How to Do the Flying Fish in Synchronized Swimming
Here is another synchro figure, with an appropriate aquatic animal name assigned to it — the flying fish. It’s a short and quick figure that gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your strength, speed, and height.
The flying fish begins just like the barracuda figure, but at the top, you snap one leg down into a fishtail position and right back up… all before you start to sink!
Sound tricky? This guide will take you step-by-step through the figure and provide you with some tips for making the most of your flying fish.
- Start in a back layout with your hands over your head. Use torpedo scull, but with your palms facing the surface so that you won’t travel.
- Quickly, but smoothly, bring your legs up towards the sky into a double ballet leg position and bring your body close to your thighs. Use your hands to help press yourself down, so by the time you arrive in the *back pike position*, you are about six inches to a foot under water. This move is sometimes called an oyster.
- Prepare for your barracuda thrust in this position. Scull up by your ankles, and keep your legs vertical.
Flying fish live in every ocean in the world! They are especially known for their unusually large pectoral fins which allow them to leap out of the water and glide through the air to escape predators.
- Scull yourself up to the surface to gain some upward momentum.
- Break through the surface with as much speed as you can while still keeping your body close to your legs.
- Start the unroll just before you think your head might pop out of the water by pushing your hips up and pelvic tilting.
- Unroll your body underneath your legs as your hands catch and begin to press overhead. Save a little bit of your press for the fishtail position.
- After reaching the vertical position, you can lower your leg down in front of you until your toe touches the surface. Lower whichever leg you want — you don’t have to match anyone!
- Your foot should make a little smacking sound on the surface, but not a huge crash and splash.
- Now, snap your leg back to a vertical position to meet your other leg.
- Remember to do all of this as fast as possible so that you can get the fishtail and join in before gravity takes over and you start to sink.
If you are having trouble with your vertical alignment, get back to basics. Work on your barracuda without the fishtail position until you straighten out again. Then add the flying fish factor back in.
- The descent is the least difficult part of this figure, but can still cost you points if not done properly.
- There are two options for arm technique. One is to leave your hands over head and try to slip down through the water (similar to a reverse pencil jump). The second option is to bring your hands down by your sides and slightly in front of you.
- The descent should be the same speed as the thrust was, so the second option is usually the better one.
Fly Like a Fish?
Practicing this flying fish figure will not only help you increase the height of your thrusts and rockets, but also help you learn to move your legs faster. It’s a great way to challenge yourself after mastering the barracuda. Even try adding a flying fish to your routine! It’s a great way to add some difficulty to a duet, especially if you are both great at rockets.
