1. During
the pressing action, angle the body very slightly forward, with the chest
slightly in front of the hips/toes. Keep eyes focused on the anticipated entry
point or other desired spot.
2. As arms
reach overhead, they are shoulder-width apart with palms facing either inward
or forward. The arms extend very
slightly behind the ears.
3. Lower
torso remains hollow, while chest and shoulders open a bit, and, as legs
extend, with knees straight, balls of feet push downward and slightly backward
into the board, creating an equal and opposite reaction carrying the body
upward and, combined with the arms/upper body positioning, forward, while
creating enough rotation for the half somersault to be done.
4. After
legs have been fully extended and the feet have left the board, simultaneously
round the upper body forward and begin to bring tops of the feet up toward the
hands. The arms have moved
forward during the rounding of the upper body and the hands stretch upward and
forward in anticipation of touching the toes.
5. As the
toes and fingertips meet at approximately 1:00 on an imaginary clock, rotate
the hips forward/upward and pull the buttocks underneath the torso.
6. Establish
the pike position with chest and quadriceps approaching each other, head
remaining between the armline and the legs, chin neutral or up to allow eyes
to sight the knees or the toes, and fingertips touching the tips of the toes.
7. Almost
immediately after the fingertips contact the toes, begin to press the legs
away from the torso using the hips, abdominals, and buttocks and ease the
upper body back until a straight/slightly hollow body line has been
established, with the arms resting flat on the front or side of the body/legs.
8. Continue
the rest of the dive with the Lateral Arm Movement style discussed for a Back
Entry.