How to Do a Backflip into the Pool

When the great actress Katharine Hepburn was 80 years old and working on the movie "On Golden Pond," she taught herself to do a backflip into the lake. She had never done one before. When people were amazed, she shrugged and said she liked to try new things, "to keep herself from getting soggy." If an 80 year old woman can do it, then so can you. The biggest hump to get over is the fear of throwing yourself backwards and not being able to see where you're going. In actuality, when you're doing a backflip, you are throwing yourself straight up into the air and your legs give you all the momentum to go backwards. Backflips are much easier than front flips because of the momentum of your legs. Here's how to accomplish this trick and keep yourself from getting soggy.

Instructions

1. Stand at the end of the diving board. Your feet should be together and your heels hanging over the edge.

2. Think of yourself as being a rocket that is going to shoot straight up. Don't even think about going backwards. You want to practice bouncing on the board and grabbing your knees to your chest in a tuck. This is the key to powering your backflip. The bigger the bounce, the tighter the tuck, the faster you go around. Once you've got that motion down, go to the next step and involve the pool!

3. Standing on the edge of the board again, bend your knees and pull straight up with your arms in a whip-like motion to get yourself some height.

4. Pull your knees up tightly to your chest and grab your knees. The harder and higher you pull up with your arms and knees, the faster you will go around backwards.

5. Try to remember to straighten your legs before you hit the water or you will land on your shins--not a pleasant feeling unless you like to feel your skin ripping in half. Point your toes for maximum smooth entry. You did it!!

Tips & Warnings

• The bigger the bounce, tighter the tuck, the easier the flip.