Gorilla Circus Outdoor Trapeze
www.gorillacircus.com
South West London Parks – check website for details

‘Ready on board. Ready. Hup.’
A gentle rush of air passes my face as gravity stretches me from wrists to ankles, releasing the day’s tensions while my fingers grip with determination. I reach the apex of the forward swing and struggle hopelessly to get my knees to my chest for the all important ‘first trick’. I’m a kicker. Dammit.

Never one to give up without a struggle I persisted with my trapeze lessons for a week, determined to get my bloody knees over that damn bar. After much input and analyses from successful amateurs as well as the masters themselves, it was suggested we tie my feet together. As if jumping from a 2 story narrow platform wasn’t thrilling enough, I now also felt like a sea tyrant made to walk the plank, all bound and shuffling towards a certain unpleasant fate.

I ready’d and I hup’d. I tucked and I strained. I very ungracefully got my knees over the bar! Wheeeeeeeeyyyy! I was on my way to circus stardom. ‘I’m never coming down!!’ I screamed with glee. By now I had perfected my ‘triple-backward-somersault-double pike-with a twist-of lime’  dismount and was keen to be working my way to my very first catch.

Unfortunately the following class was static class - ropes/silks/lira etc - (don’t do it unless you are light and nimble or just very strong in the arms and resilient to bruising) and the next was cancelled due to bad weather.

Next week I will return to make attempts at my first catch, which I hope to capture on Wilder-Cam and post here for your viewing pleasure.

I absolutely recommend to anybody with the opportunity (or the curiosity) to try this trapeze class. The teachers are encouraging and patient, clear and professional and also come with a good sense of humour.
What have you got to loose??

5 things you probably want to know:
a) you don’t need to have above average upper body strength. If you can hang, you can trapeze.
b) you don’t need six pack abs. If you can pull each knee close to your chest, you’re fine.
c) even if you can’t get your knees to your chest, there are other ways!
d) you are harnessed in at every step until you reach the ground and there is a safety net below.
e) you can do a ‘try n fly’ leap before you commit to a full class.