Expert: Tessa Denen - 8/12/2009

Question
QUESTION: I very scared about stunting. All four of the coaches told me that we are going to rotate the routines so that all the flyers get a chance to fly. I am a flyer/base/font spot, but I am terrified to fly. We had our very first practice a couple days ago and we practiced prep, cradles, and extension. When I cradle I can't seem to get into a pike, and also when I get up into a prep or extension I begin to shake like crazy. How do I improve cradle and not to shake? And are there some extra tips to flying?

ANSWER: Flying can be very scary at first, but I promise you, it gets easier and WAY more fun:)  First of all, you need to trust your bases.  If you trust that they won't drop you, then you will be able to be a little more relaxed.  Ask your coach if you could have other girls stand around the first couple of times so you have more people to catch you.  That should make you feel better.  After doing it a few times that way, you should start to feel better about the stunt.  

The shaking just comes with you being scared.  Unfortunately, there is nothing I can say to make that go away other than relax!:)  You will be fine!  The more relaxed you are, the more fun you'll have, and the safer the stunt will be all around.  Also, if you concentrate on squeezing your muscles as hard as you possibly can, that might reduce the shaking a little bit.  Just keep trying!

As far as cradles go, when you first start flying they are hard to get the hang of.  Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

1.)  NEVER JUMP OUT OF YOUR BASES HANDS!  This is the number one problem with girls who are new to cradling.  They hear the backspot call for the cradle and they jump out to cradle.  As the climber, be sure not to move until you feel that you are floating.  If you jump out, you are throwing the bases hands away from the direction they need to be going.

2.)  STAY TIGHT!  It is very important that you bring your legs together and stay incredibly tight throughout the entire dismount.  If you are loose and have limbs flying everywhere, then it makes the bases job of catching you much harder.

3.)  CATCH YOURSELF!  When you land in the cradle position, you should have an arm wrapped around each of your bases shoulders, holding yourself up.  

4.)  BEND!  Be sure to bend at your waist when learning to cradle.  At first, think about bringing your legs into a pike parallel to the ground (only after they have tossed you, no jumping!).  Coming down straight, feet first, makes the bases job of catching you impossible.  

5.) NEVER LOOK DOWN!  If you are looking down on your way down, then that means your upper body is leaning forward.  You want to be laying back a little bit.  When you are in the stunt, spot a place on the wall and stare at it.  Don't take your eyes off of it until you are back on the ground!  

One thing that helped me relax and learn to fly was picturing myself doing it in my head before I actually did it, and I would talk myself through the entire process.  I'd say "Ok Tessa, you are going to jump in, keep your rear end up, press with your arms and stay tight.  Then you are going to squeeze until you feel the pop, sit back a little bit and then hug the bases."  Doesn't sound too hard, right?  Just keep talking yourself through it and you'll realize that it's easier than your mind is making it.

Don't give up!  Everyone is nervous at first, but you will come to love it!!!

Good luck, and always smile:)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Another thing about cradling is I tend to close my eyes. Is that okay to or should I trycand keep them open?

Answer
You should try to keep them open.  When you close your eyes you body tenses up, meaning that sometimes it will not do what it is supposed to do.  Keep your eyes open and force yourself to relax a little bit.  Like I said, don't look down!  Keep staring at that spot on the wall.  You will need to have your eyes open for more advanced tricks like twisting, so you should probably start trying to keep them open now to get yourself out of the habit.

Good luck:)