Executing an effective hurdle

Many divers make the mistake of rushing through their hurdle prior to take-off from the end of the board.

The hurdle is one of the most important elements of the dive.  It helps you attain the height and power necessary to complete the dive.

When approaching the end of the board, swing your arms up, lift your favored thigh, and ascend into the air.  Extend your arms and legs together in a vertical line before gravity pulls you down to the end of the board.

Here are pictures of Jesse Fonner demonstrating an effective hurdle:

Jesse Fonner begins his approach which leads into the hurdle before reaching the end of the board.



Jesse Fonner reaches the end of his approach and prepares for the hurdle.

 

Jesse Fonner raises his right thigh to leap up into the air prior to take-off from the board. 



Jesse Fonner soars into the air while extending his thigh down. 



Jesse Fonner elongates his body and holds his arms in the air as long as possible before gravity takes over. 




Gravity takes over and Jesse Fonner descends to the end of the board, arms ready to swing as soon as his toes make contact with the board. 

As soon as his toes touch the end of the board, Jesse Fonner swings his arms and bends his knees to further push the board down.   

After landing on the end of the board, Jesse Fonner uses the power of his arm swing and weight combined with the gravitational force to bend the board deeper. 



Jesse Fonner completes his arm swing and takes his time riding the board into the air before throwing his body into the dive. 



After departing the board, Jesse Fonner extends his arms into a mid-air rotation before he twists his body into a 5132D.   

Jesse Fonner attains height and velocity as he twists his body into a 5132D.   

In the air, Jesse Fonner then torques his right arm to the far left side of his body, which provides the force necessary to wrap his body into a full twist. 



Jesse Fonner tenses his body and core muscles as he twists through the air. 



Jesse Fonner comes out of the twist into an open pike position. 

Jesse Fonner squares his body in the open pike.