Pre-requisites

Before learning breakers head-up you should be able to perform barrel rolls while carving at lower speeds along with being comfortable with head-up half breakers, as a good portion of learning this new skill is using techniques from the short half breaker move. These barrel rolls should be performed with your feet in the center of the tunnel. The technique should be strong because when the speed of the tunnel is faster, any flaws in the technique will be much more noticeable. You should also already be comfortable executing belly and back flares head-up, as this will be the best way to enter into the head-up breakers.

Objectives

Your objectives in mastering this skill should be the following:

o   Start the maneuver by initiating a diving belly flare and then perform a belly to back 540° barrel roll.

o   The technique should be performed with your feet facing toward the center of the tunnel. 

Technique and Drills

Basic

In order to successfully complete a full breaker, keep the following elements in mind:

• Begin carving out-face or head-up belly-carving at a higher level in the tunnel. Create a dive or some descending energy and enter into a belly flare. At the bottom of the flare begin to barrel roll from your belly 540°, ending on your back.
• Use the diving energy or flare to not ascend during the maneuver. Once you are on your back, use the back flare technique to continue carving and return to head-up orientation also continuing to carve.

Post-flight questions / suggestions

·      Were you able to maintain the carve during the technique?

·      While performing the breaker did you manage to not ascend?

·      Where you able to keep your chin up and maintain awareness of your position in the tunnel during and after the breaker?

Breakers are a fun trick to fly solo. Once you are comfortable flying them solo you can add them to a routine or begin flying them with others. If you haven’t already, check out the dynamic dive pool, it’s a great way to put together all your skills. Once you are comfortable flying this skill solo and with others, you can add it in to a routine and begin expanding your head-down dynamic skills.