2016 FLYING TRAPEZE RECAP LOOKING TOWARDS 2017

Annnnnd I'm back...I think...

So 2016's almost over, I can hardly believe it.  

It was quite an exciting year for me and there were quite a few highlights in terms of flying trapeze. 

I started off the year performing with the Salt City Big Top. I had so much fun flying with the team at Utah Trapeze. It was extra special to look over from the board and see my best friend sitting in the catch trap.

Over the summer, I traveled out to California and back up to Pali, where I spent two glorious days flying in the mountains with so many members of my trapeze family. It felt like coming home.

I also visited my friends at the Circus Arts Place for some flying time throughout the year. Their beautiful energy and presence in the air always inspires me. It was so much fun to take a few tandem swings with the ladies. And it was such a treat to see the great Tony Steele fly again!

And now, I'm wrapping up the year with my very own slice of trapeze paradise!!!! On October 8, 2016, Orange Blossom Trapeze was born.

Now that I am flying regularly again, I've been thinking a great deal about my goals and what I want to achieve in this upcoming year. I'm approaching this next phase of my flying career with a sense of calm acceptance, which is completely different than in years past. I've always placed unnecessary pressure on myself to do well, which caused me to taking my training days very seriously, but sometimes almost too seriously. It intensified the frustration and defeat I felt on the days that I did not perform so well. I'm still dedicated to practicing hard, but this time, knowing that I'm not counting down the days until I'm grounded again, I'm able to relax and just enjoy the ride.

I feel so out of shape and out of practice (I am and it's okay). But each practice I get stronger, my hands get a little tougher and I'm more mindful of what I'm doing with my body. Some days I have a major breakthrough and some days I fall back into my same 'ol bad habits (often during the same practice). But things are slowly coming along.

Right now I'm taking it back to the basics. I'm working on fixing my take off, swing and returns. If there is anything I hope to achieve in the next year it would be to have a strong swing and a polished look to my flying. I'm extremely fortunate to have a coach that is working so closely with me, breaking the fundamentals down into bite-sized pieces. Focusing on the individual components has allowed me to feel my swing in a very different way than ever before. 

This past weekend we had a fun little crew flying on the rig. Over the past few years, returning has become so inconsistent for me, however, I returned my tricks to the board the other day. Upon looking at the videos afterwards, I was pretty disappointed with how I looked in the air. All the hard work to fix my take off and tighten up my swing just went out the window. Even though I didn't have pretty feet and my old, ugly take off reared its head again, I worked well in-hands. I held my sweep nice and long and I stayed vertical in my press, making it back to the bar and back to board. My  round trips weren't pretty, but they felt like real progress AND THAT'S SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.

As we get closer to 2017, I will write more about my goals for the next year and hopefully by then I will have some better video of my swing progress. Until then, I leave you with my new favorite net trick...

2015 Flying Trapeze Recap Looking Towards 2016

As another year comes to a close, it's another opportunity to review the previous 12 months and plan for the upcoming 12. I ended my flying year yesterday with such a fun and relaxing day in the air. I'm so fortunate for every opportunity to fly and my heart bursts with joy every time I get to share it with people I love. 

This was quite an interesting year for me in many ways, but this post will focus on my flying trapeze progress in particular. I only had four months of weekly flying this year. The rest of the year consisted of 1-2 fly sessions a month. But that being said, the intensive nature of my summer in California really helped me progress quickly in a few areas. 

I began the year with four main flying trapeze goals: swinging/returning (this is really two goals in one), layout, cutaway, layout full. Well, I have yet to begin working on the full, but I did start working uprise/forward over, which was unexpected. So with 2016 just around the corner, let's check-in with my 2015 flying trapeze progress.

Goal #1 - Swinging and Returning 

Swinging is a lifelong journey as they say, but I did gain some real traction with my swing by the end of the summer. I was pleased with the height I was building and the strength I felt after 10 weeks of serious flying.

Running Springs, CA

Now, after a few months off, I'm feeling somewhat sluggish and have regressed a bit, but in general I have a better idea of what I need to do (getting my body to cooperate every time, well that's another story). After chatting with a friend after our most recent fly session together, I realized that I need to think about really squeezing my butt tight (think about trying not to drop that $100 bill haha). Other areas that still remain a focus/challenge are getting my hips up on my force out and forward in my seven (squeeze butt!) as well as lifting the bar up with me in my seven. There's plenty of room for improvement but overall, I'm pleased with my progress this year on my swing. 

