Full Up Tips

by | Dec 21, 2023 | Backspotting, Basing, Blog, Flying, Stunting

Photo: Snapped! by Becca Clark

Tips for flyers, bases and backspots to do a better full up:

FOR FLYERS:
  • Let your bases do the twist. Don’t try to twist faster than them or do the entire thing yourself. Stay tight and initiate the twist slightly so you move with your bases’ actions.
  • Go upward first!!! Don’t try to twist right from the bottom – it’ll throw you off. Try to fix this by picking a spot to look at that’s a bit higher than your eye level in squish. Once your group dips and you’re lifted up a bit, remain facing forward until the spot you chose is at eye-level. Once at eye-level, you can go with the twist.
  • Push off your bases’ shoulders to give you extra lift. This makes it easier for your bases to twist and lift you.
  • Squeeze your feet together (if that’s the choreo) so your bases can expect where to grab your foot when it comes around. Imagine that the inside edges of your feet are stuck together with glue or a magnet – this should help prevent crossing of the ankles.
  • Find a spot on the wall to focus on if you tend to get disoriented or dizzy.
  • Practice spinning on the floor and on wobble boards/balance discs.

FOR BASES & BACKSPOTS:
  • Dip with your legs first, then transfer the power up through your core and upper body. Trying to lift and twist with your arms only makes it sooo much more difficult.
  • If you’re twisting the foot, “scratch your chin” before you twist. This means lift straight upward up to around your chin area before you begin to twist your hand.
  • If you’re letting go and catching at the top, don’t try to chase after the foot. Tell your flyer to keep their feet together, then place your hands where you expect their foot to land. If they keep their feet together, you should be able to catch the foot (or ankles for backspots) every time.
  • Backspots, try to squeeze your flyer’s feet together as early as possible to make it easier for the bases to get their grips again.
  • Always extend fully through your elbows and shoulders at the top of the twist.