👀Can You Spot the Mistake? Double Star

Understanding wrap pathways is one of the most important parts of being an aerialist. When you miss even one detail, what happens? Do you get tangled? Fall out of the skill? Or create a brand-new move by accident?

While exploration is part of the fun, safety and wrap theory must always come first. In drops, a single missed wrap can make the difference between a safe landing and a serious injury.

When practicing and especially when teaching aerial, our responsibility is to understand not only what can go right, but also what can go wrong if something is missed. 🎥 Watch the video below and see if you can catch what I missed in my Double Star wrap setup (an intermediate level skill):

Did you catch what I missed? 👉 The thigh wrap.

The thigh wrap is a key safety factor, it’s what stops you at the bottom of the drop. Without it, you’re setting up for an Open Double Star, which continues to roll until you hook your knee at the bottom to stop. If you’re not familiar with that advanced version, you'll keep rolling and land on the mat, which can easily result in injury. (Sidebar: please, please, please use mats!)

Let’s review the correct Double Star wrap:

• S-wrap – There are many pathways into S-wrap beyond the one shown in the video above (see more examples here).

• Tail behind the back

• Wrap the thigh

• Wrap the tummy from front to back (some aerialists like to wrap their tummy twice, that’s okay! It won’t make you roll more - the roll comes from the S-wrap.)
  

When you drop, think of it as a roll rather than a drop. Keep your body tight and connected. Release your top hand and foot together as you roll down and you’ll stop safely thanks to that thigh wrap.

Also, be mindful of your arm position, I like to cue “V for Victory, T for Trouble.” Keeping your arms overhead in a “V” shape helps prevent your free arm from colliding with the pole as you rotate down. You can also grab the tail overhead with both hands if you prefer.

Of course, the entire wrap needs to be correct, missing any part of it, such as the tummy wrap, can have equally detrimental consequences. Each layer of the wrap serves a purpose in controlling rotation, maintaining tension and ensuring your safety during the drop.

• Top image: Open Double Star (advanced only)

• Bottom image: Traditional Double Star with thigh wrap (recommended)
  

It's likely only experienced aerialists will notice the difference between an Open and Traditional Double Star when performed, so you might as well keep it safe with the thigh wrap. It’s the version I prefer and teach!

If you’re teaching or training, always double-check this key detail before performing or guiding others through the drop. It’s a small difference that makes a huge impact on safety.

Developing a sharp eye and a clear understanding of wraps is just as important as performing the skills themselves. Even a brief moment in loss of focus, forgetting a wrap or overlooking a detail, can have serious consequences.

💛If you found this helpful, share it with your aerial community to help others stay mindful and safe in their practice.

Here’s to refining the details that make a big difference in your aerial practice! ✨ Reminder: Always train under the supervision of a qualified coach and use proper crash mats when practicing. Aerial arts are inherently risky and having an experienced eye nearby helps ensure your safety.

✨If you’re passionate about understanding why wraps work the way they do and want to learn how to teach them safely and confidently, our Aerial Physique Teacher Training Program is a great next step. We cover wrap theory, spotting techniques, effective progressions and much more!