Returning...well that's another story. As a matter of fact, there has been quite a regression on this over the course of the year. The times when I did return, I was returning quite high, so that was an interesting adjustment. haha But in general, I found myself off-time in-hands, killing our swing by rushing and then doing something weird on the press pulling me towards the catcher. I had some interesting returns to the bar, including hanging by an armpit and one hand where most of my fingers were underneath the bar. So needless to say, this one is still a work in-progress. I did start working an angel return and it went better than the first time I worked on it, so that was encouraging. We just worked on it the one time, so there's not much to report, but I'm looking forward to working more on it in the future.

Utah Flying Trapeze - SLC, UT

Goal #2 - Layout

For the Seinfeld fans out there, the layout is my Newman, we're frenemies at best. Some days are better than others, but mainly this trick has been the bane of my (flying trapeze) existence. I had the goal this year to get it out of lines. And it technically is OOL, but it needs so much attention, that I put it back in lines all the time so I can work on it without added pressure. I've come a long way with the form of my body, but I'm struggling with closing at the shoulders. I've received some good coaching about ways to work through that, but I'm still navigating through what makes the most sense to me. I'm also releasing too early (that pesky rushing thing again). Patience!! One of my coaches recently told me to just think about the break and then let the trick happen. That was a big ah-ha moment for me, so I'm really going to focus on that, as well as my handstand to the sky. I think part of what causes me to close my shoulders is that I'm scared of peeling off the bar on the drive, which totally won't happen, but it causes me to overgrip as well as force the flip to happen. Anyone else dealing with that?

I wanted to have my layout on my own timing, but it's a long way off, so that particular goal will roll into 2016. This is not an excuse, but rather just something worth mentioning, I did not spend much time working on my layout this year. I probably should have given it more priority because it is such a fundamental skill and will do so in the new year.

Utah Flying Trapeze - SLC, UT

Goal #3 - Cutaway/Cutaway Half

The cutaway remains un-halved at this time. I did catch my cutaway multiple times, but it has a long way to go before it will be OOL or a cutaway half. I have been told I look like a fainting goat sometimes upon my release...whenever I do something weird off the bar, I stiffen up just like a scared fainting goat. It's funny because I know I do it. I had this awful tendency to force the trick to happen (at least I'm consistent), which resulted in bending in half. I've worked through through the urge to bend in half and now release from the bar in a nice flat position (usually). This is another trick that I need to relax and let the trick happen. It's been quite a while since I've thrown one, but they were coming along nicely for the most part. I would like to work on this one again soon. One time I did a split return on the cutaway stick, that was fun/ny. haha

Running Springs, CA

Goal #4 - Layout Full Twist

HA...HA HA... um, let's just say this will be a 2016 goal.

Added Bonus(es)

One random day right before the summer ended, I started working on uprises for fun. After one practice of doing uprise shoot, I moved onto uprise forward over. And Oh.My.GAWD, that day, I fell head over heels IN LOVE with the forward over. That trick came so natural to me, I had been so long since I had experienced something on the trapeze that felt so effortless...the last time must have been a set trick haha. Catching this trick was a wonderful way to end my summer and big run of flying trapeze.

Running Springs, CA

Also, just for fun, I threw a couple doubles. They are not even close to catchable and double back tucks are not a trick I am actively working on, but it was so much fun to play.

Gaona's Trapeze Workshop - LA, CA

2016 Flying Trapeze Goal Planning

I'm somewhat hesitant to actively plan additional goals at the moment since I already have so much I'm working on. So for the foreseeable future, I really want to focus on the tricks I'm currently doing and get them all solid and OOL. I want a beautiful, consistent, FLOATING layout, cutaway ---> cutaway half with force out turn around and tucked set position, forward over with a solid uprise and a straight-legged kip that rises UP off the bar. The journey of swinging and returning will continue as well as the search for a graceful take off and remount. 

The most important thing I will focus on this year is remembering to have fun. I take my training pretty seriously, but sometimes I can allow an off day on the rig to really get to me. I need to remind myself to never forget the reason why I do trapeze in the first place: I do flying trapeze because I love it and it brings me joy. So if I achieve only one goal this year, it should be to never lose sight of that happy place.

