Show me some side climbs!

polergirl started this discussion · 1/30/2012

I have a strong side climb... but it's not very pretty, and I want to change it up a little and learn some different ways to do it. There was one I saw on YouTube a while back--I can't remember who (sad face)--but it had this fabulously ethereal look to it, like she was slinking up the side of the pole. Absolutely beautiful and so graceful. Who has videos of particularly *awesome* side climbs? Bring 'em on! :)

26 replies

polergirl · 1/31/2012
Anyone? Apologies if bumping one's own topic is bad form. 🌸
Veena · 1/31/2012
Not a problem to *bump* 🌸 Have you tried going into side climb with a back hook? It's in the lessons, but can't think of any video's I know of that show it.....will post if I come up with something. Jenyne has a beautiful side climb you could check out her vids!
polergirl · 1/31/2012
Yep, I've done that. I love Jenyne's side climb. That's the kind of variation I'm talking about--similar to the variations found in a regular climb. 🙂
sparrow · 1/31/2012
I don't have any ideas, but do you have link to one of Jenyne's climbs? I would love to see it!
poledanceromance · 1/31/2012
David explained this a bit in st. Louis...when doing the Jenyne variation, you're moving both legs at the same time, and the grip between your legs becomes important, remember to push-pull. And you can use your outside hand on top, with the inside hand around waist level; you use the bottom hand to PUSH while you also PUSH your butt out and backwards. Don't think of trying to lift the legs as much as you are lifting your butt, throwing your booty back and up WHILE you lift the legs. We found for some of us in class it was easier to side climb this way and for some of us it was much harder. If your basic side climb is very secure, you are probably safe to play around with it and observe the way your leg grip changes in the different variations. I happen to love veena's lesson for the side climb. She illustrates very well the way your front leg pulls and back leg pushes to use a pretty grip rather than all the grip coming from the knee pit on the top leg.
NinaPoles · 1/31/2012
My instructor said that Natasha Wang taught a side climb in her workshop that's slightly different; you start out with your outside leg in front of the pole, as if you're going into an ankle spin, then place the inside foot behind the pole. You lift both legs up together, then "stand up", and repeat. (It hurts like a b*tch the first times you try, since all the pressure is on the top of your back foot, but it does get better.) The biggest difference from a normal side climb is that you don't hook with the back of your knee at all, only between your feet. It's hard to explain, but my pole at home is only 7'4" and I'm 5'9", so it's hard for me to demonstrate climbs on it:P
JBStarryEyedGirl · 1/31/2012
Anyone have links of these variations? I recall seeing a double front hooked side climb in a video.. but can't remember who/when?? I need to bookmark more things!!
poleprincess89 · 2/1/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwNpaxkhefI jenyne does one at the beginning of this routine
HollySatine · 2/1/2012
I love Marlo's @ 3:40: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0tPB7tCa3E
polergirl · 2/1/2012
Keep the videos coming! Someday I *will* find the video I referred to in my original post. It was an instructor demo for a studio, it's possible I got to the link through someone here and just can't remember the thread that got me there. But this woman's side climb was fantastic... and she did some sort of awesome close to the ground layback levitation-ish move that, as it turns out, isn't very difficult to do, but she was pure grace to watch do it.
polergirl · 2/1/2012
Found it!!! --By searching for levitation of all things. Fleur originally posted it. Side climb starts at about 2:15. I love how she crosses the bottom leg under the top and pushes off. Actually, I love pretty much everything about how she moves. She looks like a cat slinking around. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlS_yoyDyuw
polergirl · 2/3/2012
Still on the hunt for variations of the side climb--I like Marlo's and am very interested to see the variation Natasha Wang showed, I can't quite picture it. . Anyone else have suggestions or videos?
NinaPoles · 2/3/2012
Love the one in the video you just posted! I am about to get on my pole at home here, I'll try to demonstrate the Natasha one even if I can only do like half a climb:P
NinaPoles · 2/3/2012
http://youtu.be/ZGX5GjyEY5M There!:) It's a little awkward since my pole is so short that my top hand reaches the ceiling before I even start climbing, but at least you can see the foot position. I really like this climb since the pointed front foot hides that the back foot is flexed:)
cupcake11 · 2/3/2012
that's pretty-thanks for posting!
ramblerchick · 2/4/2012
@polergirl-thanks for posting that side climb video. Awesome:) Also side note I have been trying to find out who that sond is by in that video but could never remember any words. Now I now...Thanks so much:)
ramblerchick · 2/4/2012
oops...lol Song not sond")
FuzzyNavel · 2/5/2012
Polergirl--she is awesome, thx for sharing!
polergirl · 2/6/2012
You're welcome! NorwegianNina--that's a variation I have never seen before. I'll need to try it (and since I'm 5'4" I can usually get two climbs in even on a shortish pole, lol). Thanks so much for posting the video!
amy · 2/8/2012
jenyne does the version taht norwegiannina posted-- it's actually a variation on a regular climb, but you stay sideways to the pole, and you can of couse do it with both feet pointed as well :) it's one of my favorite climb variations! here's another vid that shows more clearly that the technique is essentially the same as a regular climb: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOHafpBoUjM&list=UUONaqjpmAfizUqLVAt9PUkg&index=101&feature=plcp
cupcake11 · 2/8/2012
Amy, thx for posting that link-I like!!!
PlainJane · 2/8/2012
Thank you Polergirl, this an awesome thread! It had never even really occured to me to play with side climb variations! Keep 'em coming :) Also a big fan of Marlo and Jenyne's side climbs - so pretty...
chemgoddess1 · 2/8/2012
I have always loved Karols side climb...I think it is because she gets her legs so far apart when she climbs. The side climb starts about 3:40ish http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQwtaIp843c
polergirl · 2/8/2012
Chemgoddess, I love hers too--not only does she get her legs so far apart, but she has her body far away from the pole, which I think looks great.
NinaPoles · 2/9/2012
Thank you Amy - that shows much more clearly what I was trying to do!:P Chemgoddess - I love that! That's probably the one most like my normal side climb - for once my long legs actually make things easier for me, and I can get to the top of a 14ft pole in 4 climbs with my legs far apart like that :)

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