"If there is no struggle, there is no progress."

I flew at TSNY last night with Amanda, my mentee and honorary "Baby Sister". She recently tested into one of the best schools in NYC; classes start tomorrow. We're all so very proud of her.

Since our IFW has ended and future IFWs are pending until TSNY can finalize their winter location, our Sunday night time slot has become a mixture of intermediate flyers and newbies. It's enjoyable to see the excitement on the faces of first time flyers - especially when they make their first catch - but it also really slows down class. We only get in about 5 or 6 jumps but try to get the most out of it.

Continued to work my Cutaway. It's ready to catch but as you can see, I still can't decide if I want to force out over the Board then pike or to just tuck up into the pike on the back end. In this video I throw a little too much power into my break and over-rotate but our beloved Hal on lines lets me down easy and keeps me safe. I particularly like my hand stand finale in the net. (You can hear fellow flyer Colleen giggling as she videos.)



In effort to work through my confusion...Hal suggested I throw a Half-turn which requires I practice my force out over the Board.



I'll need to try this with a twisty belt because the 180 turn in my regular belt leaves me tangled in the safety lines. (A twisty belt is a safety belt with a swivel which allows the lines to spin around with the flyer.)

Then it was time to try some catches. Jeff S. and I decided to work our Angel Return off my Split but as you can see...I totally fell apart up there. Couldn't even get into my Split.



In this video I still can't get into my Split and even crash into the Board on the back end. You can hear Hal down on lines saying "Whoa! What's going on?"



For numerous reasons...I was distracted...my head just wasn't in the game.

Success or failure on the bar has very little to do with the trick itself...it's the stuff you carry with you in your head that always determines the outcome.

In the words of my little nephew Benjamin, "We try again tomorrow..."