Trapeze & Friends...Friends & Trapeze.

A few things to catch up on...

Flew with Dino, Jeff L. and Manny again Thursday on our little rig in Brooklyn. Fellow flyers Allegra and Maryam took the class too. We all can hardly wait for the next round of workshops...due to start in September. This is such a great group to train with; really hard core! Dino was catching again. We had solid forearm lock catches - we always do - and I made all four returns. I couldn't wait to tell Jeff L. all about my first round trip and I even did it again to show him. Dino couldn't believe I wasn't thrilled this time but I'm just kinda "Been there. Done that. What's Next?"

Instructor Bobby taught me how to hang by my ankles AND by my heels; a whole new spot for bruising. Yup, it hurts but it also looks really cool. I just practiced on a static bar for now but I'm itching to try it on the Swinging Trap. No pictures or video from this class...nobody felt like taking any.

Friday night was the second IFW Show. Rachel, me and Colleen were there to cheer on our fellow Sunday IFWer Lidia who wasn't able to fly in our Show last Saturday.

And I got to catch up with my dear friend Danielle. Our schedules have us flying at different times so we haven't seen each other all Summer but the conversation always just picks up wherever we left off. Neither time nor distance ever seems to matter between good friends.

Even though our Sunday IFW has ended, several of us are still filling our 6:00-8:00PM time slot with Trapeze. It was a beautiful night to fly. Instructor Adam worked the Board, Hal was on lines and Jeff S. in the Catch Trap.

I started class by working a couple of unassisted Take-offs. Each class I'm taking more and more responsibility for my own safety on the rig...and it feels good! I dusted off my Cutaway for the first time since October 2006. A bit rusty, I keep wanting to force out over the Board rather than pull up into the pike. You can see me tap the Board but it's coming along...



The TSNY photographer was there to snap a few cool action shots. Here's my first Cutaway...




Here's my second Cutaway...



Then Jeff S. and I decided to try something fun with our Returns. Here's our first attempt at an Angel Return off of my Split...

Not bad for a first try but we tweaked our timing, tightened up and our second was much smoother...

(And Yes! That safety line really is as uncomfortable as it looks!)