Update on 2015 Flying Trapeze Goals

My 2015 trapeze season came to an abrupt halt a few months ago just as I was starting to gain some momentum with my flying. I made some major strides with my swing, dialing in the transition from sweep to seven, which really enabled me to effortlessly float up into position on my backend tricks. I regret not having taken any videos during that time because my current lack of flying as left me in a bit of a regression. I really wish I could check out the videos and see if I looked as good as the tricks felt. At the time I always figured I'd get some video "next time". On the few occasions I've flown since then, the tricks just haven't felt the same. While my coaches remind me that all rigs are different, it's difficult not to be hard on myself for losing my timing and struggling my way through tricks that were once second nature. 

Twice recently I fell out of a straddle whip...A STRADDLE WHIP. (For my non-flying friends, this is one of the first tricks a student learns, albeit my version is on the backend of the swing, which is a bit more advanced.) Most recently I fell out of the straddle while my catcher was hanging for my trick as we were both approaching the peak for the catch. It looked like this, but was on the front end of the swing so we were both approaching each other (going into position on this end of the swing in the photo is called the back end).

So, I was falling out of my straddle at the front right by my catcher and at the time, I contemplated just chucking myself at him like a shooting star but then wisely decided against it...that one had "here kitty kitty" written all over it. "Here kitty kitty" is a shooting star that goes long (aka lands further forward than it should...usually on the catcher...in this position...you get the point). JUST KIDDING I would have never made such a reckless decision (nor would laws of physics work in such a way because I was falling down, not launching up like in a shooting star) but it was funny to think about.

So yeah, my flying goals...let's see if I'm any closer to that layout full and returning like a damn rockstar...

GOAL #1 - Swinging and Returning

To recap the return, my focus is on: the timing in-hands, staying tight at the turn without twisting at the waist and remounting the board gracefully. -- Welp...this is definitely still a work in-progress. I spent the past weekend training in Salt Lake City, where my bff has set up camp for the next month at Utah Flying Trapeze. UFT just opened up their new indoor rig inside of the Olympic Oval, a swanky Olympic training center. This panoramic shot doesn't do it justice, this place is HUGE and NICE.

I threw splits across during staff fly and scored bragging rights of first round trip on the new rig. Even though I was nervous flying on an unfamiliar rig, I tried to remain calm and just allow my body to do what it's done many times before. I reminded myself to stay tight in my seven and not run away from my catcher too early. I could hear my fly girl CC reminding me to allow my catcher to launch me up sky-high before turning. That first catch and return felt INCREDIBLE and Rob and I agreed that trip across and back was our cleanest one to-date. It was unfortunate we did not get it on video. Here is our final catch of the weekend instead:

My swing has regressed a bit...hello dropped toes, late hollow and piked seven...so we spent a good portion of the weekend drilling my swing over...and over...and over...and over... The result was a pretty decent, powerful (for me) swing. I also used this opportunity to break-in my new dowel grips. I was reluctant at first, but I think I'll really like them once I get 100% comfortable wearing them. Here's my best swing of the weekend:

This video brings me to...

Goal #2 - Layout Done and Done

I really struggled with the layout in the past. It wasn't until I improved the technique on my swing that I really could get my head around the mechanics of the layout. I still have a long way to go, but on 4.11.15, I took this trick out of safety lines for the first time. It was scary and far from catchable, but it was a huge step in the right direction. This past weekend, I put back on the lines to work on my break and drive without the added pressure of flying OOL. Then I took the trick back out of safety lines again feeling more comfortable and confident. My goal for the year is to have this trick out of lines and on my own timing by the end of spring. I may miss this deadline, however, no doubt it will be achieved here this year. I will continue working on my set position, breaking deeeeeep and looooooong, driving with my hips forward into a nice handstand position with open shoulders sending myself hiiiigghhhh above the bar.

Here's my layout catch attempt...(read: FAIL). 

I got a nice kiss from the bar on the knees there and left SLC with a parting gift in the form of a giant purple bruise...but check out those catch hands though. ;)

No news to report on GOALS #3 (Cutaway Half) & #4 (Layout Full) at this time. With over eight months left of the year, I am remaining hopeful they are still within reach...so, with that, the journey continues...

2015 Flying Trapeze (Goals) Wishlist

Well guys, 2015 is rapidly approaching and while I'm not really one to make new years resolutions, I am someone who makes lists and who really enjoys planning ahead. My fly gals from across the states and across the pond have inspired me to put together my flying trapeze goals for 2015. Truth be told, as someone who does not like admitting defeat, it does make me nervous to post my goals for everyone to see (what happens if I just can't get that damn layout out of lines and on my own timing?!) But being a part of such an amazing, supportive community, I know that we will cheer each other on when we're getting frustrated and push each other to keep trying when we feel like giving up. We'll virtual hug and high five and celebrate our victories together and inspire each other to keep flying high and reaching for the (shooting) stars.

