly, she's exhibiting such safety & prudence thru all of her flying. Very nice flying, Galit. The happier & free Tanya E. has been tweaking her apron-work timing & going for some close catches of her Cut Away. Soon enough, Tanya, you'll be getting that cut away bar & snagging that return bar using a Straight Jump return.
On Wednesday evening, it was "twins night". My Catherine & her twin, Julie, joined us for more flying right after our Montreal trip earlier this week. My Catherine flew into my hands using her Whip. I got to catch Julie for our 1st time! Lex R.'s twin off-springs, Max & Tina, flew together to make it a family outing. Max got his Uprise Shoot caught & Tina got her 1st KH catch ever! Happy in the pursuit, Sharon C. is SO close to grabbing that return bar w/her Angel return. Prodigal flyer, Brandon is discovering the tempo of his swing & again showing such promise as he works the apron off his catches. And, just earlier this week, the powerful & demure Allegra G. was back to making a full round trip! Nice work, Allegra. It was so cute watching Allegra develop her Force Out Turn Around w/such power that she left her toe-prints higher than ever before on the wall beyond the pedestal. She had a grin that she tried to quickly hide, but I saw it!
"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love." - Albert Einstein
"We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own." - Ben Sweetland
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008, (just outside of) Montreal, QC
This Monday, I had the pleasure of flying on a rig just outside of Montreal, Quebec, called Voltigeur...!
Their awesome facility kept out the cold. On the grounds, there were swimming pools, tennis courts, a gym, a bar/restaurant, shops &, of course, the full sized rig. I highly suggest you fly w/them if you ever get the chance.
Julie (sister-in-law) learning on the ground:
Their staff of the wise Marc, smooth Alex (catcher) & beautiful MJ were knowledgeable, very nice & very skilled. There was also a nice, young woman by the name of Cassandra who I believe was a trainee shadowing on the board during catches. The net was just right... the lines were helpful but not heavy... and, the catching was smooth.
Catherine on board w/MJ & Cassandra:
We warmed up. I was extremely happy to be unencumbered by a ceiling. Though I feel my timing was off, I still managed to get up to crane on my 1st from the board! And... it felt SO... good...!
I got to practice my Layout, Double, Cut Away Half & various bar tricks.
Here's my Uprise Shoot catch & return:
Catherine, Julie, Alex, Marc, MJ, Cass & me:
"Then, without realizing it, you try to improve yourself at the start of each new day; of course, you achieve quite a lot in the course of time. Anyone can do this, it costs nothing and is certainly very helpful. Whoever doesn't know it must learn and find by experience that a quiet conscience makes one strong." - Anne Frank
Their awesome facility kept out the cold. On the grounds, there were swimming pools, tennis courts, a gym, a bar/restaurant, shops &, of course, the full sized rig. I highly suggest you fly w/them if you ever get the chance.
Julie (sister-in-law) learning on the ground:
Their staff of the wise Marc, smooth Alex (catcher) & beautiful MJ were knowledgeable, very nice & very skilled. There was also a nice, young woman by the name of Cassandra who I believe was a trainee shadowing on the board during catches. The net was just right... the lines were helpful but not heavy... and, the catching was smooth.
Catherine on board w/MJ & Cassandra:
We warmed up. I was extremely happy to be unencumbered by a ceiling. Though I feel my timing was off, I still managed to get up to crane on my 1st from the board! And... it felt SO... good...!
I got to practice my Layout, Double, Cut Away Half & various bar tricks.
Here's my Uprise Shoot catch & return:
Catherine, Julie, Alex, Marc, MJ, Cass & me:
"Then, without realizing it, you try to improve yourself at the start of each new day; of course, you achieve quite a lot in the course of time. Anyone can do this, it costs nothing and is certainly very helpful. Whoever doesn't know it must learn and find by experience that a quiet conscience makes one strong." - Anne Frank
Friday, February 8, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008, Brooklyn, NY
After warming up by flying her Splits Out of Mechanic ("OOM"), Molly G. took her Layout OOM for her 1st time ever! Congratulations, Molly.
