Took some different angles of video of my figure 8 practice to see if I was bending at waist too much into the 2nd turn and/or if I was letting my coffee cup arm get behind me into the cutback turn.
These videos are not of all the same attempt cause I don't have 3 phones to record all the angles at once, but I tried to select turns that all looked/ felt similar when I did them for a better comparison.
Feel free to let me know what you think. I know myself watching these angles I definitely could get my head around more on the turn and I notice I tend to hold my breath, which now that I've noticed I can work on making some fart noises or something going into it.
As a side note: legs are burning after all the attempts I made today. Skating a bowl after leg day= hard!

Feel like they are getting better, definitely more consistent.
Really working on trying to keep my hands up going into 1st turn and then just bringing the right elbow up and pivoting around the left arm.
2nd turn again trying to keep arms from getting out of control and flinging them wildly in front of me or across my body.
Again, I feel like it's coming along nicely... if anyone sees anything else I need to tune up please let me know.
New goal: is to get that second turn up and onto the coping. Let's see if I can get there without breaking something.

Yeeewww.

FIRST TRY....Not really but....COUNT IT!

Yes, I realize it ain't pretty. On the backhand my arm isn't where I want, it doesn't look all smooth and flowing BUT a WIN is a WIN!
Made quite a few of them today. Now I can dial it in and get it more stylish. Keep that right arm from swinging in front of me on the backhand, maybe work on carving it out a little longer around the corner, get my left arm up higher and kiss the knees more, all the good things will come now that the first step is done.

Thanks to all the OMBE members for the help and pointers. Totally stoked to be Over the first hurdle.

YEEEWWWW!

New year...new goals... I'm gonna get this figure 8 thing sooner or later.

This time I really wanted to work on keeping my hands up, not letting them drop before the first turn and swing as much (as in 1 example). Not sure why I do that anyway but it's a hard habit to break.

That did seem to make me feel more stable and balanced going into the second turn. Feel like I could have maybe made some of these, but felt I didn't have enough speed into the 2nd part and was overall just uncomfortable with the backside turn.

After these attempts I did head over to the roll in and quarter pipe bank and just practiced the backside turn for another 15 mins or so to get more used to it. I know those are supposed to be easier since you can see the turn and the bottom of the bowl but I do everything backwards apparently...

I'm gonna get it!

First day in weeks it's not raining or freezing and the bowl is dry... Just in time to test out the new shred stick my daughter's got me for Christmas.
Back to working on my figure 8s, haven't skated in a while+ new board so just getting used to it.
Do have to say though for my fellow taller OMBE crew with a wider stance: I already love this new board! Nose kick kept my front foot locked it, felt like I had a normal stance for my size for once (I am 6'3"). Felt like I was riding a cruisey mid-length.

Board specs:
Powell Peralta JM Duran Slidwinder model
Carver C5 trucks
Bones red bearing
P.P. Dragon formula 93a 60mm wheels

Totally stoked on the board and how fast and stable it felt.
Definitely could have made that last attempt if I didn't fear the roll in lip so much. Can't wait to get back at it. Yeeeewww

The Eddie is called on! 30-35 foot Hawaii scale.
I just checked the surfline cam for Waimea, people lined up on the beach in the dark and waves are Yuge!!!
Believe 2016 was the last event and I'm hearing it's bigger this year.... stoked to watch it. Hoping John John wins his second!

Pipe masters is on. 15-20 foot surf. Blak bear surf club and Nathan Florence going to be streaming on YouTube. It's the only way to watch it live.
Love me some Big Pipe barrels... I can't ride them, but I can dream!

Just wanted to share with everyone in the community and Clayton Nienaber.
This video is me working on one simple turn with the help of a few posts in the community and 20 mins a day in the bowl to practice.
3 turns over the course of 7 calendar days or so, practicing 20 mins a day in the bowl before work, posting my clips and taking the advice of the community members and Clayton.
I do realize it's still far from perfect and I have much to work on but the improvement I see in myself with y'alls help is amazing. I just wanted to say I'm proof that putting yourself out there and using the community can be an amazing resource.
Now to take it to the water...but im fully stoked on the results. Thank you everyone for all your help.

Back in the saddle again...

Went into this session and decided NOT to worry about the second turn and focus on the first and get that down.
Goals were:
1. To be more upright, not as chest to knees as before and try to keep my arms up. (Don't know why I have such a tendency to drop them right before the turn.)
2. Toss the ball, soften the knees, open the thumb like in circling a pole, pass the coffee.
3. Not be as chest to knees working into the cutback or 2nd turn.

Overall feel it was pretty successful. The first turn does feel easier. Still want to keep those arms up more, but at least I feel like my back is straighter.

Just trying to get that 1% better each time...

New seat..same old struggle bus. Really enjoying the suck though. Managed to chip a fairly big piece of concrete off the bowl on this first one.
Last one is about as close as I got. I'm gonna get it though...just takes time.
Feel like I could have made that last one IF I would have looked to the next target and not been so scared of that little ledge from the roll in, and IF I kept my left arm out in front instead of letting it get all crazy like.
So there's the goals for tomorrow....
Would also like to add here: I do realize my arms are low, and as Coach Clayton says I should point where I'm going. I was working on that as I got more comfortable with the angles of approach so that I could work on getting under that little ledge. I just didn't include those clips. BUT I do realize it needs to be fixed. Small progress every day.