Disclaimer: all new skills/tricks will be under the guidance and advisement of my coaches. Anything on this list may change as we check-in with my flying throughout the year. I will continue working my skills and tricks just as I always have, really focusing on the mechanics and building a strong foundation. I will work tirelessly until I'm told I'm ready to move on to something else. That being said, this is my wishlist for 2015.

Goal #1 - Swinging and Returning

As I mentioned in my 2014 goals, I will continue working on my swing and returns in 2015 (and beyond).

To recap the return, I will continue working on: the timing in-hands, staying tight at the turn without twisting at the waist and remounting the board gracefully.

To recap the swing, I will continue working on: timing of the kicks, forcing out faster and sweeping longer, straight legs that are zipped up from toes to torso, feet that are pointed all the way through the toes. I will SQUEEZE EVERYTHING TIGHT.

Goal #2 - Layout Done and Done

The layout is a foundational skill, so I really need for it to become second nature. As I mentioned before, this trick and I are currently not friends, but I hope that we will become new besties for 2015. It's been a while since I've thrown a layout so without putting too much pressure on myself, I really would like to have this skill locked in 100% during the first half of the year. I want to have it out of lines and also have the trick on my own timing before the end of spring.

Goal #3 - Cutaway/Cutaway Half Done and Done

I'll continue working on the cutaway in tandem with the layout. Right now the focus is working on the cutaway and I really want to catch it by the end of 2014. (progress is slow but positive thinking you guys!) I've been having what we'll call a bit of a mental block with the release on this trick, but I feel like we made some real progress this past weekend and I'm excited to get back to the rig to work on it more this weekend. I'll continue working the cutaway until my coach, Efe, lets me know that I'm ready to add in the half twist and turn the cutaway into a cutaway half. Efe, if you're reading this, I hope to make you proud and turn that "yesss...yes....nooo...NO!!!" to straight up "YES!!!" from here on out. Even though things are a bit hairy at the moment, I'm really excited to work on this particular trick, because I would like the cutaway half to become one of my go-to tricks. (You guys should see how hot the tops of my feet look right now covered in bumps and bruises from the bar...I guess my foot modeling career is now as dead as my hand modeling career.) I would like to catch my cutaway half by the summer. And if everything goes smoothly, I would like to have it OOL and on my own timing by the end of the year. I know this may be a bit of a stretch, however, I hope to include some intensive training during the course of 2015.

Here's a really awesome example of a cutaway half (I am majorly swooning over his flying, check out his height over the platform and how beautiful and effortless he makes it look):

Goal #4 - Layout Full Twist
Let me just start by saying, this trick is not within my reach at the moment (or even close to being within my reach), but since this is my wishlist and I hope to eventually be able to do a layout full, here it is on the list. If you're unfamiliar with this particular trick it's just as it sounds, a layout with a full twist. Check out this really cool slow motion video of a full to catch by Gorilla Circus. (Seriously guys, go watch that video) I think I've watched that video about about 50 times by now, I'm just mesmerized by it. I couldn't figure out how to embed the video so here's a screen grab I took from it:

I know that once I get the layout dialed-in I will love throwing that trick. I really hope I enjoy twisting as well because I would love for the full to be another one of my go-to tricks. It would be nice to say that I would like to catch this skill in 2015, but I will just be happy if I start working it to the net in lines. Anything beyond that will be a sweet added bonus.

I've never been much of a trick collector. I would rather have a few really solid tricks, rather than a bunch of partially-mastered ones. So even though I only have the few items above on my list for 2015, it's still a pretty tough list of demands.

So there you have it, my 2015 wishlist. Now, let's go crush some goals!

2014 Flying Trapeze Goals

Today is my birthday and my original plan of flying in the morning has been foiled by the rain so since I can't actually do trapeze, I might as well just talk about it. (and then go treat myself to a mani/pedi)

Before I dive into my 2015 flying trapeze goals, I might as well review my 2014 goals (or somewhat lack there of).

I never really laid out my flying goals for 2014. It was difficult to really pin point what I wanted to accomplish because in reality I just wanted to do it all. I started off this year in a plateau, I was working on back end tricks but my swing was atrocious and it felt like I was just going through the motions but never really improving. I suppose my subconscious goal was really just to breakthrough the plateau and become a more advanced flyer. 