Renee F. showed us how much progress she's made w/recreating her B/E Splits OOM w/her half turn to the mat/net. Nice work, Renee. Renee's B/E Splits catch w/Angel return:
Though she felt it wasn't the best of her flying, Galit E. was still having fun w/her B/E Planche & Double Angel returns. Galit's B/E Planche catch w/Double Angel return:
Elena G. made a nice B/E Splits catch & return OOM as well as a very sweet Half Turn catch & return OOM. We timed her Layout OOM, and she’s improved it to safer, less rotated levels in the past month! Karen DL was back into the swing & looking as strong as ever even though her B/E Straddle Whip eluded her during catches. Leslie W. was making her B/E Straddle Whip catches well & working the apron just as well. And, she’ll be completing a great Turn Around very soon! It’s simply your choice, Leslie…
It’s been a little while, but Thais K. worked her swing very well to make a catch of her B/E Splits OOM! For her 1st times, Amy W. performed multiple Straddle Cut/Catches! It’ll be cool to see her make that a “go to” skill! And, even cooler to do that while in a catcher’s hands…! Tanya E. looked happy & vibrant as she shed the woes of work & flew her heart out. Marisa B. is fighting the good fight as she improves her Layout bit by bit each day. Also, keeping to the fight, Alex K. tweaked her Turn Around & her Layout. One of our newest staff members, Sam G., caught Alison C., so she has now been caught by FOUR, different catchers! (I was her first!) When Alison concentrates, she exhibits a very promising swing.
This night, Emma G. made her 1st B/E Splits catch OOM catch in a long time! The birth of her son hasn’t slowed her down a bit. Suzanne M.’s expression as she throws her “Monto” return is priceless & so adorable. She performed it this night 3 times (sans the return bar), turning all the way around! Lex R. is turning into a swinging BEAST! We always knew he was strong; now, he’s applying it to his swing, turn around (“Touch those cinderblocks, Lex!”) & tricks! Great work, Lex!
Lex's Hox Off catch w/Half Turn return:
The staff of ESTA is working on some pretty cool stuff, too! Lizzy H. is working on her Full Twisting Fwd Over; she’s making great progress w/it & spotting her catch already! Ace from S.Africa is working on taking the travel out of his Layout. Amy W. is having some quick success as she works on half turning her Fwd Over to the mat/net. She would’ve gotten it at least once really clean if not for the safety lines. I’ll try to get some videos of their progressions.
And, this past Tuesday, I tried out a Cut Away Half for my 1st time! Due to my minor inflexibility, I could never get my toes to the bar, so I didn’t think a CAH was in the cards. But, I’ve been experimenting w/the Force Out Turn Around w/2-handed regrip (which has so much more power that it makes me giggle!) coupled w/the set downhill to the point of release vs the more frequently-taught set at the B/E peak. Fun, fun, fun!
My latest Cut Away Half:
"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." - M. Scott Peck
Renee F. showed us how much progress she's made w/recreating her B/E Splits OOM w/her half turn to the mat/net. Nice work, Renee. Renee's B/E Splits catch w/Angel return:
Though she felt it wasn't the best of her flying, Galit E. was still having fun w/her B/E Planche & Double Angel returns. Galit's B/E Planche catch w/Double Angel return:
Elena G. made a nice B/E Splits catch & return OOM as well as a very sweet Half Turn catch & return OOM. We timed her Layout OOM, and she’s improved it to safer, less rotated levels in the past month! Karen DL was back into the swing & looking as strong as ever even though her B/E Straddle Whip eluded her during catches. Leslie W. was making her B/E Straddle Whip catches well & working the apron just as well. And, she’ll be completing a great Turn Around very soon! It’s simply your choice, Leslie…
It’s been a little while, but Thais K. worked her swing very well to make a catch of her B/E Splits OOM! For her 1st times, Amy W. performed multiple Straddle Cut/Catches! It’ll be cool to see her make that a “go to” skill! And, even cooler to do that while in a catcher’s hands…! Tanya E. looked happy & vibrant as she shed the woes of work & flew her heart out. Marisa B. is fighting the good fight as she improves her Layout bit by bit each day. Also, keeping to the fight, Alex K. tweaked her Turn Around & her Layout. One of our newest staff members, Sam G., caught Alison C., so she has now been caught by FOUR, different catchers! (I was her first!) When Alison concentrates, she exhibits a very promising swing.
