This, that and the other

Things have been hectic lately, with Thing 2 starting a new school, the holidays that have disrupted the beginnings of routine that we've established, etc., leaving me with very little time, much less desire to blog. Plus, I find that playing catch-up rarely works well for me.

But I do like having this blog, and keeping a record of the tricks I've been throwing, as well as progress, or lack thereof. Plus it's a nice way of keeping the flyers that I haven't seen for awhile abreast of things.

Because I like the structure of regular classes, same instructors, and flyers, and the need to stay focused, I decided to sign up for both the S.H.O.W. and Catch and Return programs at Streb.

Since the S.H.O.W. class requires that we refine 2-3 tricks (culminating in a show), I decided to set aside my twisting fantasies, at least for a little while, so that I can nail a few of my regulars: the b/e planche - which I'd ideally like to round trip on out of lines, the mod, which I'd also like to take out of lines, and of the third, either the cutaway half (or 540), of the flexus-flexus, but I'd like to get them all so clean that there's no doubt that I can catch them. I also really, really need a layout -- but unfortunately, I just don't have the time to practice all the tricks.

Following Getaway, I didn't have a chance to fly again until the following Saturday, and being in a somewhat silly mood, I decided to play with my cutaway halfs. Usually my problem is that I can't twist at all, and can't get the half. During that class, I just didn't stop twisting -- I think I was doing 540's or 720's, but to the mat, of course, and nowhere near catchable. Still, it was a fun class, definitely felt like play, and nice to know that my body is able to spin when it wants to!

Then in last Tuesday's class, since it's a catch and return class, I brushed off my half turns, and was doing them safely enough (note that I did not say well!) to take out of lines.

Now lest someone say "what's the rush to take tricks out of lines?" Honestly, there is no real rush. I've been flying in lines for four years. However, I've noticed that my performance is completely different out of lines. Maybe it's the total conciousness that I can break my neck if I do something stupid, but I stay much, much tighter out of lines, and feel, whether of not this is accurate, that I make a lot more progress when I can't count on anyone but myself to keep me safe. That being said, I'm also not safe enough (or too terrified) to take most of what I'm doing outside onto a net, hence the choke at Getaway.

And because at Getaway, I was having issues about whether or not "Hep" was a question, coming back to Streb, I was more determined than ever to catch the planche out of lines. So this past weekend, with Dino there, we did some timers (far scarier than just throwing the trick to the net, or to catch), which I surprised myself on by releasing, and then, finally, caught the planche out of lines! The Things, who had come along, were not impressed - I think I'd have to do a full twisting double layout to impress them! (Maybe in another 5-10 years!) In the same class, Dino took his double out of lines! (This after working on it for all of 2 days!

And finally, to round off all the catching up that I needed to do...

Last night's catch and return class moved like molasses. I think I've been spoiled, being in really small groups in the last couple of workshops that I've done, and it's really frusturating to me to leave a class feeling 1. that I'm not thoroughly exhausted and 2. Like I barely warmed up, and then it was over. Hopefully, as it goes on, it will pick up speed, and I'll start feeling challenged. Still, despite it all, there were repeat performances of the planche catch, now working the return, and even turning. My form is still not where it needs to be, so there was no return bar, but I think that some progress was made.

Also, before catch time, I practiced the uprise/mod -- I tried the uprise out of lines, and managed to get into it quite nicely -- much more nicely, actually than with lines, (before whacking my feet on the board coming out of it in the back end) Of course, when I tried it again in (very loose) lines, to add the mod to it, I was back to my usual form (or lack thereof).

Anyway, looking forward to Thursday's class for some more uprising, and anything else that Dino and Jeff have in store for me.