[EVamp83]

I started 4 yrs ago. The first 2 yrs I took some beginner classes and practiced very regularly with my pole buddies. I progressed quickly. The last 2 yrs (after moving away from my pole buddies) have been more off than on the pole. Did some silks/trapeze/lyra, since home poling turned out not to be for me. Then last september I kickstarted my pole dancing again by attending a weekend long pole dance camp. I fell back in love with pole dance. I've since taken some awesome workshops and made lots of pole friends. As I type this, I'm on my way to my second pole dance weekend!! Yay! And I'm finally getting back on SV. I really missed reading about your lives and accomplishments. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_heart1.gif

[EVamp83]

Me too!!! Was anyone brave enough to secretly film the performances? And willing to put them on YT, until they are removed by USPDF https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[EVamp83]

Oh, and I could definitely appreciate material from the pole jam, after party, and any backstage material as well! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

Pics/vids galore!

[EVamp83]

For some reason I couldn't find the list of competitors on the uspdf site, so I'm not sure who else is competing, but Natasha Wang is my absolute favorite of the moment! I just adore her style, and hope that someday I can move like she does. She is my current pole crush! She'll surely do fantastic at the comp.

I love love love Karol too. She has inspired me for many years now, and still does.

Ahh, it's so difficult to predict, or pick favorites. They're all so talented and fabulous in their own unique ways. I just say: may the best woman win! I've been looking forward to the routines posted on YT all year! Last year they were only on there for a day or so, but I managed to see them all, and download most of them to my computer. So if anyone can video any of the performances, please post on YT! I'll be lurking there the days after the comp to rip and save every vid I can get my hands on! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

Fingers crossed I can finally be there in RL next year!!!

So, best of luck to all the competitors, you all deserve to win. And I hope everyone who gets to go this year has a blast, and posts lots of vids from the competition and workshops.

Ow, and what about the predictions for the Amateur division? Some wonderful dancers and tricksters competing there as well!

[EVamp83]

Thanks for the link ennifer!! The links themselves wouldn't work, but typing and browsing did the trick. Hopefully they'll be quick to post new episodes! I usually use free-tv-video-online.info if I watch anything online, but they don't do ABDC. On that site I always try to use the other suppliers (eg. zshare) if available for exactly that reason! But I mostly prefer torrents for vid quality.

Thanks so much for the help! Can't wait to see our fellow polers perform!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

[EVamp83]

Crap, of course the site doesn't allow me to watch it from here.

Fingers crossed someone will put up a torrent, or it'll appear on megavideo or the like!

I'd love to see them compete!!!

[EVamp83]

Selene, does this mean that you want to go into gemini from a chopper or a tuck invert, instead of basic invert? You might have difficulties getting your leg over your hands because your hips are too far from the pole. Try to focus on lifting those hips til they're really close to the pole before you hook your leg. And be sure to have a straight back!

Good luck!!!

[EVamp83]

ROFLMAO! You guys really made my day! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

But as always, I have 100% faith in webby and his skills https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_ugeek.gif

Webby & Veena FTW! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[EVamp83]

ok, I know I'm just being annoying now, so please disregard this comment, but I just love wordplay, so…

NASCAR, Madagascar, Bacardi, caramel, scars, carpet, cardio, card games, scarce resources and mascara.

Starfish, Starwars, custard & mustard, Starsky & Hutch and starvation.

Aerosol spray, rhinoceros and sclerosis.

Okay, okay, I had my fun!

Sorry for the inconvenience! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_batman.gif

[EVamp83]

I just noticed too. I think it's a good idea in concept, to automatically link to V's lessons when we discuss a move. But especially car and star will end up leaving some confusing links. lol. Hopefully there is a way to adjust the sensitivity or something. For now some more odd examples. "I had just started to carefully put my pole up, when…" https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif

[EVamp83]

Oops! I missed your response ollie!

So mine's kinda redundant.

Ah well. Funny awkwardness on stage https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

[EVamp83]

You're right, it's not German, it's Swedish. Not that I understand Swedish, but since Battle of the Pole is in Stockholm, and the url under the vid is for a Swedish website…

I'm gonna guess that BotP asked a singer to do a performance at the event (possibly to entertain the crowd during jury deliberations or just for a bit of added variety, but that's just more speculations lol). The singer probably thought it would be fun to incorporate the pole in the performance, although she had no experience on the pole. So she got her mancandy to help her out a little. I think it was never intended to be a serious pole performance, just a singer using the pole as a prop.

Anyway, that's my take on the situation.

Regardless, I think it was kinda funny and creative.

[EVamp83]

I don't know if you're doing this already, but I thought it couldn't hurt to share.

Do you periodically retighten the screws of the x-joints when the pole is up. Especially when I put it up the first time, I noticed that I could tighten them a little more after the pole was erected (*giggles*) and in place. Now I just check and retighten the screws from time to time. Haven't had any problems yet.

(This is in addition to the alternated tightening advice)

[EVamp83]

I always like to practice one-handed spins. It's best to learn them on both sides, but you can just start with your 'good' wrist side. (Examples of spins that can be done one-handed: Fireman, Front Hook, Back Hook, Carousel, Chair Spin, Attitude, V-Spin)

[EVamp83]

Thank you for those stretches! I recently developed that same pain after stretching for middle splits.