The massive update...acrobatic sports

Ok, so I've been a little slack with everything...just writing that up, that is! I think I'm three weeks behind??? Well, week 1 and 2 happened as per normal, only that I was so so so so sore, I could barely move, the entire time. Incredibly exhausted. I needed to do lots of sleeping.

Gym. Well, after the brilliance of my ro-flics, they've gone drastically down hill...let me give you an example from feedback from one of my coaches: "Wow, you're setting up for a really good layout!" As in, I've lost the ability to travel backwards, I keep on taking it up (like a back sault, shocking really *rolls eyes*), and basically it's a case of *maybe* I'll put my hands down. I'm whipping and I'd just rather do 4 whips on the rod this week than struggle to do ro-4 flics. So tumbling is going to be in-ter-est-ing on Sunday at comp.
Not sure if I will be able to tumble at comp, because shhhh be really quite about this: my back hurts a lot when I tumble or jump or run. Either way, after comp I'll have plenty of time to be taking a step back to get it perfectly right again. That means heaps more flics on tramp (and I did flic back sault, easy) and heaps more ro-flics onto mats in the pit...tumbling lower, and long, so hopefully I can engrave some technique into my head!
I did giants :D In straps, spotted "just in case", so essentially by myself. They're my first ones, and I was completely annoyed because I didn't get "new skill high" from doing them. There was nothing exciting about doing it...I did probably 8, 2 x just single giants, and then 3 x 2 in a row. I've really got to make sure I tap late (I'm an early tapper); it was great to be able to see Anthony point to exactly where I needed to be. I could two swings, then giant: the second swing had great block which was at reverse handstand. No worries.

Tramp. Well, we've got comp on Sunday, so we've been doing routine work until the cows come home. We took the rudi out of my vol; it's been too inconsistant with linking it into the next skill. Sometimes it's fantastic and feels easy, other times it just doesn't work for me. It's a skill where one of my big issues with it is not knowing how to cope when I've got a lot of time (height), which is odd, because that never happens in any other skill. So that's something to learn and try and work on. Surely with time and practice, I think this skill in combination will come. I'm just a little confused and uncertain as to what I've got to do exactly, every single time, and when. But it's staying in my set, because my DTBs are double in, back out drills. Oooh, I've just thought of a new skill I can do for 1.6 in DD game! Oh damn, I'd have to do that straight (I was going to go for full full straight for 1.6), but hey, the 1.4 spot is a bit vacant at the moment (with either a HIHO P, FO S or now DIBO T).
It was a great feeling on Wednesday to be able to get up on tramp and do my work (F7/L7) first go, with no struggles. I was in a crappy crappy crappy mood, my back was hurting a lot, but I didn't want to say anything (because they'd make me get off the tramp and just do strength for the next week), and also because I wanted to jump and compete. But it was hard trying to convince myself that I just needed to ignore it and work through it. I had told myself that that was what I was going to do: just train as if nothing was wrong, so no one would know. But it was difficult not to be whingy (when I had right to be), and hard not to have self doubt in your ability to jump and do things.
Anyway, routine is going fine, bar the landing of the double pike. I wish I was doing 4 doubles now (with HO T-DB T). It's annoying that my three doubles still only = 7.1 DD (because of repeat skill).
My half out, back saults are getting so good - they're consistantly good. Overall, I'm getting better at maintaining my height. Eg. in my set, ho T, b/s P, bar S - I'm starting to understand that yes, I am at a great height, don't just cut yourself down lower because it's "easier" to deal with. Try as hard as you can to relax, and maintain and gain height. HO P, b/s in routines is SOOO much better as well. half out pikes are getting a LOT easier, which is great. I've consistantly been in a great spot to do ho, bs, ho, and also, ho p, db t. I can't wait until the week after the comp where we start putting new skills together and solely training new skills (no routines for me until December!). The grand ambition of two of my coaches is to start with three doubles together, ending double pike. I'm hoping that changes to a four double start, ending FO S; I'm sure I'll also have to compromise to allow that dreaded full half to be in the mix somewhere. Oooooh, and I'm so excited, I can't wait to be able to put HIHO on tramp.
Full outs...well, I turned two on Wednesday. The first one didn't have enough rotation, and barely twisted, so essentially was a back cruise duck with an extra 1/4 turn. (landing on tummy). The second one, HAHAHA, ooooh it was so much fun. I know I twisted at the wrong time :D But it felt good still, and I knew I hadn't got 'lost'. So technically I did a full twisting double straight, but where exactly the twist was located....I think it was BETWEEN the two saults. Probably a little full-in ish. Hehehe, my teammates were a bit concerned, but I wasn't! No matter how many drills I do for anything, I think I still will do that one freak mistiming of any skill I learn. I did that with half out pikes (turning in the first sault), occasionally I also did it learning half outs. I did it with HIHO, and I do it all the time with full halves. But I'm the kind of person who needs to make that mistake, in order to know exactly what not to do next time. Hence, I've never turned a half out in the wrong phasing since, I've never turned an arabian to the left by mistake since, and most likely I will never again have the same problem with full outs again.
Interesting notion too - I think my FOs were really whippy, because my double layout isn't the greatest in the world. I know that physically (both physically and by the laws of physics), it's "easier" to keep straight in a FO around than a double lay, but still, I think the start of mine may have imitates B's too much - her shoulders down and whipping.

Ok, massive speeching done. I think. I could rant and rant about strength, but that's a bit of a moot point at the moment.