Transitions: Part 2

Well, the time has come to upgrade to another level of transitions. It took another month of jumping (ugh…), but we finally reached a point where transitions become a possibility.

Another coaching day with Joe Webb was money well spent. He taught me a few tips and tricks (skills and better habits). Turns out, I been doin’ it all wrong. Don’t read this article thinking you’ll be able to do this shit, it took me months (and more months) of practice. Get some coaching to really dial these skills.

We begin with the barrel roll. The barrel roll incorporates a few different skills at the same time. We get to transition to the back and then we transition back to the belly. Best of both worlds, we get all the practice with this skill, who knew? This kind of flying is way different from cruising in a flock (never getting the slot ’cause the suck is real). It’s also a more active, and fun, way to fly. Going all day with this is taxing, and the end of the day gets tougher than the beginning.

But wait, that’s not all, if you order within the next 2 minutes, you’ll get two transitions for the price of one.

Let’s go the instant replay:

First up: the belly carve/barrel roll.

This skill requires a barrel roll underneath your partner in (sky)crime. The barrel roll happens while moving to the other side of a two-way, keeping your eyes on your partner. and when they go out of view, do the roll. This will keep your partner in sight the whole time (ideally). It also looks pretty damn cool, and we gotta look good (Rule 1).

A place to practice is limiting the distance off to the side and keeping somewhat close. The next video shows it a little better (the wrong way).

Next up: the back carve/barrel roll.

Both people are backflying during this move. As our hero goes over the top of the other, he does a barrel roll to finish back on the back, back flying. Same as above, keep eyes on your partner, until you can’t, then bust a move.

Our place of practice is the distance between both, all around distance. You can see how I finished by being far out to the side and had to spend time flying back. Getting closer takes much more skill, and you should start without worrying about the distance, get the move down. Then keep doing the move, and the distance will close naturally. Don’t smash your buddy in the face.

We’ll keep this short and sweet. Recap:

Barrel roll under your partner on the belly.
Barrel roll over your partner on the back.
Keep eyes on the prize, until you can’t.
Bust a move.
Practice, practice, practice (and more practice).

We’ll learn how to do barrel rolls properly in another article. Stay sendy my bird friends.

Blues Skies,

WSL

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