The 10/10 Challenge

[Ben Varsek]

Thank you very much for pointing out the importance of visualization Ron !!!


You're welcome Tristan and congratulations on the forward crack !!!
I've also experienced that the popper is knotting itself around the thong after doing a crack.
In my own experience this has nothing to do with the whip itself or with the condition of the popper but with the way I'm moving the whip.


It's great to hear that you've had a good practice session Bob !!!


Erik, enjoy your seminar !!!


The weather im my area has been better on todays practice which has been nice !!!
The downside of todays practice was that I struggled more to do the HC with my off (right) hand than on the last days of my practice.


All the best
Ben

[Tristan Foy]

I am a little curious as to where we are now. On Robby's tutorials the next section is on combining the Circus Crack and Underhand Crack, and then a combination of the Circus Crack and the Opposite Horizontal Crack, and then a combination of the Opposite Horizontal and Horizontal Crack, and then a combination of those four. And that is it for the first DVD. So are we working on combinations or going on to the next stand-alone crack?

I've been unable to practice for a few days, so today is catchup for me.

[Ron May]

Tristan you are right. It's time to move on.
It's time to start combo #1 the underhand & circus crack.
Starting tomorrow 11/14 we will be studying and practicing the underhand & circus crack combo.

Every one is doing so well and I am proud of each and everyone's commitment to continue with this exercise and improving your skill levels.
Keep up the good work and dedication my friends.

Ron

[Ron May]

Here's video #1 for the horizontal , overhead crack.

https://youtu.be/8GNk6Z1ISr8

Here's the comparison video on day 10 .

https://youtu.be/XnUWUMKvFvA

I feel like it shows some improvement but I still have some work to do on it.

Ron

[Robert Gage]

Ron, that third video does indeed show improvement! Of course there's always more work to do (an anything!) but you're certainly moving if the right direction! (You seem to find this crack easier with a longer whip. I find that, too.)

[Ron May]

You are right Mr. Robert.
From tip to cracker it's about 11.5' and very heavy.

Maybe it's not that it's easier but using a longer whip forces you to slow down the crack and to wait until the thong is positioned correctly before you can finish the crack.
I was going to use the shorter whip for the video but it's been raining here and it's not noticeable in the video but it was still a light sprinkle coming down. This made the un-waxed thong dull and less responsive. The longer whip is waxed and is not as adversely affected by wet grass and rain.

Ron

[Bob Ouellette]

Ron, you've made some good progress! I'm going to try to get a short video of some overhead crackling with my 10' Peter Jack and my 6' Bernie Wojcicki bullwhips.

[Ron May]

Bob, I love watching a really good whip in action.
I look forward to seeing your video.

I thank you and Mr. Robert in participating in this project.

Ron

[Robert Gage]

Bob, I love watching a really good whip in action.

So do I, Ron - so do I.

[Bob Ouellette]

Ok, here's the video: https://youtu.be/ZbdQ1HjTQLc

I threw in some circus cracks and a bit of a slow volley to show off how smooth the Bernie rolls out.

[Robert Gage]

Thanks very much, Bob! Your Bernie 6-footer looks wonderful - very responsive, very precise, very smooth. Great stuff!

[Ron May]

Thank you Bob.
That Bernie 6 is really a responsive whip.
I really liked the "slow motion" throw to show how it rolls out so smoothly.

Ron

[Bob Ouellette]

Robert and Ron, thanks. I love using it to show off how the whip accelerates to make a crack. The sound of the leaves in the video are more distinguishable, but with each slow motion throw there is a faint pop.

Bernie made fantastic whips. It's a shame he's no longer around to make them.

[Ron May]

Yes, Bernie is missed.


Ron

(like the new avatar )

[Rachel McCollough]

I wish like crazy I could watch every one of these videos!

I am still practicing though slowly.

I look forward to viewing Mr. Bernie's work in action.
Thank you Bob, that is a special treat!

[Ron May]

I know I said that the official start was tomorrow but I couldn't wait and it might be raining even more tomorrow. The official start day is tomorrow.

Ok , here's the video for the first day (11/13) of Combination 1 , the underhand crack combined with the circus crack.

https://youtu.be/EPQkR9TcgkI

As you can see I have a lot of work to do with this combo, but over all, I think it's a good beginning .
It's lightly raining and the grass is totally wet and I love the little poofs of mist at the crack.

Ron

[Guest]

I didn't have time to practice that much today - just a few circus cracks to show how to crack to some people.

I'm quite familiar with the combo and it's not really a challenge for me. Of course there's work to be done to perfect it, but I'm sure no one will mind if I keep practicing the overhead crack the next 10 days also since I didn't have so many days to actually and physically get to cracking outside!

I'll be hanging out with the gf for the next week and driving her around and cooking for her but I'll try to squeeze in some cracking! It's also snowy and starting to get colder and colder so it's always a challenge to get fully dressed, face the elements and get outside to work with the whips! Nevertheless, I'll be dry practicing with only a handle. Yeah, I should make that practice handle...

[Robert Gage]

Ron, that is a good beginning! (Just be careful that when you cast the whip out behind you, it ends up straight!)

[Bob Ouellette]

Your cracks look good, Ron! The only thing I suggest is instead of swinging your whip out to the side when you reposition it before the crack, try turning it over and letting it roll forwards or backwards. For example, if you were to move it from behind you to in front of you, pick it up and turn the handle over in the vertical plane, almost as if it were a forward crack. Try to do this as low to the ground as possible.

[Ron May]

Erik, it's totally understandable due to weather conditions.
I was wondering if you found the performance of a whip altered by colder temperatures.

Yes, by all means take care of your gf and I hope she is recuperating well.

Ron