Looking back, this year was for improving my technique and ultimately locking down my return to the board. I drilled my half turn and turn around swing for so many months just to properly understand the mechanics of the return from hands. The half turn may not have been a very flashy trick to have worked on FOR MONTHS but it was certainly an important one and critical to my skills development. 

Goal #1 - RETURNS TO THE BOARD

Being someone who prefers flying without lines, I never really worked on the return in lines. So the first time I actually returned to the board, it was unassisted by the lines puller and was a result of the many hours dedicated to learning proper technique and at hands of my amazing catcher.

I had my first round trip to the board on July 7th when I was out in California, flying in the mountains. And just in case you're wondering, it was just as picturesque as it sounds:

It was the final day of my vacation and we squeezed in some morning flying before breakfast (if you know these guys, you'd be surprised they were awake, let alone flying by 8am). It was a really special moment and the pinnacle of months of blood, sweat and tears (literally and figuratively). As I took the trip across, I was surrounded by the three people who had coached, supported and pushed me along on the journey to catch and return back to the board: Rob was catching, Efe dropped my bar and scooped me along with Alex (trapeze Alex, not hubby Alex). I managed to catch and return a few more times that day. I don't have video, but here is photo from another catch that week.

So now that I am retuning (fairly) consistently, one of my goals for the remainder of the year is to really polish up my return. I would love to have the goal of no missed bars, but I know that is just unrealistic. I will be focusing on the three following items: nail down the timing in-hands so I pop and turn high and on time, staying tight at the turn without twisting at the waist and remounting the board with ease and grace. I love being in-hands, it's one of my favorite parts of flying trapeze, I will rarely turn down the opportunity to catch. So I'm looking forward to making improvements on how I work in-hands so catching can be as smooth and seamless to both myself and my catcher. Catching and returning to the board out of lines is really when things start getting next level in my opinion. I may never be a flyer in a show, but I would love to look as beautiful and as flawless as a professional flyer.

In general I need to continue focusing on staying tight and cleaning up my flying, which brings me to my next goal, the swing.

Goal #2 - The Swing

They say the swing is the hardest thing you'll learn in trapeze. While I'm sure triples and double twisting layouts are indeed VERY difficult, the swing is tied to just about every trick and we're always on the hunt to make it stronger, higher and more powerful. My swing is ever-evolving, as I fix one thing I then have to work to fix something else that needs readjusting as a result. I hear the swing is a lifelong journey and so be it. 

I recently had a breakthrough on my force out, which is improving the front end of my swing and gaining me height but now I need to adjust what is happening on the back end. I still need to work on timing, forcing out faster and sweeping longer.

I really want my swing to be long, powerful and beautiful by the end of the year. Even if it's not perfect (not that there is such a thing), I am committed to having straight legs that are zipped up from toes to torso, feet that are pointed all the way through the toes. I need to SQUEEZE EVERYTHING TIGHT.

The two above goals will be on-going until I get to a point where muscle memory can take over and the above items just happen naturally.

Goal #3 - Tricks: Cutaway and Layout

This year I worked on my nemesis, the layout, and caught it, but that trick is still very inconsistent. I want to learn to love throwing layouts, but all they do is cause me endless amounts of frustration at the moment. Right now, even if it has to remain in safety lines, I just want to be able to throw it smoothly without traveling by the end of the year.

Since the layout has been a thorn in my side, I had decided to give that trick some rest for a bit and start working on a cutaway. My goal is to ultimately work up to a cutaway half. (hello 2015 goal!) I may never be able to throw a double cutaway half (two back flips with a half twist) like my trapeze idol, Terry Cavaretta, but if I can make the cutaway half "my trick", I'll be pretty damn happy. We are starting me on working the cutaway so I can understand the mechanics and gain a strong foundation before adding in the half twist. My goal is to catch my cutaway by the end of the year. So far progress is slow, but I feel pretty confident I'll get there within the next few weeks. I just received motivation on this goal via a birthday gift in the form of a cutaway stick handmade by my catcher best friend Boston Rob.

Thank you Roberto, we will catch my cutaway when I visit you after the new year. I also want to play around with a reverse gazelle and anything else fun we an think of to do. Anyone have any suggestions for other novelty tricks please leave me a comment below. :)

So there you have it, my 2014 goals...