Event: Uneven Bars
Type: Release Move/Bar Change
Difficulty: D
A Pak Salto, shortened to Pak, is exactly what it sounds like. It's a compact flip (salto is another word for flip) between the bars. In non-gymnast terms, you are doing a layout between the bars. You start up on high bar facing the low bar at front support. You cast backwards, swing below the bar, let your toes come up above the low bar, let go, flip, and catch the low bar. Hopefully. :)
A Pak is a "D" element regarding difficulty. The scale of difficulty ranges from "A", extremely easy, to "E", extremely hard. Often, olympic gymnasts will connect another release move before the Pak, such as a Tkachev, Gienger, or Jaeger. One of the interesting things about a Pak is that, unlike some other release moves, a gymnast loses sight of the bar before catching it, making her rely on air-awarness, scientifically called proprioception.
Nastia Liukin is known for her Pak. Photo courtesy of: welovenastia |
I chose a Pak to explain because it is one of the skills I will need to compete this year. It can be very frustrating sometimes and it does hurt when you miss (I have had some experiences with this one), but it's one of my favorite skills because it feels like you float when you do it right.
~Rose
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