General Tips for becoming a better Flyer-

at the bottom of this page you will find links demonstrating the stunt techniques you will be required to learn!

 

 

        Confidence - Hit your stunt as though it's going to hit.  If you doubt it for a second, then you will be more likely to drop it.  Attitude is everything. Know you can do it, because if you don't think you can, you probably won't.

 

 

         Trust - You must trust your teammates and they must trust you. If you trust them totally, you know that if were to fall, someone will be there to catch you. With that out of the way, you can concentrate on what needs to be done.

 

 

Stay Tight - Keep your hips, thighs, and butt tight (think pinching a   

        penny) Don't push out with your legs...this could spread 

        your bases apart. 

 

Posture (body position) - Hit the stunt and or pyramid with the correct body positioning.  Here are a few examples:

 

                           a. chin up

 

                           b. legs straight (not bent)

 

                           c. squeeze your buttocks

 

                           d. squeeze your abs

 

                           e. lift your chest/shoulders up

 

                           f. toes pointed and motions tight (Libs, Heel Stretch)

        Timing - Everyone in a stunt should know what to do and when to do it. All stunting should be done to a count. The flyer should know when the proper level has been reached to stick, hit, or pull the stunt.

 

        No fear of heights - A respect for heights is okay, but you can't be afraid of them.

 

        Keep eye contact with the crowd- When the flyer is up she/he should motivate and involve the crowd.Smile. Have fun and let everyone know it.

 

        Intelligence - Understand what is being asked from you.  If you are doing a stunt and you do not know completely what is going on, then ask.  By knowing and practicing it on the ground OR in your head, you will avoid possibly hurting anyone on the team including yourself.

 

 

Technique

 

 

A) Loading Techinque:

 

 When jumping into a basket, the flier must NOT put all of the weight in the bases hands by half-way jumping in and dropping their buttocks.

 

 

The CORRECT way to enter a stunt is to give a good jump off of the ground, lift up your legs, hold yourself up with your arms, and gently place your toes into the bases hands. 

 

 

 

B) Shaking in a stunt:

 

When fliers are in the air, some have a tendency to shake or balance too much. Much of this is due to either nerves and/or the fact that their muscles are NOT strong enough to stay tight for an extended period. The problem with shaking is that it makes you much heavier on the bases below you. Not only are they holding your weight, but they have to expel more energy to stabilize you up in the air.

 

C) Holding your own weight:

 

This is when the flier reduces the feel of her body weight by holding herself up and positioning her body in a way to makes the stunt easier for the bases to hold. Keep all your weight to the center by thinking about lifting everything up. The stunt feels heavier when hips are shifting to any side, back, and/or front, and your chest is dropped. This causes the base(s) to have to fight more for the stunt, and the extra strain makes the flier feel heavy.   

               

D) Make yourself lighter:

 

 1.) Hold yourself up - When a flier jumps into a basket/elevator she needs to make sure to keep her own weight up as she is holding onto the bases shoulders.

 

 2.) Push off - When lifting off a base(s), make sure the flier gives a good push off. This will give momentum to the stunt and make the flier feel lighter.

 

 3.) Stay tight - The tighter the flier is, the less struggle the base(s) will have fighting with the stunt.

 

 4.) Balance correctly - Balance yourself by squeezing into position by using minimal movement. It makes is difficult to hold when the flier is moving around too much.

 

 

 

 E) Body Control:

 

 

1.) Squeeze your abs - Will help keep your mid-section in control.

 

2.) Squeeze your buttocks - Will help keep your hips stabilized and control your bottom core.

 

3.) Keep your head up - Will help keep your head above your shoulders and stop you from flipping over.

 

4.) Ride - Riding will give you time to pull off certain skills, and discourage bad habits.

  

5.) Technique - (Very important) With out proper technique it's difficult to have good body control. Make sure you concentrate on the proper way to pull your skill.

 

6.) Confidence - Believe in yourself and don't be scared. Scared fliers tend to loose all sense of body control.