So given the chance to learn how the pros do it best, I recently visited Aircraft Circus in Southeast London as part of the Acer U-Experience  to get a taster of basic skills. Along with Circus Space in Hoxton and Gorilla Circus in Regent’s Park,  they’re one of a few organisations in the capital enabling the general public to experience the circus world by trying it out themselves.

Technical director Nick Ditton, who’s been with the company  since it started five years ago, says it’s a sport that’s becoming increasingly accessible thanks to centres like Aircraft – and what’s more, it takes the monotony out of everyday exercise, engaging the mind and body. “You can’t do these things in your average sports centre,” he adds.

Our session starts off with a lesson in the  three ball juggling cascade – a technique which Nick says is a great  warm-up for the more physical skills we’d be learning later. We start by practicing how to catch two balls, throwing them in the direction of the “infinity” symbol (∞).

The challenge was getting that extra ball in the mix – and confidently throwing it  to catch it with the alternative hand. My left hand just didn’t want to let that third ball go!

We then went on to learn flying trapeze on a petit volant – a smaller version of the grand set-ups you’d find at a circus show.  We were taught the beats of a normal swing, which involved knowing when to kick your legs back to build up momentum, not hit the platform and fly higher which each swing.

My few attempts  were tragic.  I couldn’t quite get a rhythm going, plus I nearly buckled mid-swing because I lacked the upper-body strength needed to hold myself up for long period of time – but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t fun!

Finally, my favourite skill of the day was acro-balance (and maybe because I was the one being lifted, rather than doing all the lifting). That said, you still need to be coordinated and trusting of your fellow acro-balancers to pull off something like the thigh-stand pyramid (see below) – but it makes for a triumphant finish!

If you’d like to give circus skills a go, sunday taster classes take place at Aircraft Circus, starting  from £35 for Adult Trapeze.  They also offer private classes, intensive courses and classes for kids.  For more info, visit http://aircraftcircus.myshopify.com.

This experience comes courtesy of Acer UK. Check out the Acer Intel U-Experience team on our journey and discover more about the challenges at: https://www.facebook.com/AcerUK/app_329103610497351

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In The Spin are based along the Lower Promenade on the seafront and offer a Segway agility course for those looking for a fun way to pass the time and discover how these curious devices work. For my one hour session, I was fitted with a helmet and wrist gloves and given a brief run through of the Segway’s mechanics. Standing upright, you move your body according to the direction you want it to go. Leaning forward is acceleration, leaning backwards is slowing down – and leaning to the left or right turns the vehicle. They only go up to 12 miles per hour too, so there would be no chance of burning rubber if I wanted to.

My first attempt at the course was slow and steady, as I tried to avoid knocking over cones while focusing on  manoeurving the Segway smoothly around the wiggly course. But my second attempt was more eventful;  I flew off my Seg and soon discovered how sensitive they are to obstructions. Minor grazes aside, I liked the idea of these nifty machines and while they’re  probably better for casual strolls than zipping around laps, I suspect they’ll be making their way around the capital’s pavements alot sooner than you think.

Segway experiences are available in London at Alexandra Palace. For more info visit http://www.segwayevents.co.uk.  For Brighton’s In A Spin courses, visit http://www.inaspin.com.

This experience comes courtesy of Acer UK. Check out the Acer Intel U-Experience team on our journey and discover more about the challenges at: https://www.facebook.com/AcerUK/app_329103610497351

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As the oldest tennis tournament in the world (est. 1877) – tennis fans from around the world descend onto the West London suburb every June/July in the hopes of seeing some of games biggest heroes  defend their titles or go further in the along in the championships to win the silver gilt cup (for men) or the Rosewater Dish (for women).

Thanks to the Acer-U Experience, I got the chance to see the game in person on Day 3 – Wednesday, June 27th – and spent a brilliant day watching a few matches, checking out the crowds running around to get to their respective courts or downing bowls of the traditional strawberries and cream.

We’d scored tickets for the coveted No. 1 Court where we saw exciting matches between  Samantha Stosur vs Arantxa Rus, Andy Roddick vs Jamie Baker and Tsvetana Pironkova vs Maria Sharapova (that girl can grunt!).

Pic: Stuart Gillies

A day later was the chance to put everything we observed in action at the Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club. We met Dr Nick Ovenden – a mathematician from LSE who shared his formula for achieving the perfect serve – and a few coaches from the club who showed us a couple of serves which proved Dr Ovenden’s equation.

Pic: Stuart Gillies

Both the kick serve and the slice serve were techniques that took into account the main variables that come into play in Ovenden’s formula – ball toss, racket direction, and spin and speed of the ball. I was much better at the slice serve than the kick – but the experience was enough for me to possibly give the game another chance (watch this space folks!).

Pic: Paul Evans

Check out the team on our journey around the UK and discover more about the challenges at: https://www.facebook.com/AcerUK/app_329103610497351

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