Skateboarder (and surfer) Jordyn Barratt is constantly challenging the limits of her sports. In 2016, she became the first female junior pro to compete in both surfing and skating at the VANS U.S. Open, then went on to be the first woman to qualify for and compete at the Dew Tour in 2017. She has also won a silver and a bronze X Games medal in women's skateboard park.
On Thursday, she'll be back in Long Beach, California, for the Dew Tour, with one change: The skateboard championship will now feature a women's division for the first time.
Barratt, who's big dream is to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games in 2020, when skateboarding will be an event for the first time, shared one of her most challenging training moves: a bird dog done on a balance ball. "As a skater I'm always working on improving my core strength and stability," she says. "When you do this move on the ground, it's great. When you do it on a balance ball, though, it takes it to a whole new level of intensity!"
The move: Balancing bird dog
How to do it: Start by practicing the move on the ground. Get on all fours, engage your core, then raise one arm forward and the opposite leg back at the same time. Draw your elbow and knee in together toward your core, then stretch back out again before switching sides.
The same move on the stability ball is a new challenge, but the basics are the same. Start by balancing on the ball on all fours, and then work your way into having your arm and opposite leg raised.
When I do it: I go to the gym three times a week for core and strength training with a coach and have been doing this each time I go.
Why I do it: It's great for stabilizing the core and aligning the spine, and it really helps with improving my balance and strength. The better my balance, the more skateboarding tricks I can do. It helps to keep me from falling off the board, because even if I do a trick and land a little off center, my core can bring me back to being centered over my board.
Why it's so killer: It works nearly every muscle in my body. It's tough, and it takes practice and focus, but over time, I've gotten to where I can do a couple at a time before falling off the ball and having to start all over. My goal is to eventually be able to do 10, but it might be a while, as this one is tough!