This night, Emma G. made her 1st B/E Splits catch OOM catch in a long time! The birth of her son hasn’t slowed her down a bit. Suzanne M.’s expression as she throws her “Monto” return is priceless & so adorable. She performed it this night 3 times (sans the return bar), turning all the way around! Lex R. is turning into a swinging BEAST! We always knew he was strong; now, he’s applying it to his swing, turn around (“Touch those cinderblocks, Lex!”) & tricks! Great work, Lex!
Lex's Hox Off catch w/Half Turn return:
The staff of ESTA is working on some pretty cool stuff, too! Lizzy H. is working on her Full Twisting Fwd Over; she’s making great progress w/it & spotting her catch already! Ace from S.Africa is working on taking the travel out of his Layout. Amy W. is having some quick success as she works on half turning her Fwd Over to the mat/net. She would’ve gotten it at least once really clean if not for the safety lines. I’ll try to get some videos of their progressions.
And, this past Tuesday, I tried out a Cut Away Half for my 1st time! Due to my minor inflexibility, I could never get my toes to the bar, so I didn’t think a CAH was in the cards. But, I’ve been experimenting w/the Force Out Turn Around w/2-handed regrip (which has so much more power that it makes me giggle!) coupled w/the set downhill to the point of release vs the more frequently-taught set at the B/E peak. Fun, fun, fun!
My latest Cut Away Half:
"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." - M. Scott Peck
Wednesday, February 6, 2008, Brooklyn, NY
In her 2nd class ever, Madelyn learned her 1-handed take-off, F/E Whip, Straddle Whip & Splits before catching both the Whip& Straddle Whip! She’s bound for incredible feats.
Newcomers Younit (sp?), Moran & Dalit celebrated Younit’s birthday. B/t screams of delight (& a little fear), Moran & Dalit made their 1st KH catches ever! Jean L. is looking smooth up high, whipping through the air & smiling all the while.
Patty was pretty quiet this night, but her stronger swing was attention grabbing! Lauren took her 1st stabs at her Full Twisting Straight Jump before making some catches w/her Straight Jump w/our Lizzy. And, our Whit C. made her debut performance pulling adults for catches! She did it confidently & competently. Nice work, Whit.
“You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star.” - Nietzsche
Newcomers Younit (sp?), Moran & Dalit celebrated Younit’s birthday. B/t screams of delight (& a little fear), Moran & Dalit made their 1st KH catches ever! Jean L. is looking smooth up high, whipping through the air & smiling all the while.
Patty was pretty quiet this night, but her stronger swing was attention grabbing! Lauren took her 1st stabs at her Full Twisting Straight Jump before making some catches w/her Straight Jump w/our Lizzy. And, our Whit C. made her debut performance pulling adults for catches! She did it confidently & competently. Nice work, Whit.
“You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star.” - Nietzsche
Tuesday, February 5, 2008, Brooklyn, NY
Our flyers are really getting into their swings on our Tuesday night Catch & Return classes...!
The feisty Galit E. made full round trips w/her B/E Splits (regular return) & her B/E Planche w/Double Angel! Great flying, Galit! Super-agile newcomer Brandon is learning his full swing in record time! Debbie D. is chipping away at the difficulties of her swing. The powerful Allegra G. The adorable Lauri W. Effervescent Kristin R. And, french Emmanuel C. is once again in close pursuit of recreating her Cut Away catches.
"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing." - Abraham Lincoln
The feisty Galit E. made full round trips w/her B/E Splits (regular return) & her B/E Planche w/Double Angel! Great flying, Galit! Super-agile newcomer Brandon is learning his full swing in record time! Debbie D. is chipping away at the difficulties of her swing. The powerful Allegra G. The adorable Lauri W. Effervescent Kristin R. And, french Emmanuel C. is once again in close pursuit of recreating her Cut Away catches.
"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing." - Abraham Lincoln
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